Integrated Vacuum Pump and Air Injection Valve Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Packaging constraints in internal combustion engines limit the available space for mounting mechanical vacuum pumps and secondary air injection valves to the cylinder head, making efficient integration challenging.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical vacuum pump with a flange that includes a bore, allowing indirect mounting of the secondary air injection valve to the cylinder head, enabling fresh air flow from the valve to the cylinder head through the pump, thus reducing space requirements and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the mechanical vacuum pump and secondary air injection valve are mounted separately to the cylinder head, then each component can be independently installed and maintained, but the available space is insufficient due to packaging constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mechanical vacuum pump and secondary air injection valve into a single integrated assembly where the valve is mounted on the pump housing. This merging reduces the total space required on the cylinder head while maintaining independent functionality of both components. The integrated design allows both components to be installed and maintained together as one unit, resolving the space constraint issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical vacuum pump housing serves multiple functions: it houses the vacuum pump mechanism and simultaneously provides a mounting platform for the secondary air injection valve. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mounting spaces for both components on the cylinder head, effectively resolving the packaging constraint while maintaining ease of manufacture and maintenance.
2Ease of operation
If the secondary air injection valve is mounted directly to the cylinder head, then the mounting location is fixed and simple, but the packaging constraints limit the available mounting positions
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the valve mounting location with the vacuum pump housing, the system creates a single integrated mounting position on the cylinder head. This eliminates the need for separate fixed mounting locations for both components, resolving the space limitation while maintaining ease of installation and operation.
3Device complexity
If the mechanical vacuum pump is designed with an additional bore for air injection, then the secondary air injection can be integrated through the pump, but the pump structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum pump housing is designed to serve multiple functions: it houses the vacuum pump mechanism and simultaneously provides a mounting platform for the secondary air injection valve with integrated fluid passage. The bore in the housing allows air injection to pass through the pump structure, enabling the housing to function as both a structural component and a fluid conduit. This multi-functionality integrates the air injection system through the pump without requiring separate complex structures, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and ease of manufacture.
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
This configuration reduces packaging constraints, allows for flexible use of the mechanical vacuum pump with or without the secondary air injection valve, and maintains the operational integrity of the mechanical vacuum pump, simplifying the engine assembly process.
Implementation Method 1
The mechanical vacuum pump is driven by the engine, and produces a vacuum
Implementation Method 2
The secondary air injection valve provides a flow of fresh air to the cylinder head, which is injected into the exhaust gas of the engine
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical vacuum pump for an engine includes a flange configured for attachment to a cylinder head of the engine. The flange defines a bore, which is configured for interconnecting an injection air inlet in the cylinder head with an injection air outlet of a secondary air injection valve. The secondary air injection valve is directly mounted to the mechanical vacuum pump, thereby indirectly mounting the secondary air injection valve to the cylinder head of the engine, with the bore communicating fresh air from the secondary air injection valve to the cylinder head.