Motor Vehicle Valve Screw Gear for Low-Wear Linear Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valve assemblies for motor vehicles face issues such as unwanted transverse forces leading to increased wear and tilting, complex and costly production processes, and limited space for valve tappet storage, resulting in reduced reliability and higher production costs.

Innovation Solution

A valve assembly featuring a screw gear with external and internal threads, a magnetic field sensor, and a pulley system that allows direct rotational movement translation, reducing production steps and quality control requirements, while ensuring reliable and efficient operation with a mechanical return element and sealing mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a crank drive or sliding gear is used to translate rotational movement to linear movement, then the valve tappet can be actuated, but unwanted transverse forces are transmitted to the valve tappet or valve plate causing increased wear and tilting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve tappet reliabilityVSAvoidtransverse forces
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical crank drive or sliding gear with a magnetic field sensor system that uses magnetic fields instead of mechanical contact to detect and control valve tappet position, thereby eliminating transverse forces and mechanical wear

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a magnetic field sensor as an intermediary between the drive motor and valve tappet, using magnetic field interaction rather than direct mechanical contact to actuate the valve, which prevents transmission of harmful transverse forces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If backdrop gears are used with high production accuracy to minimize game on valve disk and valve stem, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve position detection precisionVSAvoidgear system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical backdrop gears with a magnetic field sensor system that provides precise position detection without requiring high-precision mechanical components, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining or improving measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses magnetic field coupling to create a contactless copy of the position information, where the magnetic field sensor detects valve tappet position through magnetic field interaction rather than requiring direct mechanical contact and precise mechanical alignment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Volume of moving object

If a crank drive or sliding gear is used, then space for valve tappet storage is limited to single-sided storage, but this leads to tilting or tilting of the valve tappet

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve tappet storage spaceVSAvoidvalve tappet stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the space-constrained mechanical crank drive with a magnetic field-based actuation system that allows multi-directional and multi-position valve tappet storage without mechanical interference, thereby improving storage flexibility and preventing tilting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from single-sided linear storage to three-dimensional spatial storage using magnetic field actuation, allowing valve tappets to be stored in multiple positions and orientations without mechanical constraints, thus improving stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Ease of manufacture

If a crank drive or sliding gear is used, then the translation device requires complicated mounting operations and production processes, but this makes production more expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetranslation device manufacturing easeVSAvoidmounting and production complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical translation devices with a magnetic field sensor system that requires simpler mounting operations and production processes, as magnetic field sensors can be integrated directly into the valve assembly without complex mechanical linkages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the position detection and actuation functions into a single magnetic field sensor system, eliminating the need for separate mechanical translation devices and reducing overall system complexity and manufacturing cost

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 provides improved reliability and reduced wear by minimizing transverse forces, simplifying production, and enhancing operational efficiency with contactless position detection and reduced friction, resulting in increased valve assembly lifespan and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic field sensor, in which a magnet is arranged with the valve tappet connected to the magnetic field sensor, the position of the valve tappet can be detected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field sensor detection: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

a screw gear with an external thread and an internal thread, wherein the valve tappet at least in a partial area has an external thread

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP3559521B1Valve arrangement for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • EP3559521B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3559521B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3559521B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a valve arrangement (100) for a motor vehicle, having a valve plunger (110) which is fixedly connected to a closure element (120), having a valve housing (130), having a valve seat (140) and having an electric motor (150) by means of which the valve plunger (110) is movable. To create a valve arrangement for a motor vehicle which exhibits improved, more reliable conversion of the rotational movement of a drive motor into a linear movement of a valve plunger, a valve arrangement is proposed which has a helical gearing with an external thread (160) and an internal thread (170), wherein the valve plunger (110) has an external thread (160) at least in one partial region and the valve arrangement (100) has a threaded bushing with an internal thread (170) or a spindle nut with an internal thread (170), or the valve plunger (110) is fixedly connected to a component that has an internal thread (170) and the valve arrangement (110) has an external thread (160), and wherein the valve plunger (110) is connected to a first gearwheel (180) and the valve arrangement (100) has at least one second gearwheel (190), wherein the second gearwheel (190) is arranged such that it can transmit a rotational movement directly or via an intermediate gearing to the first gearwheel (180).