Recirculating Hydraulic Fluid Control Valve Spool Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic fluid management in internal combustion engine systems is inefficient due to the need for large hydraulic fluid pumps to handle the total volume of pressurized fluid, with existing systems failing to effectively recirculate and reuse hydraulic fluid, leading to increased power requirements and fluid consumption.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic fluid control valve with a spool assembly and one-way valves that recirculate vented hydraulic fluid from one actuation chamber to another, reducing the need for new fluid and optimizing fluid flow through a housing with specific fluid ports and pathways, including a vent aperture and recirculation aperture for efficient fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If hydraulic fluid is recirculated from actuation chambers back to the reservoir, then hydraulic fluid consumption is reduced, but the pump must handle larger total volumes increasing power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hydraulic fluid flow into two distinct pathways: a recirculation pathway that returns fluid from actuation chambers back to the pump inlet, and a discharge pathway that sends fluid to the reservoir. This segmentation allows the pump to handle only the net fluid volume requiring pressurization rather than the total circulation volume, reducing power requirements while maintaining fluid recirculation benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The control valve acts as an intermediary component that directs hydraulic fluid flow between different pathways. It mediates between the actuation chambers, pump inlet, and reservoir, enabling selective recirculation of fluid while preventing it from unnecessarily increasing pump workload by properly routing recirculated fluid back to the pump inlet rather than mixing it with discharge flow
2Device complexity
If a single spool component is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to provide separate fluid pathways for recirculation and venting is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The spool assembly is segmented into multiple independent spool components (first spool and second spool) that can move relative to each other. Each spool controls specific fluid pathways independently, allowing the system to provide separate recirculation and venting pathways while maintaining manageable component complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where multiple spool components are housed within a common spool assembly structure. The first and second spools are nested within the same assembly, sharing common housing and control mechanisms while maintaining independent functionality. This nesting provides versatile fluid pathway configuration without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
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 reduces hydraulic fluid consumption and power requirements by recirculating fluid within the system, enhancing the efficiency and responsiveness of hydraulically actuated components like camshaft and cranktrain phasers, thereby optimizing engine performance.
Implementation Method 1
The spool assembly has at least one one-way valve configured to recirculate at least a portion of vented hydraulic fluid from one of the first or second hydraulic actuation chamber to a remaining one of the first or second hydraulic actuation chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic fluid control valve (HFCV) configured to recirculate an existing hydraulic fluid from a first hydraulic actuation chamber to a second hydraulic actuation chamber is provided. The HFCV includes a selectively movable spool assembly having an outer annulus, at least one one-way valve arranged within the outer annulus, and an inner fluid chamber configured to receive and deliver the exiting hydraulic fluid to one or both of either a sump or one of the first or second hydraulic actuation chambers. The at least one one-way valve moves in an axial direction and the outer annulus serves as an axial motion stop for the at least one one-way valve.