Hydraulic Oil Control Valve Sleeve for Accurate Spring Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hydraulic valve timing adjustment devices face productivity issues during manufacturing due to difficulties in correctly installing springs, which can be tilted during insertion, leading to complications and additional steps such as using cylindrical jigs, thereby reducing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic oil control valve design featuring a cylindrical sleeve with a protrusion at the bottom, having a sloped peripheral surface that allows the spring to be correctly seated by dropping it along the surface to the spring seat, eliminating the need for external jigs and simplifying the installation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a spring is installed in a sleeve by dropping it during manufacturing, then the installation process is simple, but the spring may tilt during insertion, leading to incorrect placement and reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion is formed in advance at the bottom of the sleeve, creating a guide structure before spring installation. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that when the spring is dropped during manufacturing, it follows the correct path and seats accurately on the spring seat, preventing tilting and incorrect placement while maintaining simple installation procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion acts as an intermediary guide element between the spring and the spring seat. During spring installation, the protrusion mediates the spring's descent by providing a sloped peripheral surface that directs the spring's movement, ensuring accurate alignment and preventing tilting without requiring complex external jigs or fixtures
2Manufacturing precision
If cylindrical jigs are used to install springs correctly, then spring placement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve structure itself provides the spring installation guidance through the integrated protrusion, eliminating the need for external cylindrical jigs. The protrusion's sloped peripheral surface serves as a self-contained guide that directs the spring into correct placement automatically during the dropping installation process, reducing equipment complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The guide function previously requiring separate cylindrical jig equipment is merged into the sleeve structure itself through the protrusion. This integration combines the support function and guidance function into a single structural element, eliminating the need for additional installation equipment and simplifying the manufacturing process
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic oil control valve includes a sleeve, a spool and a spring. The spool is received at an inside of the sleeve and is configured to be reciprocated. The spring is configured to be seated against a spring seat of the sleeve and is configured to apply a preload to the spool. The sleeve has a stepped portion, which has a spool contact surface for limiting movement of the spool toward the spring seat, and a protrusion, which is located at a center of the spring seat and protrudes toward an opening of the sleeve. The protrusion has a sloped peripheral surface. The protrusion is configured such that in a state where an end portion of the spring is not seated against the spring seat while the spring is placed adjacent to the spring seat, the end portion of the spring contacts the protrusion.