Pneumatic Shifting Force Support Device Throttle Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pneumatic shifting force support devices for manual transmissions, particularly in trucks, require a simpler and more compact design to reduce installation space and operational complexity while maintaining effective shifting assistance.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a throttle device with a stationary throttle seal that adjusts the effective cross-sectional area of the throttle passage based on the relative position of the control rod and output unit, eliminating the need for a pretensioning spring and allowing for flexible throttle passage arrangement on either the piston structure or valve slide, enhancing adaptability and reducing the risk of jamming or damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a pretensioning spring is used to reset the throttle slide, then the throttle slide can be reset to its initial position, but the device complexity increases and the installation space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethrottle slide resettingVSAvoidspring mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the pretensioning spring from the system entirely. Instead of using a spring to reset the throttle slide, the design allows the throttle slide to return to its initial position through the natural pressure differential and flow dynamics in the pneumatic system, thereby eliminating the need for mechanical resetting components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The throttle slide automatically resets itself through the pneumatic pressure differential created during operation. When the piston structure returns to its initial position, the pressure difference causes the throttle slide to naturally return to its closed position without requiring an external spring mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If a throttle slide is used to control the throttle passage, then the effective cross-sectional area can be adjusted, but the risk of jamming or damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethrottle passage area controlVSAvoidjaming resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical throttle slide system with a pneumatic control mechanism. The effective cross-sectional area of the throttle passage is controlled by pneumatic pressure acting on the piston structure, eliminating the need for a mechanical throttle slide that could jam or become damaged.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The design uses pneumatic pressure to control the opening area of the throttle passage. Compressed air acts on the piston structure, which in turn controls the effective cross-sectional area of the throttle passage, providing reliable and jam-free operation through fluid pressure rather than mechanical movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the throttle passage is arranged on the piston structure or valve slide, then flexible arrangement is achieved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethrottle passage arrangementVSAvoidcomponent integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the throttle passage directly into the piston structure or valve slide, combining multiple functions into a single component. This merging of functions allows flexible arrangement while actually reducing overall structural complexity by eliminating separate throttle control components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The piston structure or valve slide serves multiple functions: it acts as both a sealing element and a throttle control element. By making these components multi-functional, the design achieves flexible throttle passage arrangement without increasing overall device complexity.

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 design results in a more compact, cost-effective, and adaptable shifting force support device with improved operating properties, as it eliminates the need for a spring and allows for optimal structural design, reducing the risk of jamming and enhancing throttling behavior according to specific requirements.

Implementation Method 1

a throttle device is assigned to at least one piston structure/valve slide pair in such a way that a throttle seal arranged in a stationary manner on the output unit has at least one throttle passage interacting with the throttle seal, the effective cross-sectional area of which depends on the relative position of the component having the throttle passage relative to the associated throttle seal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThrottling: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

pneumatic sequential control of the output unit by appropriate loading of the two pneumatic working chambers to the control rod

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3094892B1Pneumatic shifting force support device
Publication Date: 2018.03.14 HOERBIGER AUTOMOTIVE KOMFORTSYST
  • EP3094892B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3094892B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3094892B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a pneumatic shifting force support device for a manual transmission, comprising a housing structure which has a compressed air inlet and a ventilation, a control rod (2), and an output unit (A) which comprises a working piston (K) that defines two pneumatic working chambers (9, 10). A valve arrangement (11) is provided functionally between the control rod and the output unit, said valve arrangement bringing about a pneumatic sequential control from the outlet unit to the control rod by correspondingly acting on the two pneumatic working chambers, and the valve arrangement comprises two piston structures (3, 4), two annular sealing edges (34), two valve slides (17, 18) which interact with said sealing edges, and two valve seats (25, 26). At least one piston structure/valve slide pair is paired with a throttle device such that a throttle seal (41) arranged on the output unit (A) in a stationary manner interacts with at least one throttle passage (39) arranged on the corresponding valve slide (17, 18) or the corresponding piston structure (3, 4), wherein the effective cross-sectional area of the throttle passage depends on the position of the component with the throttle passage (39) relative to the corresponding throttle seal (41).