Three-Port Pintle Valve for Engine Oil Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing three-port spool valves in internal combustion engines are costly to manufacture, require high precision, and are susceptible to varnish buildup and contamination, leading to performance issues such as leaking and blowby.

Innovation Solution

A three-port pintle valve with two valve seats and two spherical valve heads actuated by a single pintle shaft and solenoid, featuring a compression spring for fail-safe operation and larger clearances for reduced manufacturing costs and improved robustness against debris.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a spool valve is used to control hydraulic pressure in VVA systems, then the valve can direct fluid flow between supply, common, and exhaust ports, but the valve requires high manufacturing precision and is costly to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The single spool valve is segmented into two separate pintle valves with independent valve seats and heads. Each pintle valve handles a specific function (supply control and exhaust control), allowing simpler manufacturing for each component while maintaining overall system reliability through the division of functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a complex spool valve design, the invention inverts to a simpler pintle valve design with spherical heads and seats. This inversion to a more basic valve type reduces manufacturing precision requirements and cost while achieving the same fluid control functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a spool valve is used in VVA systems, then the valve can control oil pressure to VVA devices, but the valve is susceptible to varnish buildup and contamination from debris

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve performanceVSAvoidvarnish buildup and contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful effects of varnish buildup and contamination are extracted from the valve system by using larger clearances between moving parts. The increased clearance prevents debris and varnish from interfering with valve operation, effectively removing the vulnerability to these contaminants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The clearance parameter between valve components is increased from the tight tolerances of spool valves to larger clearances in pintle valves. This parameter change makes the valve less sensitive to contamination and varnish buildup, improving reliability in dirty environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If a spool valve is used to control hydraulic pressure, then the valve can provide selective oil supply to VVA devices, but the valve requires tight clearances that increase manufacturing precision requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid control capabilityVSAvoidclearance tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pintle valve uses simpler, more robust components that can be manufactured with lower precision tolerances. While the service life may be有限, the reduced manufacturing cost and ease of replacement make this a practical solution for automotive applications where cost is a significant factor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 results in a more reliable, cost-effective, and robust fluid control valve with enhanced flow areas and resistance to contamination, improving the reliability and working life of internal combustion engines.

Implementation Method 1

a compression spring disposed between the second spherical head and the exhaust port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A pintle shaft connected to an actuating linear solenoid extends through an oil seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 3

While the solenoid is de-energized, supply oil pressure keeps the first valve head on the first valve seat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS8353313B2Three-port pintle valve for control of actuation oil

Publication Date: 2013.01.15 BORGWARNER US TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A three-port control valve assembly comprising a valve body having two valve seats facing in a common direction and disposed along a central bore terminating in an exhaust port and communicating with a supply port and a common port. A pintle shaft connected to a solenoid actuator extends into the central bore. A first valve head mounted on the pintle shaft mates with the first valve seat to connect the supply port to the common port. While the solenoid is de-energized, supply pressure keeps the first valve closed. A second valve head mates with the second valve seat to connect the common port to the exhaust port. Opening of the first valve closes the second valve via supply oil pressure. When the first valve closes, the second valve is opened by a spring disposed between the second valve head and the exhaust port.