Solenoid Valve Insert Assembly for Magnetic Loss and Leak Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current solutions for incorporating a casing member in damping arrangements to minimize magnetic losses and prevent hydraulic fluid leakage are either material-restrictive, costly, or require complex assembly, with tight air gap tolerances and multi-piece armature members.

Innovation Solution

An insert arrangement with a casing member and armature member that allows for easy assembly and cost-effective manufacturing, where the casing member is adapted with magnetically conducting material and fixating means to secure the armature member, enabling a larger mating surface for sealing and reducing assembly complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the casing member is incorporated in the wall of the valve cavity, then magnetic losses are minimized, but the material selection is limited and tight air gap tolerances are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic lossesVSAvoidmaterial selection
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The damping arrangement is divided into separate components: the valve cavity wall, the insert arrangement (containing armature member and valve arrangement), and the casing member. This segmentation allows the casing member to be made of magnetically conducting material to minimize magnetic losses, while the valve cavity wall can be made of aluminum or other materials without magnetic properties, thus resolving the contradiction between energy loss reduction and material versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of energy

If the casing member is incorporated in the wall of the valve cavity, then magnetic losses are minimized, but tight air gap tolerances are required between armature and cavity wall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic lossesVSAvoidair gap tolerances
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the structure and placing the casing member on the insert arrangement rather than integrating it into the valve cavity wall, the patent creates a modular system where the mating surface between the insert arrangement and valve cavity wall can be designed with larger, less stringent tolerances. The casing member remains in place to provide magnetic field containment, eliminating the need for tight air gap tolerances while still minimizing magnetic losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of energy

If the casing member is integrated in the base portion of the armature member, then magnetic losses are minimized, but the armature member requires multi-piece construction increasing manufacturing cost and assembly complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic lossesVSAvoidarmature member construction
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The casing member is extracted from the armature member and placed on the insert arrangement instead. This allows the armature member to be manufactured as a single, simple piece without the complexity of integrating the casing member, while the casing member remains in position to provide magnetic field containment, thus resolving the contradiction between energy loss reduction and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Loss of energy

If the casing member is integrated in the base portion of the armature member, then magnetic losses are minimized, but tight air gap tolerances are required between casing member and cavity wall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic lossesVSAvoidair gap tolerances
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The casing member is extracted from the armature member and repositioned on the insert arrangement. This repositioning creates a mating surface between the insert arrangement and valve cavity wall that can accommodate larger tolerances, eliminating the need for tight air gap tolerances between the casing member and cavity wall while still maintaining magnetic field containment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

5Ease of operation

If fixating means are located on the base portion of the armature member, then assembly is conventional, but the mating surface is reduced in size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly conventionalityVSAvoidmating surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The fixating means are transferred from the armature member to the casing member on the insert arrangement. This segmentation of functions allows the base portion of the armature member to provide a large, uninterrupted mating surface for sealing, while the casing member provides the fixating means for securing the insert arrangement to the valve cavity wall, thus resolving the contradiction between assembly conventionality and mating surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Facilitates assembly, reduces manufacturing costs, and allows for less stringent air gap tolerances while effectively sealing the valve cavity to prevent hydraulic fluid leakage.

Implementation Method 1

The casing member is further adapted with a magnetically conducting material for substantially closing a magnetic field generated by the solenoid arrangement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field closure: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

a magnetic field generated by the solenoid arrangement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic field generation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4343168A1Insert arrangement and a method of assembling a damping arrangement
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 ADVANCED SUSPENSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
  • EP4343168A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4343168A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4343168A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application relates to an insert arrangement (1) for engaging with a solenoid arrangement (50) and for closing a valve cavity (60) of a damping arrangement. The insert arrangement (1) comprises: an armature member (20) adapted in shape and size to provide a base portion (21) and an axial portion (22) extending out of the base portion (21) in a direction parallel to a first axis (A), a casing member (10) adapted to extend around the axial portion (22) to define a receiving space between the axial portion (22) and the casing member (10). The solenoid arrangement (50) is at least partly arrangeable in said receiving space, and the casing member (10) is further adapted with a magnetically conducting material for substantially closing a magnetic field generated by the solenoid arrangement (50). The insert arrangement (1) further comprises fixating means (11) for fixating the armature member (20) to the damping arrangement, wherein said fixating means (11) are arranged on the casing member (10).