Variable Relief Valve Pressure Chamber Control for Fast Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing relief valve devices face challenges in adjusting valve opening pressure with high responsiveness due to inefficient fluid pressure distribution and limited flexibility in oil passage design, leading to reduced pressure adjustment range and responsiveness.
Innovation Solution
A variable relief valve device featuring a valve body with coaxially formed first and second valve portions, a cylinder with staged inner diameters, a spring, and an electromagnetic oil control valve that adjusts the flow rate to the pressure chamber, allowing for axial fluid flow and flexible passage design, enabling high responsiveness in valve opening pressure adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an orifice is provided for returning oil from the pressure chamber to the oil pan, then the oil can be continuously circulated, but the pressure in the pressure chamber cannot be sufficiently increased, reducing valve opening pressure adjustment range and responsiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the orifice that was previously used for returning oil from the pressure chamber to the oil pan. By extracting this pressure-reducing element, the system allows the pressure chamber to build and maintain higher oil pressure, which improves the responsiveness and range of valve opening pressure adjustment without the continuous pressure leakage caused by the orifice.
2Quantity of substance
If the main passage of oil is formed between the second valve portion and the third valve portion, then oil flow is established, but the housing requires large size to ensure passage volume, limiting design flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement of the oil passage from a radial configuration (between valve portions at different radii) to an axial configuration (through the shaft along the axis). This dimensional change allows the oil passage to be formed within the axial length of the shaft rather than requiring radial space, significantly reducing the housing volume while maintaining adequate oil flow capacity.
3Strength
If the shaft of the valve body has large diameter to support the valve portions, then structural strength is ensured, but the housing size increases and passage design flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the oil passage from the radial direction (between valve portions) to the axial direction (through the shaft). This allows the shaft to maintain its structural strength with optimal diameter while the oil passage utilizes the axial dimension, providing design flexibility without compromising mechanical strength.
4Productivity
If oil is discharged through the orifice simultaneously with supply from the oil control valve, then continuous circulation is maintained, but pressure adjustment range is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the orifice that caused simultaneous discharge of oil from the pressure chamber. By extracting this element, the system eliminates the pressure leakage path that limited the pressure adjustment range, while oil circulation is maintained through the relief valve's normal operation cycle.
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 allows for precise control of valve opening pressure with high responsiveness, minimizing pressure reduction and enhancing flexibility in oil passage design, thereby optimizing oil circulation and reducing drive torque, improving fuel efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnetic oil control valve that adjusts the flow rate to the pressure chamber
Implementation Method 2
a spring provided in the cylinder to press the valve body toward the fluid passage
Implementation Method 3
receiving, on the first pressure receiving surface, pressure of a fluid flowing in the fluid passage and sliding in the cylinder against an pressing force of the spring
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A variable relief valve device includes: a valve body (20) including a first valve portion (22) and a second valve portion (26), the first valve portion having a front end forming a first pressure receiving surface (23), and the second valve portion having a larger diameter than the first valve portion and having a second pressure receiving surface (27) with a larger pressure receiving surface area; a cylinder (30) having an inner peripheral surface formed in two stages to have a step (35) correspondingly to outer diameters of the first valve portion and the second valve portion, including a pressure chamber (38) formed across the step between the first valve portion and the second valve portion, and opening in a fluid passage (4) on a side of the first pressure receiving surface of the valve body; a spring (28) for pressing the valve body toward the fluid passage; a valve hole (42) opening in a portion of the cylinder in which the first valve portion slides, and opened against an pressing force of the spring by the valve body receiving, on the first pressure receiving surface, pressure of a fluid flowing in the fluid passage; a relief passage (40) communicating with the valve hole; and a switching valve (60) for switching between communication between the fluid passage and the pressure chamber and communication between the pressure chamber and the relief passage.