Valve Assembly Particle Filter Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel injection valve designs with integrated ball guides face challenges in preventing internal contamination, which can lead to the injector getting stuck open and compromising sealing integrity, as traditional particle filters cannot be used due to the ball guide's integral design.

Innovation Solution

A valve assembly with a particle filter positioned downstream of the ball guide, integrated into the valve body, and optionally an additional upstream filter, ensures contamination is minimized by using a resiliently supported or gap-avoiding design that maintains filtering efficiency and reduces mechanical wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If an integrated ball guide is used in the valve body, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but particle filters cannot be integrated and internal contamination cannot be prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveball guide structureVSAvoidsealing integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The valve body cavity is segmented into a first portion (upstream of the ball guide) and a second portion (downstream of the ball guide). The particle filter is specifically positioned in the second portion, separating the filtering function from the ball guide structure while maintaining the benefits of the integrated ball guide design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A particle filter is introduced as an intermediary component in the fluid flow path, positioned downstream of the ball guide. This filter acts as a mediator that removes particles from the fluid before it reaches the sealing area, preventing contamination without requiring modification to the integrated ball guide structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a particle filter is positioned close to the ball guide, then filtering efficiency is improved, but mechanical wear increases due to contact between filter elements and ball guide components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidmechanical wear
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The particle filter is extracted from the ball guide structure and positioned independently in the second portion of the cavity. This separation removes the harmful mechanical interaction between filter elements and ball guide components while maintaining effective particle filtration through strategic positioning downstream of the ball guide.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 effectively prevents injector stuck open events and ensures reliable operation under high pressure, maintaining sealing integrity and reducing component wear by strategically placing the particle filter outside the ball guide's mechanical interaction zone.

Implementation Method 1

A particle filter is entirely arranged in the second portion of the cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

an armature of an electromagnetic actuator unit being designed to actuate the valve needle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3467299B1Valve assembly for an injection valve and injection valve
Publication Date: 2021.09.01 VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • EP3467299B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3467299B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

Valve assembly (3) for an injection valve (1), comprising - a valve body (4) with a central longitudinal axis (L) comprising a cavity (9) with a fluid inlet portion (5) and a fluid outlet portion (7), wherein the cavity (9) comprises a first portion (25) extending from the fluid inlet portion (5) to a bottom surface (29) and a second portion (27) extending from a central opening (31) in the bottom surface (29) down towards the fluid outlet portion (7), - a valve needle (11) axially moveable in the cavity (9), the valve needle (11) comprising a shaft (15) and a ball (13), the ball (13) cooperating with a valve seat (17) to prevent a fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion (7) in a closing position and to release the fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion (7) in further positions, - a seat body (33), the seat body (33) being an integral part of the valve body (4) and forming the valve seat (17) and a ball guide; - an armature (23) of an electro-magnetic actuator unit (19) being designed to actuate the valve needle (11), the armature (23) being arranged in the first portion (25) of the cavity (9); wherein a lower particle filter (25) is entirely arranged in the second portion (27) of the cavity (9).