Timing Chain Tensioner Gasket With Replaceable Sealing Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing timing chain tensioner sealing devices, often relying on RTV silicon rubber, require full replacement when faulty, leading to high costs for customers as they must purchase new timing chain tensioners, even if the existing one is still functional.

Innovation Solution

A monolithic elastomeric gasket with outer and inner engagement features, such as an L-shaped lip and thicker areas, is designed to directly engage with the timing chain tensioner and cylinder head, allowing for quick and cost-effective repair without replacing the entire tensioner.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If RTV silicon rubber sealing device is used, then sealing function is achieved, but replacement cost is high when sealing fails

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing functionVSAvoidreplacement cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing system is divided into two independent components: the timing chain tensioner and the gasket. The gasket is a separate replaceable component that can be manufactured at lower cost compared to replacing the entire tensioner assembly, thereby reducing replacement costs while maintaining sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gasket is designed as a low-cost, disposable sealing component that can be easily replaced when it fails. This allows customers to replace only the inexpensive gasket rather than the entire expensive timing chain tensioner, significantly reducing maintenance costs while ensuring continuous sealing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If full timing chain tensioner replacement is required when sealing fails, then sealing reliability is restored, but repair time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidrepair time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is separated from the main tensioner body into an independent gasket component. This segmentation enables the gasket to be quickly removed and replaced without disassembling or replacing the entire tensioner assembly, dramatically reducing repair time while restoring sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gasket is designed as a disposable component that can be quickly discarded when failed and replaced with a new one. The main tensioner body is recovered and reused, eliminating the need to replace the entire assembly and thereby reducing repair time and waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If engagement features directly contact tensioner walls, then gasket retention is improved, but gasket manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegasket retentionVSAvoidgasket structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket incorporates localized engagement features (outer engagement feature and inner engagement feature) at specific positions on the gasket body. These features concentrate the retention function at specific locations rather than distributing complexity throughout the entire gasket structure, improving retention while keeping overall manufacturing complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11035468B2Gasket for a timing chain tensioner

Publication Date: 2021.06.15 FEDERAL MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC

AI summary

The gasket includes a gasket body which is made of a monolithic piece of an elastomeric material. The gasket body has an oil opening for allowing oil to pass between the timing chain tensioner and a cylinder head. The gasket body includes at least one outer engagement feature for directly engaging with an outer wall of the timing chain tensioner to hold the gasket body on the timing chain tensioner. The gasket body also includes at least one inner engagement feature for directly engaging with an inner wall of the timing chain tensioner to further hold the gasket body on the timing chain tensioner.