Valve Assembly Guide Element for Injection Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fluid injection valves in internal combustion engines experience variations in injection characteristics due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to increased fuel consumption and pollutant emissions, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed without increasing component complexity or processes.

Innovation Solution

A valve assembly for fluid injection valves featuring a hollow valve body, an axially displaceable valve needle, an electromagnetic actuator assembly with a guide element for precise guidance of the armature and valve needle, and a calibration spring to maintain precise positioning and reduce manufacturing tolerance impacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional multi-component valve assemblies are used, then manufacturing flexibility is maintained, but manufacturing tolerances and long tolerance chains cause variations in injection characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinjection characteristic consistencyVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide element is integrally formed with the valve body as a single piece, eliminating the need for separate guide components. This merging of components reduces the number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining precise guidance functionality, thereby reducing tolerance accumulation and improving injection characteristic consistency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide element serves multiple functions: it guides the needle assembly, provides structural support, and maintains positioning accuracy. By combining multiple functions into a single component, the design reduces complexity while achieving better manufacturing precision

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

2Manufacturing precision

If more guide components are added to improve needle assembly guidance, then positioning precision improves, but device complexity and manufacturing processes increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneedle assembly positioningVSAvoidnumber of guide components
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide element is integrally formed with the valve body as a single piece, eliminating the need for separate guide components. This merging of components reduces the number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining precise guidance functionality, thereby reducing tolerance accumulation and improving injection characteristic consistency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide element is designed with distinct functional zones: an upper guide portion for guiding the armature and a lower guide portion for guiding the needle body. This segmentation of functions within a single component allows precise guidance without requiring multiple separate parts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 achieves consistent injection characteristics across different injection events and injectors, reducing fuel consumption and pollutant emissions by ensuring precise alignment and operation of the valve needle and armature, independent of manufacturing tolerances.

Implementation Method 1

an electromagnetic actuator assembly (30) for displacing the valve needle (20) away from the closing position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic attraction: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentEP3061963B1Valve assembly with a guide element
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP3061963B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3061963B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3061963B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2C

AI summary

A valve assembly (1) for a fluid injection valve is specified. It comprises a hollow valve body (10) which hydraulically connects a fluid inlet (12) to an injection orifice (14) and has a longitudinal axis (L) . A valve needle (20) received in the valve body (10) in axially displaceable fashion for sealing the injection orifice (14) in a closing position. It further comprises an electromagnetic actuator assembly (30) for displacing the valve needle (20) away from the closing position, the actuator assembly (30) comprising a movable armature (32) and a pole piece (34) which is positionally fix relative to the valve body (10). A guide element (40) is positionally fix relative to the pole piece (34), has a first guide surface (401) for axially guiding the armature (32) and a second guide surface (403) for axially guiding the valve needle (20).