Piston Sealing Structure for High-Pressure Pump Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high-pressure fuel pump designs face challenges in achieving optimized sealing, particularly under high pressures, which can lead to reduced sealing effectiveness and stability due to increased pressure loads on main sealing elements.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates an additional sealing element, such as a PTFE-based sealing ring with a cuboid cross-section and radially projecting sealing edges, which is mounted in a floating manner and arranged to create a pressure drop between the high-pressure and low-pressure spaces, reducing the load on the main sealing element and enhancing the sealing effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a main sealing element is used to separate media chambers, then sealing function is achieved, but under high pressure the sealing effectiveness decreases and stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidpressure load on main sealing element
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is divided into two independent parts: a main sealing element for primary sealing and an additional sealing element for secondary sealing. The additional sealing element is arranged to seal between the piston and piston receptacle, while the main sealing element handles the primary media separation. This segmentation allows each sealing element to operate under optimized conditions, with the additional element protecting the main element from excessive pressure loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The additional sealing element acts as an intermediary protective layer between the high-pressure environment and the main sealing element. By placing this additional sealing element in the pressure path, it mediates the pressure load, preventing direct exposure of the main sealing element to full high-pressure stresses, thereby extending its service life and maintaining sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple sealing elements are added to improve sealing, then sealing performance increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidnumber of sealing elements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing system is segmented into two functional zones: primary sealing by the main sealing element and secondary sealing by the additional sealing element. This segmentation is achieved by placing the additional sealing element in a different location (between piston and piston receptacle) rather than stacking multiple sealing elements in the same location, thus improving sealing without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The additional sealing element serves multiple functions: it provides secondary sealing, protects the main sealing element from pressure loads, and seals the gap between the piston and piston receptacle. This multi-functionality justifies the addition of the extra sealing element by delivering multiple benefits from a single component addition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 configuration optimizes the sealing performance by minimizing leakage and increasing the stability of the main sealing element, thereby improving the overall sealing efficiency and extending its service life.

Implementation Method 1

arranged to create a pressure drop between the high-pressure and low-pressure spaces, reducing the load on the main sealing element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure drop: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

The additional sealing element is preferably designed to be elastic

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3464960B1Piston device and pump device
Publication Date: 2022.04.27 ELRINGKLINGER AG
  • EP3464960B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3464960B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3464960B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The aim of the invention is to provide a piston device (100) that is simply constructed and provides optimized sealing. This aim is achieved in that the piston device comprises the following: a housing (102), which comprises a piston holder; a piston (116), which is arranged in the piston holder (118) in a linearly slidable manner; a main sealing element (132), which separates a first media space (134) from a second media space (136); and an additional sealing element (170) different from the main sealing element for sealing in a region between the piston and the piston holder.