Valve Unit Liquid Storage Groove Icing Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve units for internal combustion engines, particularly those mounted in a down-draft or up-draft manner, face issues with water entering bearing portions due to inefficient liquid storage and overflow mechanisms, leading to icing and potential malfunctions when the engine is started in cold conditions.
Innovation Solution
A valve unit design featuring an inner tube with an annular liquid storage groove and an overflow portion, where excess liquid can overflow from the groove without reaching the bearing area, and an overflow-restricting portion above the bearing area to prevent liquid from entering the bearing portion, reducing the likelihood of icing and associated malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is captured in the annular grooves, then the throttle valve and shaft are protected from icing, but water may enter the bearing portions and freeze causing shaft lock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wick structure as an intermediary element between the liquid storage groove and the bearing portion. The wick serves as a controlled pathway that allows excess liquid to be absorbed and transported away from the bearing area, preventing direct contact between water and the bearing while still managing the liquid overflow effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful liquid from the vicinity of the bearing portion by providing a dedicated liquid discharge pathway through the wick structure. This separates the liquid management function from the bearing support function, ensuring that water captured in the groove does not contaminate the bearing area.
2Quantity of substance
If the annular groove is open in upward direction, then liquid can be stored, but water may overflow and reach the bearing portion
Solution Approach 1:
The wick structure acts as an intermediary barrier that controls liquid flow from the storage groove. It allows the groove to remain open for maximum liquid storage while providing a controlled discharge path that prevents uncontrolled overflow onto the bearing portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The wick structure utilizes capillary action to automatically absorb and transport excess liquid away from the bearing area without requiring external power or control systems. The liquid discharge hole in the shaft works passively to allow water to escape from the interior, creating a self-regulating liquid management system.
3Productivity
If the shaft extends in horizontal direction, then water can be drawn to combustion chambers, but water may enter clearances between shaft ends and bearing portions
Solution Approach 1:
The wick structure serves as an intermediary that intercepts water before it can enter the clearance between the shaft and bearing portions. It provides a dedicated pathway for water to travel from the groove to the discharge hole, preventing uncontrolled leakage into harmful areas while maintaining the horizontal shaft orientation for effective water discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts water from the potentially harmful clearance area by providing an alternative discharge path through the wick and shaft interior. The liquid discharge hole positioned at the lower end of the shaft interior allows water to be taken out and discharged safely to the combustion chamber, preventing accumulation in the clearance zones.
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 design effectively reduces the entry of overflowed liquid into the bearing portion, minimizing icing and associated issues like shaft lock and malfunction, while allowing for efficient liquid storage and overflow management in various mounting orientations.
Implementation Method 1
the water flowing over from the annular grooves 111, 112 can be drawn to combustion chambers of the engine via portions that are the furthest from the bearing portions 114, 115 of the throttle body
Implementation Method 2
The inner tube defines an axis in an up and down direction... The inner tube has an overflow portion and an overflow-restricting portion. The overflow portion is configured to regulate a level of liquid stored in the liquid storage groove and allows excess liquid to overflow from the liquid storage groove
Implementation Method 3
The overflow-restricting portion is provided in a predetermined area above the bearing portion and is located higher than the overflow portion to restrict the liquid from overflowing from the predetermined area above the bearing portion
Data Source
AI summary
A valve unit for an internal combustion engine includes a duct, a valve and a shaft. The duct includes an inner tube defining a gas passage and an outer tube disposed radially outside of the inner tube. The duct has an annular liquid storage groove between the outer tube and the inner tube. The valve is supported by the shaft in the inner tube to control the gas passage The shaft is held by a bearing portion of the duct. The inner tube has an overflow portion and an overflow-restricting portion at an upper end. The overflow portion regulates a level of liquid stored in the storage groove and allows excess liquid to overflow from the storage groove. The overflow-restricting portion is provided in a predetermined area above the bearing portion and located higher than the overflow portion to restrict the liquid from overflowing from the predetermined area.