Throttle Body Bearing Seal Assembly for High-Pressure Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ball bearings used in throttle body assemblies are not suitable for harsh environments with pressures greater than 1.0 bar due to degradation from debris and acid exposure, limiting their durability and operational effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A throttle body assembly design incorporating a seal configuration around the bearing assembly to protect it from high pressures, using a housing with a central port, shaft, and bore, where the seal surrounds the shaft and is positioned between the bearing assembly and the central port to prevent damage from high-pressure air flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ball bearings are used in throttle body assemblies, then durability and reduced friction are improved, but the bearings cannot withstand harsh environments with pressures greater than 1.0 bar

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidhigh pressure exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A seal is introduced as an intermediary component between the ball bearing and the high-pressure environment. The seal prevents direct exposure of the ball bearing to high-pressure air flow and contaminants, allowing the bearing to operate reliably in harsh environments that would otherwise damage it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The throttle body assembly is segmented into protected and exposed zones. The ball bearing is isolated in a protected zone behind the seal, while the seal itself forms a barrier that separates the bearing from the harsh external environment including high pressure, debris, and acid exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If needle bearings are used instead of ball bearings, then the bearings can withstand high pressure environments, but friction increases and durability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehigh pressure resistanceVSAvoiddurability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The seal acts as a protective intermediary that allows ball bearings to be used in high-pressure environments by preventing direct contact between the bearing and harmful environmental factors, thereby achieving both low friction and high pressure resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If ball bearings are exposed to debris and acid in the harsh environment, then the bearings degrade quickly, but protecting them requires additional components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris and acid exposureVSAvoidseal configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seal serves as a protective intermediary barrier that prevents debris and acid from reaching the ball bearing. While this does add a component to the assembly, it is a relatively simple component that provides comprehensive protection against multiple harmful factors simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10934946B2Bearing seal assembly for electronic throttle control valve

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES USA LLC

AI summary

The present invention is a throttle body assembly which is adaptable for both gasoline and diesel applications, and may also be used for applications to meter fluid, such as for a water cooling valve. The throttle body assembly includes at least one bearing assembly and at least one seal which is used to configure the bearing assembly to withstand a high-pressure environment.