Single Relief Valve for Variable Valve Oil Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and increased production costs associated with variable valve systems, particularly due to the large number of parts required for oil control valves (OCVs) and oil circuits, which complicates packaging and increases costs when different types of variable valve apparatuses are applied to a single engine.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a single relief valve and orifice to maintain constant pressure in multiple control galleries, reducing the number of parts needed for oil control valves and simplifying the oil circuit, allowing for efficient operation of multiple variable valve apparatuses with reduced packaging challenges and production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple variable valve apparatuses are applied to a single engine to achieve different valve modes, then fuel efficiency and torque are improved, but the number of parts increases causing packaging difficulty and increased production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple relief valves into a single shared relief valve that serves multiple control galleries. The relief valve is positioned to receive hydraulic pressure from any of the control galleries and drain excess pressure to the oil sump, eliminating the need for separate relief valves for each control gallery while maintaining proper pressure regulation for all variable valve apparatuses.
Solution Approach 2:
The single relief valve performs multiple functions by being accessible to multiple control galleries simultaneously. It can regulate pressure for different variable valve apparatuses (intake/exhaust camshafts, different cylinder banks) through a unified pressure regulation mechanism, making one component serve universal pressure control purposes across the entire engine.
2Reliability
If multiple oil control valves are used to control multiple variable valve apparatuses, then precise hydraulic pressure control is achieved, but the oil circuit complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple relief valve functions into a single unified relief valve structure. The relief valve includes a single valve body with a valve element that responds to pressure signals from multiple control galleries, merging what would traditionally be separate pressure regulation circuits into one integrated system.
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 configuration minimizes the number of parts required, enhancing design flexibility and reducing production costs while maintaining efficient control of hydraulic pressure for variable valve apparatuses, regardless of the type applied to a single engine.
Implementation Method 1
when the pressure of oil in the control gallery 2 is greater than a spring force of a relief valve 4, the relief valve 4 opens so that oil is drained through the drain hole 3
Implementation Method 2
when the pressure of oil in the control gallery 2 is greater than a spring force of a relief valve 4, the relief valve 4 opens
Implementation Method 3
If electricity is applied to a solenoid 5 when the OCV is turned on, a pintle 6 pushes a check ball 7 to open a flow passage
Implementation Method 4
An orifice 9 is disposed between the main gallery 1 and the control gallery 2, and is configured to supply oil so that the control gallery 2 can be always filled with oil
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling a variable valve apparatus may include a plurality of oil control valves (OCVs) configured to respectively supply oil from an oil pump to a plurality of variable valve apparatuses or block the supply of the oil, and a single relief valve coupled to the plurality of oil control valves, wherein pressure in a plurality of control galleries for providing an oil supply path from the plurality of oil control valves to the plurality of variable valve apparatuses is maintained constant by only the single relief valve.