Modular Fuel Supply Element With Integrated Valve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel supply systems for internal combustion piston engines lack serviceability and flexibility, particularly in the removal and maintenance of fuel admission valves, which are often complex and require separate handling.

Innovation Solution

A fuel supply element with a T-shaped design featuring a bottom portion attached to the cylinder head and a top portion with fastening parts, where the fuel admission valve is integrated and removable as a single unit, allowing for improved serviceability and leak detection through fluid gaps, and a double-walled configuration for enhanced sealing and detection of leaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the fuel admission valve is fixed separately to the cylinder head surface, then the valve can be positioned correctly, but the serviceability and ease of removal are poor requiring separate handling

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveserviceabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the fuel admission valve element with the fuel supply element into a single integrated unit. The valve element is attached to the bottom portion of the fuel supply element, creating a unified component that can be installed and removed together, eliminating the need for separate handling of the valve during maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fuel supply system is divided into modular components: the fuel supply element with integrated valve, intermediate channel portions, and top portions. This segmentation allows the valve-containing unit to be easily detached and replaced as a single module, improving serviceability while maintaining functional integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If the fuel supply system uses separate components for fuel supply and valve control, then each component can be optimized independently, but the overall system requires more parts and is harder to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel admission valve element is integrated with the fuel supply element, reducing the total number of separate parts. This merging maintains the ability to optimize each functional aspect while eliminating the need for multiple discrete components that would require separate maintenance procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the fuel supply element is designed as a single integrated unit, then serviceability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremoval and replacementVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel supply element is designed with a bottom portion and a top portion that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. The valve element is attached to the bottom portion, which can be produced as a modular unit. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured using optimized processes before final assembly, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining the integrated design benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3256713B1A fuel supply element configured to be used in a fuel supply pipe system of an internal combustion piston engine and a fuel supply pipe system
Publication Date: 2019.04.03 WARTSILA FINLAND OY
  • EP3256713B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3256713B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3256713B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Invention relates to a fuel supply element (30, 130) configured to be used in a fuel supply pipe system (10) of an internal combustion piston engine (90) and a fuel supply pipe system (10). The fuel supply element (30, 130) comprising: a bottom portion (30.1, 130.1) and a top portion (30.2, 130.2), in which the bottom portion (30.1, 130.1) is provided with an attachment part (34, 134) for mounting to a cylinder head of the internal combustion piston engine and the top portion (30.2, 130.2) is provided with a first fastening part (32', 132') and a second fastening part (32"), a gas flow channel (50, 150) arranged to extend between the attachment part (34, 134) of the bottom portion and the first fastening part (32', 132') and the second fastening part (32") of the top portion (30.2, 130.2), in which the fuel supply element (30) the first fastening part (32', 132') and the second fastening part (32") are arranged to face to opposite directions, and the first fastening part (32', 132') and the second fastening part (32") are arranged compatible with each other such that a first fuel supply element may be connected to a second fuel supply element by attaching the first fastening part (32', 132') of the first fuel supply element to the second fastening part (32") of the second fuel supply element. The fuel supply element (30, 130) is provided with a fuel admission valve element (40, 140), which is attached to the bottom portion (30.1, 130.1) of the fuel supply element (30, 130).