Molded Seal Overflow Valve for Pneumatic Clutch Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compressed air actuating cylinders for vehicle clutches face issues with minor leaks leading to undesired pressure buildup, which existing solutions attempt to address but often require additional components, increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of a molded seal with a specific asymmetrical cross-sectional profile to form an overflow valve, which compensates for leaks without additional components, utilizing the seal's profiling to create a defined position and incorporating a restoring element to manage pressure differences, and an air duct to direct airflow and prevent dust accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a check valve is arranged in the end wall of the housing to compensate for leaks, then the actuating cylinder is improved to prevent undesired pressure build-up, but additional components are required which increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the overflow valve function with the molded seal already present in the device. The molded seal's groove is designed to form a through-channel that creates the overflow valve, merging two functions (sealing and pressure relief) into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate check valves or additional components while maintaining pressure control reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The molded seal is given multiple functions: it provides sealing between pressure chambers and simultaneously forms an overflow valve through its groove design. The groove width is specifically designed to be greater than the molded seal width, allowing the seal to displace within the groove to create the valve function. This multi-functionality reduces component count while maintaining reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the groove width is greater than the width of the molded seal to allow displacement, then the overflow valve function is achieved, but the seal position becomes less defined
Solution Approach 1:
The molded seal is designed to be dynamically positionable within the groove rather than fixed at a single location. The groove width exceeds the seal width, allowing the seal to displace along the groove as pressure conditions change. This dynamic positioning enables the seal to form the overflow valve function while maintaining adequate sealing, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and position definition
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively manages pressure leaks cost-effectively by using existing components, maintaining system integrity and cleanliness, and ensuring reliable operation of the actuating cylinder without additional parts, enhancing the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the pneumatically actuated clutch system.
Implementation Method 1
at least one restoring element is arranged between the side of the through-channel of the molded seal that can be sealed by means of the groove wall and the groove wall. A certain force is generated by such a restoring element, via which the overflow valve can be acted upon in the opening direction.
Implementation Method 2
the overflow valve has an air duct on the outflow side, via which outflowing air is directed at an angle onto the surface of the first and/or second component. As a result, the outflowing air does not flow parallel or perpendicular to the surface, but hits the surface at an angle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a device having at least one first component (2) and having a second component (1) which is arranged so as to be movable relative to the first component (2), characterized in that a molded seal (16) is arranged in a groove (20) of the first component (2), which molded seal is in contact with the second component (1), wherein a first chamber (3) formed on one side of the molded seal (16) between the first and the second component can be charged with a first pressure and a second chamber (33) formed on the opposite side of the molded seal (16) between the first and the second component can be charged with a second pressure, and the molded seal (16) together with the first component (2) forms at least one overflow valve.