Venturi Vacuum Device Ice Resistance Surface Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Venturi devices used for producing vacuum in engines face issues with ice and oil buildup in ports, which impairs or blocks fluid flow, particularly when using crankcase gases that can condense or freeze under operating conditions.

Innovation Solution

The Venturi device features a suction passageway with a hydrophobic and oleophobic surface topography, achieved through plasma etching, laser etching, or mechanical etching, and coated with a fluoropolymer or silicone-based oleophobic coating, preventing ice and oil buildup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If crankcase gases are used to generate vacuum, then vacuum production capability is improved, but ice and oil buildup blocks fluid flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevacuum production capabilityVSAvoidfluid flow continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The suction passageway is pre-treated with surface texturing (plasma etching, laser etching, or mechanical etching) and coated with oleophobic coating before operation begins. This preliminary preparation creates a surface that repels oil and ice from the start, preventing buildup that would otherwise block fluid flow and maintain reliable operation throughout the device's service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The surface properties of the suction passageway are fundamentally changed through texturing and oleophobic coating application. This modifies the surface energy and roughness parameters to create hydrophobic and oleophobic characteristics, causing oil and ice to bead up and roll off rather than adhere, thereby maintaining fluid flow continuity while using crankcase gases for vacuum generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If suction passageway surface is textured and coated, then resistance to ice and oil buildup is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to ice and oil buildupVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surface parameters of the suction passageway are modified through texturing processes (plasma etching, laser etching, or mechanical etching) followed by oleophobic coating. This changes the surface energy and microstructure to create ice and oil resistance, achieving reliable performance while the modular two-step process keeps manufacturing complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Complex mechanical anti-icing mechanisms (heating elements, moving parts) are replaced with a passive surface treatment approach. The oleophobic coating and surface texturing provide automatic protection against ice and oil buildup without requiring additional mechanical systems, power sources, or complex control mechanisms, thereby improving reliability while avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 effectively prevents ice formation and reduces oil buildup, ensuring consistent vacuum generation by maintaining fluid flow and preventing blockages in the device.

Implementation Method 1

a suction passageway in fluid communication with the Venturi gap. The suction passageway has an interior surface with a surface topography that renders the interior surface thereof hydrophobic

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobic effect: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

has an oleophobic coating applied to the interior surface while maintaining the surface topography. The oleophobic coating is a composition having a fluoropolymer, a silicone, or combinations thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOleophobic coating: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

devices for producing vacuum using the Venturi effect

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10190455B2Venturi devices resistant to ice formation for producing vacuum from crankcase gases

Publication Date: 2019.01.29 MUVIQ SRL

AI summary

A device for producing vacuum using the Venturi effect, systems utilizing the device, and methods of making the device are disclosed. The device has a housing defining a Venturi gap, a motive passageway converging toward the Venturi gap and in fluid communication therewith, a discharge passageway diverging away from the Venturi gap and in fluid communication therewith, and a suction passageway in fluid communication with the Venturi gap. The suction passageway has an interior surface with a surface topography that renders the interior surface hydrophobic and has an oleophobic coating applied to the interior surface while maintaining the surface topography.