Vane Pump Leaf Spring Valve Hole Design for Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vane pumps suffer from metallic-sounding noises due to sudden changes in oil momentum and require additional manufacturing steps and reduced durability, particularly with groove arrangements and leaf spring designs.

Innovation Solution

A vane pump design featuring a leaf spring with a constriction between the closure and fastening areas, where the valve body rests on the housing, and a hole at the closure area near the dead center, avoiding bending stress and additional processing, thus enhancing durability and noise reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a groove is arranged in the outlet area to create a permanent opening, then metallic-sounding noise is reduced, but additional manufacturing steps are required and the leaf spring experiences additional bending stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemetallic-sounding noiseVSAvoidmanufacturing steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the permanent opening function with the leaf spring valve body itself by forming a hole through the valve body, rather than creating a separate groove in the housing. This merging of functions eliminates the need for additional manufacturing steps while maintaining the noise reduction effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The leaf spring valve body serves multiple functions: it closes the outlet opening when needed, provides structural support resting on the housing, and contains the hole that creates the permanent opening for noise reduction. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components or additional housing modifications.

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

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a groove is arranged in the outlet area to create a permanent opening, then metallic-sounding noise is reduced, but the leaf spring experiences additional bending stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemetallic-sounding noiseVSAvoidleaf spring durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The permanent opening is integrated into the leaf spring valve body itself rather than being a separate groove in the housing. This integration ensures the leaf spring maintains full contact with the housing, distributing loads evenly and preventing additional bending stress while still providing the noise reduction function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hole in the leaf spring is strategically positioned to provide the permanent opening function only where needed for noise reduction, while the rest of the leaf spring maintains its structural integrity and full contact with the housing to distribute mechanical loads appropriately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a hole is made in the leaf spring valve body, then metallic-sounding noise is reduced, but the strength of the leaf spring is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemetallic-sounding noiseVSAvoidleaf spring strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The hole is positioned in a specific location on the leaf spring where it provides the noise reduction function while minimizing impact on overall structural strength. The leaf spring's geometry and material properties are optimized to maintain sufficient strength despite the presence of the hole.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The leaf spring is designed with a circular arc shape, which distributes stresses more evenly throughout the structure. This curved geometry, combined with strategic hole placement, helps maintain structural integrity while enabling the noise reduction function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the leaf spring does not rest on the housing in the groove area, then the permanent opening is created, but the leaf spring is subjected to additional bending stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemetallic-sounding noiseVSAvoidbending stress on leaf spring
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The leaf spring valve body with its integrated hole serves as both the closing mechanism and the permanent opening structure, eliminating the need for separate grooves. This ensures continuous contact between the leaf spring and housing, distributing mechanical loads evenly and preventing localized bending stress.

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

This design effectively reduces metallic-sounding noises and improves the mechanical durability of the leaf spring without additional manufacturing steps, allowing for cost-effective production through a stamping process.

Implementation Method 1

air is sucked in via the permanent opening, as a result of which this change in momentum is significantly slowed down and the beating noise decreases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressibility:

Data Source

PatentEP1953389B1Vacuum pump
Publication Date: 2018.10.03 PIERBURG GMBH
  • EP1953389B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The vacuum pump has an external housing, which separates pump inner area from pump outer area and in which an outlet is formed for the medium to connect the pump inner area with the pump outer area. A permanent opening of the outlet (3) is realized by a hole (15) in the valve body (9) and the outer circumference area (14) of the valve body lies completely on the external housing (1).