Hydraulic Oil Control Valve Structure for Shorter Inner Sleeves
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hydraulic oil control valve designs for valve timing adjusting devices face challenges with increased size due to the presence of a stopper, which affects the mountability and manufacturing costs, and can lead to deterioration in slidability and machining complexity.
Innovation Solution
The hydraulic oil control valve design includes a spool and sleeve configuration where the spool projects from the inner sleeve's opening when farthest from the actuator, reducing the axial length of the inner sleeve and eliminating the need for a stopper within the sleeve, thus limiting the axial size increase and improving mountability and manufacturing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a stopper is placed in the inner sleeve to limit the spool's movable range, then the spool's movement is constrained, but the axial length of the inner sleeve increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the stopper from the inner sleeve to the outer sleeve, changing the spatial dimension where the stopping function is implemented. This allows the inner sleeve to be shorter while still achieving the same spool movement limitation through the outer sleeve's stopper structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the sleeve structure into inner and outer sleeves with distinct functions. The inner sleeve focuses on guiding the spool, while the outer sleeve provides the stopping function, allowing each component to be optimized independently for size and function.
2Ease of operation
If a stopper is included in the inner sleeve, then the spool movement is controlled, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the stopper function with the outer sleeve structure, eliminating the need for a separate stopper component within the inner sleeve. This merging reduces the number of parts and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining the same functional outcome.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer sleeve is designed to serve multiple functions: structural support, guiding the inner sleeve, and providing the stopping function through its stopper. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, simplifying the device.
3Length of moving object
If the inner sleeve axial length is reduced by eliminating the stopper, then mountability improves, but the spool movement limitation mechanism must be redesigned
Solution Approach 1:
The outer sleeve acts as an intermediary structure that provides the stopping function for the spool without requiring the inner sleeve to be long. This mediator allows the inner sleeve to be shortened while the outer sleeve's stopper maintains the movement limitation.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic oil control valve, which is placed along a rotational axis of a valve timing adjusting device, includes a sleeve and a spool configured to slide in an axial direction on an inner side of the sleeve in a radial direction. The sleeve includes: an inner sleeve that has an opening in which a distal end portion of the spool is inserted; and an outer sleeve. In a state where the spool is positioned farthest from an actuator, the distal end portion projects from the opening toward a side that is opposite to the actuator.