Reflux Valve Ball Holder Assembly Without Spring or Tight Tolerances

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing reflux valves for pumps require precise dimensional accuracy and complex assembly processes, making them difficult to manufacture and assemble, especially in designs without a valve spring.

Innovation Solution

A valve arrangement featuring a rotationally symmetrical or spherical closing body and a closing body holder that forms a surmountable frictional or positive fit with the fluid channel, allowing easy assembly and operation without a spring, where the closing body is lifted off the valve seat to allow fluid flow in one direction while blocking it in the opposite direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a closing body holder is designed to snap onto the housing with positive fit, then the valve arrangement achieves reliable fluid flow control, but the manufacturing precision and assembly complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow controlVSAvoiddimensional accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the connection parameter from rigid positive fit to flexible friction fit. The closing body holder is designed with a friction fit connection to the housing, allowing assembly without precise dimensional tolerances. The friction fit provides sufficient holding force while accommodating manufacturing variations, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different connection qualities at different locations. The closing body holder has a friction fit connection to the housing at one location, while the closing body has a snap-fit connection to the holder at another location. This local differentiation allows the system to achieve reliable fluid control through the snap-fit while maintaining ease of manufacture through the friction fit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If undercuts are created in the outlet channel for secure assembly, then the closing body holder is securely retained, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly securityVSAvoidoutlet channel contour

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the retention function from the outlet channel geometry and transfers it to the closing body holder design. Instead of creating undercuts in the outlet channel, the closing body holder is designed with features that provide secure retention through friction fit. This removes the complexity from the outlet channel while maintaining assembly security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by making the closing body holder the active retention element rather than the housing. The holder is designed to friction-fit onto the housing, reversing the conventional wisdom that the housing must provide the retention features. This simplification eliminates the need for complex outlet channel contours.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If a valve spring is omitted from the design, then the valve arrangement simplifies and reduces cost, but the reliability of preventing backflow may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve structureVSAvoidbackflow prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the closing body is actuated directly by fluid pressure differential. When backflow occurs, the pressure difference automatically pushes the closing body against the valve seat, eliminating the need for a spring. The system uses its own operating conditions (pressure differential) to perform the closing action, maintaining reliability while simplifying the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical spring system with a direct fluid pressure actuation system. Instead of using elastic mechanical energy storage (spring), the design relies on the fluid pressure differential to actuate the closing body. This substitution eliminates the spring component while maintaining backflow prevention reliability through the natural pressure differential in the fluid system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11480257B2Valve arrangement, in particular a reflux valve with a pressed-in ball holder

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 SCHWABISCHE HUTTENWERKE AUTOMOTIVE CMBH

AI summary

A valve arrangement to allow a fluid flow in a first direction and block it in a second direction opposite the first direction. The valve arrangement includes: a fluid channel, a valve seat and a closing body arranged in the fluid channel. The closing body prevents fluid flow in the second direction when resting against the valve seat and allows fluid flow in the first direction when the closing body is lifted off the valve seat; a closing body holder in the fluid channel configured to restrict movement of the closing body in the first direction when the closing body is lifted off the valve seat. The closing body holder held on an inner circumferential wall of the fluid channel in a frictional fit and/or movable in the first direction in a position in which the closing body holder is held on an inner circumferential wall of the fluid channel.