Non-return Valve Centering via Funnel Depression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional check valves used in injectors with hydraulic pressure intensifiers for internal combustion engines suffer from durability issues due to lateral deflection of the valve member, leading to relative movement between the valve member and the valve seat, causing excessive wear and reducing their lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A check valve design where the valve member is centered within a funnel-shaped depression of the stroke stop element, ensuring central impact on the valve seat, eliminating the need for a valve spring, and utilizing a welded connection for indirect axial fixation, which reduces production costs and space requirements, while incorporating a transverse bore to guide fuel flow and dampen movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional check valve design is used with a spherical valve member and valve seat, then the check valve can be manufactured with simple structure, but the valve member experiences lateral deflection in the open position causing relative movement and excessive wear between the valve member and valve seat
Solution Approach 1:
The stroke stop element is divided into multiple functional zones: a funnel-shaped depression for centering the valve member, a throttle bore for damping fuel flow, and a streamlined transition area for rapid valve opening. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The funnel-shaped depression in the stroke stop element acts as an intermediary structure that centers the valve member during its stroke, ensuring it returns to the middle position and hits the valve seat centrally. This intermediary feature eliminates lateral deflection without adding complex guiding mechanisms.
2Reliability
If a valve spring is added to center the valve member, then the valve member can be kept centered, but the production costs and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve spring is completely removed from the check valve design. Instead of using an active centering mechanism, the invention extracts the centering function and integrates it into the passive geometric structure of the stroke stop element's funnel-shaped depression, which naturally guides and centers the valve member during its movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The stroke stop element's funnel-shaped depression serves a dual function: it limits the valve member's stroke and simultaneously centers the valve member during operation. The structure serves itself by using its own geometry to provide the centering function that would otherwise require an additional component like a valve spring.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the stroke stop element is fixed with additional components, then the axial fixation is secure, but the production costs and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stroke stop element is merged directly with the valve housing through a welded connection, eliminating the need for separate fixation components such as retaining rings, screws, or clips. This merging of components secures the stroke stop element axially while reducing the total number of parts and simplifying the assembly process.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the transition from depression to throttle bore is designed with sharp edges, then the valve member movement is dampened, but the fuel flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the stroke stop element are given different geometric qualities: the transition from the depression to the throttle bore has sharp edges for damping valve member movement, while the transition from the throttle bore to the longitudinal bore is streamlined for minimizing fuel flow resistance. This local differentiation of geometric properties optimizes both functions simultaneously.
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
The solution significantly reduces wear between the valve seat and member, enhances the check valve's durability, and allows for quicker response due to reduced mass, without additional components, making it suitable for use in injectors with hydraulic pressure boosters.
Implementation Method 1
the transition from the depression to the throttle bore is designed with sharp edges in order to dampen the movement of the valve member before it hits the stroke stop element
Implementation Method 2
the stroke stop element (12) is fixed at least indirectly in the axial direction in the bore (3) of the valve housing (1) by means of a welded connection
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Proposed is a non-return valve with a spherical valve element whose service life and operating reliability is considerably increased in relation to conventional non-return valves.