Air-Oil Separator Valve with Adaptive Resilient Tongues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-oil separators face inefficiencies in separating oil droplets and oil mist from blow-by gases due to varying pressure differences, which can lead to blocked channels and reduced gas stream flow.
Innovation Solution
A device with a valve body and resilient tongues that control gas passage openings, ensuring at least one passage remains open even with small pressure differences, allowing continuous gas flow and improving separation efficiency through adaptive pressure management and geometric design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If resilient tongues are used to close gas passage openings, then air-oil separation efficiency is improved, but gas stream flow may be blocked when pressure difference is small
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body has different gas passage openings with different closure characteristics: some openings (first group) can be closed by resilient tongues when pressure difference exceeds a threshold, while other openings (second group) cannot be closed and maintain continuous flow. This local differentiation allows the system to optimize separation efficiency for some passages while ensuring continuous gas flow through other passages, resolving the contradiction between separation reliability and gas stream productivity.
2Reliability
If resilient tongues close all gas passage openings, then separation efficiency increases, but device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing resilient tongues for all gas passage openings, the invention selectively provides resilient tongues only for certain openings (first group) that benefit from pressure-difference-based closure. Other openings (second group) are designed without resilient tongues to maintain continuous flow. This selective approach reduces the number of resilient tongues needed, simplifying the valve structure and reducing material usage while maintaining effective separation efficiency.
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 device enhances air-oil separation efficiency by maintaining gas flow across a range of pressure differences, optimizing separation performance and reducing material usage while allowing for scalable and cost-effective production.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the gas passage openings cannot be closed by this resilient tongue or anyone of the resilient tongues... even with a small pressure difference a gas stream through the air-oil separator is maintained
Implementation Method 2
The valve further comprises at least one valve closure, in particular a valve disk, for the suction-sided closure(s) of gas passage openings of the valve body. The valve closure further comprises at least one resilient tongue
Data Source
AI summary
A device for the separation of oil droplets and/or oil mist from blow-by gases of an internal combustion engine with a valve for the control of the gas stream through the air-oil separator. The valve has a valve body with at least two or several gas passage openings as well as a valve closure for the closure of gas passage openings of the valve body.