Valve Assembly Damping Element for Fluid Injector Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid injectors face challenges in achieving reliable and secure operation with good controllability, particularly at high pressures and fast opening times, due to high velocity of the valve needle which is difficult to control during ballistic operations.
Innovation Solution
A valve assembly with a damping element mounted on the valve needle, which generates fluid friction to decelerate the needle's movement, comprising penetrating openings and a disc-shaped design to adjust the decelerating force, ensuring self-stabilization and improved controllability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the armature impacts the valve needle to enable fast opening at high pressures, then the opening speed and pressure capability are improved, but the valve needle velocity becomes too high making ballistic operations uncontrollable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a damping element with damping material between the armature and valve needle that provides predetermined cushioning during the impact phase. This beforehand cushioning absorbs excess energy from the armature impact, reducing the valve needle's peak velocity while still enabling fast opening. The damping element is pre-configured with specific material properties and geometry to achieve the desired velocity reduction factor, thereby maintaining controllability during ballistic operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element acts as an intermediary component between the armature and the valve needle. It mediates the impact interaction by introducing controlled energy dissipation through the damping material. This intermediary element allows the system to achieve both fast opening (by transmitting the impulsive force) and controllability (by reducing excessive velocity through internal damping), resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.
2Productivity
If the valve needle travels fast to achieve low actuation time, then the productivity is improved, but the flow control precision deteriorates due to high velocity effects
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element provides beforehand cushioning that reduces the valve needle's velocity during travel, thereby improving flow control precision while maintaining fast actuation. The damping material is configured to provide optimal velocity reduction throughout the needle's travel path, ensuring that the needle achieves sufficient speed for low actuation time but does not exceed velocities that would compromise flow control precision.
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 damping element effectively reduces the valve needle's velocity through enhanced flow resistance, enabling reliable and secure injector operation with enhanced controllability, allowing for accurate fluid dosing even at high pressures and fast opening transients.
Implementation Method 1
A valve assembly with a damping element mounted on the valve needle, which generates fluid friction to decelerate the needle's movement
Data Source
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AI summary
A valve assembly (1) for a fluid injector is disclosed. It comprises a valve body (3) having a longitudinal axis (L), an armature (9), a valve needle (11) having a needle tip (12) and a damping element (13). The armature (9) and the damping element (13) comprise penetrating first openings (15, 17) respectively, in which the valve needle (11) is arranged. The damping element (13) is fixed to the valve needle (11) and arranged between the armature (9) and the needle tip (12) with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) to attenuate a movement of the valve needle (11) relative to the valve body (3) during the operation of the assembly (1).