Throttle Body Venting for Gas Leakage and Ice Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Throttle bodies and actuators in engine applications face issues with gas leakage due to high pressure and thermal shock, leading to ice formation and hazardous conditions, which existing gaskets fail to adequately seal over time, risking shaft seizure and fire.
Innovation Solution
A throttle body design featuring a main body with a supply duct, a choke valve, and a control shaft with a first gasket to prevent dirt and gas penetration, accompanied by a vent with a non-return device to expel leaked gases outside, preventing backflow and facilitating safe gas evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strong and reinforced gaskets are used to prevent gas leakage, then sealing reliability is improved, but the gaskets are still subjected to wear and chemical corrosion over time, leading to sealing failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the leaked gas from the critical zone by providing a vent channel that directs escaped gas away from the spindle and gasket area. This prevents the accumulated harmful effects of leakage (ice formation, pressure buildup, chemical corrosion) while maintaining the gasket's protective function, thereby extending its effective service life without compromising sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent channel provides preliminary protection by capturing and redirecting leaked gas before it can cause harmful effects such as ice formation around the spindle, pressure buildup in the actuator chamber, or chemical corrosion of the gasket materials. This preemptive action preserves gasket integrity and maintains sealing reliability over time.
2Ease of operation
If the spindle rotates continuously to control the throttle valve, then the throttle can be actuated, but the continuous rotation causes wear on the gasket due to rubbing, compromising the seal
Solution Approach 1:
The vent channel extracts and removes leaked gas from the vicinity of the rotating spindle and gasket interface. By continuously evacuating the leaked gas, the vent prevents the buildup of substances that would otherwise accelerate gasket wear and degradation, thereby maintaining sealing reliability despite continuous rotational operation.
3Loss of energy
If the gas leakage is allowed to expand and cool, then the thermodynamic process occurs, but ice formation occurs which can cause shaft seizure or resistance to rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The vent channel takes out and removes the expanded, cooled gas from the actuator chamber before it can deposit as ice on the spindle and surrounding components. This continuous removal prevents ice accumulation that would otherwise cause shaft seizure or rotational resistance, allowing the thermodynamic expansion process to occur without harmful side effects.
4Quantity of substance
If the leaked gas accumulates in the seat, then pressure builds up, but the gas may be fired by overheating or sparks from the electrical motor, creating fire hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The vent channel continuously extracts and removes leaked gas from the actuator chamber and seat area, preventing gas accumulation to hazardous levels. By maintaining a continuous outflow path, the vent ensures that even in the presence of electrical motors and potential sparks, the concentration of flammable gas remains below dangerous thresholds, eliminating the fire hazard.
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
Ensures reliable sealing and safe gas evacuation, reducing the risk of ice formation and hazardous conditions by providing a preferential exit path for leaked gases, thus preventing damage to the actuation kinematics and maintaining operational safety.
Implementation Method 1
the mixture is usually pressurized (sometimes even under pulsating pressure) and, as a result of the expansion due to the leakage, may be subject to a high thermal shock, which may lead to the formation of ice
Data Source
AI summary
A throttle body or actuator for an engine, comprising a main body which defines at least one supply duct having a through lumen for a gas mixture, a choke valve placed inside said supply duct so as to modify said through lumen. The choke valve is provided with an occluding body connected to a control shaft, at least partially housed in a seat in the main body. The control shaft, inside the seat and on the side of the occluding body, is provided with a first gasket adapted to prevent the penetration of dirt and gas from the supply duct. Downstream of the first gasket, on the side of the control shaft, at least one vent is provided, adapted to allow the expulsion, outside the seat, of any gas which has leaked through the first gasket.