Non-Return Valve With Stepped Control Edges for Low-Noise Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-return valves for vibration dampers suffer from increased switching noise and poor dynamic response behavior due to the simultaneous impact of the cover disc with control edges during state changes, and require high opening pressure to lift the cover disc off the control edges, especially during low volumetric flows.
Innovation Solution
A non-return valve design featuring height-offset control edges and a spring element that elastically deforms the cover disc, allowing it to lift off the control edges successively, reducing the opening force required and minimizing switching noise by building a disc force counteracting the spring force, thereby improving response behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cover disc lies tightly against the control edges in the shut-off state, then the shut-off behavior is improved, but the switching noise increases due to simultaneous impact during state changes
Solution Approach 1:
The control edges are segmented into multiple height levels (first control edge at higher level, second control edge at lower level). The cover disc contacts these segmented edges successively during state changes rather than simultaneously, which reduces switching noise while maintaining reliable shut-off behavior through the first control edge.
Solution Approach 2:
The control edges are arranged at different height levels (vertical dimension) rather than in a single plane. This dimensional arrangement causes the cover disc to contact the first control edge before the second control edge during closure, separating the impact events in time and reducing noise.
2Reliability
If the cover disc is pressed onto the control edges by valve discs via screw nut, then the shut-off behavior is improved, but the opening pressure required increases, resulting in sluggish response behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The control edges are divided into two height levels, creating a stepped configuration. This segmentation allows the cover disc to be pre-loaded against the first (higher) control edge while maintaining a smaller contact area, reducing the total force required to initiate opening at lower pressures.
Solution Approach 2:
The first control edge at the higher level provides a localized contact point for the cover disc, concentrating the pre-load force from the valve discs. This localized quality allows effective shut-off while requiring less overall opening pressure compared to distributed contact across a single plane.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If multiple control edges are arranged at different height levels, then the switching noise is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control edges at different height levels are merged into a single integrated valve body structure rather than being separate components. This combining approach reduces the number of parts and assembly steps, offsetting the complexity introduced by the multi-level geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-level control edges serve multiple functions: they provide sequential contact to reduce noise, create pre-load conditions for improved response, and maintain shut-off capability. This multi-functionality justifies the increased geometric complexity by delivering multiple performance benefits from a single structural feature.
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 design reduces switching noise and enhances the dynamic response of the non-return valve, allowing for quicker and more precise fluid flow management even at low pressures and pulsed volumetric flows, resulting in improved operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element (15) lying against the cover disc (14), wherein the spring element (15) elastically deforms the cover disc (14) from the first control edge (12a)
Data Source
AI summary
A non-return valve for a vibration damper having a valve body having at least two control edges which are offset from one another in terms of height and at least one flow channel formed between the control edges, at least one cover disc, which covers the flow channel in a shut-off state of the non-return valve and at least one spring element lying against the cover disc, wherein the spring element elastically deforms the cover disc from the first, in particular higher, control edge in such a way that the cover disc lies sealingly against the second, in particular lower, control edge.