Seat Comfort Solenoid Valve Piston Damping Without Magnetic Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solenoid valves for seat comfort systems, such as those in vehicle seats, face challenges in maintaining a strong magnetic field while incorporating damping elements to reduce operating noise, which often requires complex and costly production efforts.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a solenoid valve with a piston that has a channel extending through it, where the damping element is arranged within this channel. This design allows for a single damping element to mitigate impacts on both the sealing seat and the end stop, while a compensating element partially bridges the annular gap formed by the damping element, maintaining a strong magnetic field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a damping element is arranged on the piston to mitigate impact noise, then operating noise is reduced, but the magnetic field strength is weakened due to the quasi shortening of the piston
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element is nested within the piston's channel structure, allowing it to be contained within the piston's internal volume rather than extending externally. This nesting approach mitigates impact noise while minimizing the reduction of magnetic field strength by placing the damping element within the existing piston geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element is positioned within the channel of the piston, utilizing the internal three-dimensional space of the piston rather than extending along the longitudinal axis. This dimensional repositioning allows noise mitigation without significantly affecting the magnetic field generation in the longitudinal direction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If damping elements are arranged at both ends of the piston to mitigate impact on sealing seat and end stop, then noise reduction is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single damping element within the piston channel serves multiple functions: it mitigates impact noise on both the sealing seat and end stop, and it is contained within the piston's internal structure. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate damping elements at each end, reducing device complexity and production cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping function for both ends of the piston is merged into a single damping element located within the piston's channel. This consolidation reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall valve structure while maintaining noise mitigation effectiveness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the damping element protrudes to form an annular gap spacing the piston away from the sealing seat, then impact mitigation is improved, but the magnetic field strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element is nested within the piston's channel, with only a portion protruding to form the annular gap. This nesting approach provides impact mitigation while minimizing the protrusion distance, thereby reducing the impact on magnetic field strength compared to external damping elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Only a portion of the damping element protrudes from the piston to form the annular gap, providing sufficient impact mitigation without excessive protrusion that would significantly weaken the magnetic field. The partial protrusion balances noise reduction with magnetic field preservation.
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 effectively reduces operating noise by using a single damping element and maintains a strong magnetic field, improving the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the solenoid valve.
Implementation Method 1
at least one, preferably elastic, damping element that is softer than the other components is sometimes provided on the end stop or/and the sealing seat
Implementation Method 2
by means of an electromagnetic drive against the clamping force in the direction of an end stop
Data Source
AI summary
A valve, preferably a solenoid valve, for a seat comfort system, preferably a vehicle seat comfort system, which in particular comprises at least one fluid actuator, or/and a seat, preferably a vehicle seat, which is equipped with such a comfort system, comprises a base body with a linearly movable piston. The piston is reversibly displaceable in the direction of a sealing seat and in the direction of an end stop. The piston has at least one damping element provided for mitigating its impact on the end stop or/and on the sealing seat. The piston has a channel extending through it between its two end-face regions. The damping element is arranged within this channel.