Stepped Valve Housing for Alignment-Independent Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing valve designs for vehicle transmissions face challenges in precise alignment during assembly, leading to potential flow restrictions due to inadvertent rotation, and require complex machining for annular channels and blind holes, which complicates manufacturing and assembly.
Innovation Solution
A stepped valve housing design with multiple cylindrical portions and transverse openings creates an annular gap around the valve, allowing for position-independent assembly and sealing, using a reinforcement with a sealing ring to maintain sealing effectiveness at high pressures without additional machining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional valve designs are used with precise alignment requirements, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but assembly complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is designed with a stepped structure featuring multiple cylindrical portions with different diameters, where each portion can serve different functions. The first cylindrical portion provides sealing surface, the second portion creates annular gap for flow, and the third portion provides additional sealing or mounting function. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is segmented into multiple cylindrical portions with distinct diameters along the axial direction. This segmentation creates functionally independent zones: a first portion for primary sealing, a second portion forming an annular gap for flow medium passage, and a third portion for additional sealing or structural support. Each segment can be optimized independently for its specific function.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex machining for annular channels and blind holes is performed, then flow control precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating complex three-dimensional annular channels through difficult machining operations, the invention uses the axial dimension to create stepped cylindrical portions. The annular gap is formed by the difference in diameters between adjacent cylindrical portions, converting a complex 3D flow path problem into a simpler 2D dimensional relationship that is easier to manufacture with standard turning operations.
3Productivity
If transverse openings are used for flow medium passage, then flow distribution is improved, but alignment sensitivity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stepped cylindrical design creates an equipotential annular gap that is radially uniform around the valve axis. Flow medium distributed through multiple transverse openings in the valve seat flows into this annular gap, which acts as a flow equalizing chamber. This design makes the flow distribution insensitive to the angular position or alignment of individual transverse openings, as all openings discharge into the same equipotential region.
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 stepped valve housing design simplifies assembly by eliminating the need for precise alignment and reduces manufacturing complexity, ensuring consistent flow through the annular gap while maintaining effective sealing, even under high pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A compression spring is supported on the support element. The compression spring is biased against a piston designed as a ball
Implementation Method 2
The annular gap is sealed with at least one seal
Data Source
AI summary
A valve having at least one valve housing and at least one piston. The valve housing (7) has a hollow-cylindrical first portion (11) with a first diameter (D1) and a second portion (12), connected to the first portion (11), with a second diameter (D2); a first opening (15) is formed on the end face of the valve housing (7) and at least a second opening (16) is formed in the second portion (12); and the first diameter (D1) of the first portion (11) is greater than the second diameter (D2) of the second portion.