Urea Sender Unit Integrated Electrovalve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing urea conditioning circuits for industrial vehicles are bulky and expensive due to the presence of brackets, dedicated wiring, and connection pipes, necessitating a more compact and economical solution.

Innovation Solution

A urea sender unit with an integrated electrovalve and a simplified heat exchange pipe configuration that reduces the need for external pipes and wiring, incorporating a disc with orifices connected to the heat exchange pipe and a polymer jacket housing the suction duct, along with a damper acting as a dynamic damper, filter, and sensor support, allowing for direct signal processing and control of the electrovalve.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a conventional urea conditioning circuit with bracket, dedicated wiring, and connection pipes is used, then reliable urea temperature control is achieved, but the system occupies large space and has high manufacturing cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace occupationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the electrovalve directly into the sender unit housing, merging previously separate components (electrovalve, bracket, wiring harness, connection pipes) into a single integrated assembly. This consolidation eliminates the need for external mounting brackets, dedicated wiring runs, and separate connection pipes, thereby reducing overall system volume and complexity while maintaining the temperature control function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sender unit housing serves multiple functions: it contains the sender unit itself, houses the electrovalve, provides mounting structure (replacing the bracket), and incorporates fluid connection pathways (replacing separate connection pipes). This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If an integrated electrovalve and simplified heat exchange pipe configuration are used, then manufacturing cost and space requirements are reduced, but assembly precision and sealing reliability become more critical

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidassembly precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The electrovalve is integrated directly into the sender unit housing with built-in connection pathways, eliminating the need for separate assembly of multiple external components. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of parts to produce and assemble, while the housing itself is designed to provide precise positioning and sealing surfaces for the electrovalve

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution results in a smaller, more economical urea conditioning circuit with reduced space requirements and manufacturing complexity, while maintaining effective temperature control and fluid management for the urea solution.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchange pipe (3), which is part of a urea conditioning circuit (100), which axially extends under the head (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

the urea sender unit (1) comprises an integrated electrovalve (27)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentEP3523520B1Urea sender unit
Publication Date: 2020.12.02 ERRECINQUE
  • EP3523520B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3523520B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3523520B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sender unit (1) for conveying a solution of urea into a vehicle, comprising an upper portion (2) configured to be inserted in an opening of a tank; the upper portion (2) defines a first and a second orifice (5, 6) adapted to be connected to an inlet pipe (11) and to an outlet pipe (12) forming part of a conditioning circuit (100); further comprising: - a heat exchange pipe (3) connected to the first and to the second orifice (5, 6) and adapted to be at least partially immersed in the urea solution, - sensor means for detecting a temperature of the urea solution, and - an electrical interface unit (23) connected to the sensor means and configured to exchange electrical signals with an external electronic unit. The sender unit (1) comprises an electrovalve (27) carried by the upper portion (2) and connected to the interface unit (23) and configured to control the flow of the conditioning fluid in the conditioning circuit (100).