Fluid Pump Pressure Relief Valve Asymmetric Flow Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid pumps face challenges with chatter and reduced flow capacity due to symmetrical fluid pressure distribution, which affects their cost-effectiveness, robustness, and durability, particularly in applications like vehicle engine and transmission systems.

Innovation Solution

A pressure relief valve design featuring a housing assembly with a recessed outlet-side surface on the valve head, allowing it to extend past the spring support end, providing stability and damping, and multiple outlets with unequal flow areas to create nonsymmetrical pressure distribution, minimizing chatter and enhancing flow capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a traditional valve head design is used, then the structure is simple, but chatter occurs and flow capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow capacityVSAvoidchatter

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by creating nonsymmetrical fluid pressure distribution through unequal flow areas in multiple outlets. This asymmetric design minimizes chatter and enhances flow capacity by preventing the valve head from centering in a symmetric pressure field, thereby resolving the contradiction between flow capacity and chatter reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a recessed outlet-side surface on the valve head, creating a new dimensional feature that allows the valve head to extend past the spring support end. This dimensional change provides stability and damping, reducing chatter while maintaining flow capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If a thicker valve head is used, then structural strength is improved, but damping capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidvalve life

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a thin, flexible valve head made from a sheet of generally uniform thickness. This thin valve head can absorb energy through elastic deformation when seated, providing damping functionality that increases valve life, while still maintaining sufficient structural strength for the application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If the valve head is pushed against the seat, then the valve closes, but stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve closingVSAvoidvalve stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the center of gravity of the valve head behind the force applied by the spring, creating a counterbalancing effect. This configuration allows the spring to effectively pull the valve head against the seat rather than push it, improving valve stability and enabling the valve head to center itself against the seat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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 chatter, increases flow capacity, and ensures cost-effectiveness, robustness, and durability by stabilizing the valve head and optimizing fluid pressure distribution, leading to improved performance and extended valve life in fluid pumps.

Implementation Method 1

The spring is configured to be compressed when fluid pressure at the inlet exceeds fluid pressure at the outlet by at least a predetermined amount such that the valve head is pushed away from the valve seat to an unseated position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The spring is biased to urge the valve head against the valve seat to a seated position. The spring is also configured to be compressed when fluid pressure at the inlet exceeds fluid pressure at the outlet by at least a predetermined amount

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

A sheet may absorb energy to perform a damping function when the valve head is seated by elastic deformation more readily than a thicker valve head, such as a spherical ball head

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 4

A sheet may absorb energy to perform a damping function when the valve head is seated by elastic deformation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS10156293B1Fluid pump pressure relief valve

Publication Date: 2018.12.18 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

In one or more embodiments, a pressure relief valve for a fluid pump has a valve head that has a recessed outlet-side surface that confronts a support end of a spring such that the valve head extends past the support end of the spring toward a pump outlet. The spring is biased to urge the valve head against a valve seat to a seated position. The spring is also configured to be compressed when fluid pressure at an inlet to the relief valve exceeds fluid pressure at the outlet by at least a predetermined amount such that the valve head is pushed away from the valve seat to an unseated position. A pressure relief valve may have multiple outlets at least some of which have unequal flow areas such that fluid pressure distribution across the flow area of the pressure relief valve cavity is nonsymmetrical.