A switching valve with a structure for protecting and controlling a shape memory alloy wire
By designing a switch valve that does not require additional chip hardware and program control, the closed conductive circuit of the conductive shrapnel and memory wire is used to solve the problems of noise and heat loss of existing solenoid switch valves, and the effective control and protection of memory wires is achieved, reducing cost and structural complexity.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510306890.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-15
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-27
- Estimated Expiration
- 2045-03-15
AI Technical Summary
Excessive electromagnetic switch valves cause noise and heat loss when the electromagnetic force is on the moment they are powered on. When using memory wires, circuit board and program logic need to be added to avoid overheating, resulting in cost increase and structural complexity.
A switch valve is designed that does not require additional chip hardware and program control, and control and protection of memory alloy wires are achieved through pure physical structures. The closed conductive loop is formed by using conductive shrapnel and memory wires, and the channel is opened and closed by the deformation driving valve core of memory wires.
It realizes effective control and protection of memory wires, reduces the use of components, has simple structure, is easy to use and maintain, and the movement of the valve core is quiet, runs quietly and has a long service life.
Smart Images
Figure CN119802255B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of valves, and more particularly to a switching valve having a structure for protecting and controlling a shape memory alloy wire. Background Art
[0002] A switching valve is a valve used to control the flow of fluids (such as liquids, gases or vapors), and its main function is to open or close the fluid passage; an electromagnetic switching valve uses a dedicated coil to generate magnetic force when working, causing the moving iron core assembly to perform reciprocating motion to open or close the passage in the valve body.
[0003] The electromagnetic force of the electromagnetic switching valve is relatively large at the moment of power-on, resulting in collisions between the moving iron core assembly and other metal parts, generating noise, and the electromagnetic coil is prone to heat generation. Long-term use will cause the coil function to decline, resulting in accidental opening or closing of the valve, bringing great safety risks.
[0004] Among existing switching valves, there are also products that use shape memory alloy wires (SMA wires) to control the moving iron core assembly; the diameter of SMA wires is usually very small, usually less than 0.1 mm. Therefore, when the supply current level is relatively high, the SMA wire will quickly reach the threshold temperature, causing the SMA wire to overheat. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the power supply to avoid overheating of the SMA wire; to solve the above problems, existing products usually use program control to supply power to the SMA wire intermittently. Therefore, it is necessary to add a circuit board (or chip) and program logic, resulting in an increase in production cost and a more complex structure. Summary of the Invention
[0005] In view of this, it is necessary to provide a switching valve that can protect and control the shape memory alloy wire structure without additional chip hardware and program control.
[0006] To solve the above technical problems, the technical solution of the present invention is: a switching valve having a structure for protecting and controlling a shape memory alloy wire, including:
[0007] A valve body, which has a first channel, a second channel and a third channel therein. The first channel has a first connection hole communicating with the third channel, and the second channel has a second connection hole communicating with the third channel; the outer side wall of the valve body also has a first conductive contact and a second conductive contact. The first conductive contact is fixedly electrically connected to a conductive elastic sheet, and one end of the conductive elastic sheet always maintains electrical connection with the second conductive contact under the action of its own elastic force;
[0008] A valve core, the valve core is movably connected to the valve body, the lower end of the valve core is located in the third channel, a sealing gasket is connected to the lower end of the valve core, a spring is sleeved on the upper end of the side wall of the valve core, and under the action of the spring, the valve core always maintains a downward movement tendency; the upper end of the valve core is located directly below the conductive elastic sheet;
[0009] A shape memory alloy wire, both ends of the shape memory alloy wire are electrically connected to the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact respectively, the shape memory alloy wire, the first conductive contact, the second conductive contact, the conductive elastic sheet and an external power source together form a closed conductive loop; the middle part of the shape memory alloy wire is connected to the valve core, after the shape memory alloy wire is electrified and heated, the shape memory alloy wire shrinks to force the valve core to move upward against the acting force of the spring;
[0010] The switching valve has the following working states:
[0011] The external power source is powered off, the shape memory alloy wire is not electrified, the valve core moves downward under the action of the spring until the sealing gasket seals the second connection hole, at this time the first channel communicates with the third channel, and one end of the conductive elastic sheet is electrically connected to the second conductive contact;
[0012] The external power source supplies power, the shape memory alloy wire is electrified and heated, the shape memory alloy wire gradually shrinks and forces the valve core to move upward until the sealing gasket seals the first connection hole, and the upper end of the valve core pushes up the conductive elastic sheet so that one end of the conductive elastic sheet is separated from the electrical connection with the second conductive contact, at this time the second channel communicates with the third channel, and the shape memory alloy wire is powered off; after the shape memory alloy wire is powered off and cools down and gradually returns to its original shape, the acting force of the deformation of the shape memory alloy wire on the valve core is gradually less than the acting force of the spring on the valve core, the valve core gradually moves downward until one end of the conductive elastic sheet resumes the electrical connection with the second conductive contact, the shape memory alloy wire is electrified and heated, the shape memory alloy wire gradually shrinks and forces the valve core to move upward so that the second channel and the third channel always maintain a connected state.
[0013] Furthermore, a clamping groove is provided on the side wall of the valve core, and the shape memory alloy wire is embedded in the clamping groove.
[0014] Furthermore, both ends of the shape memory alloy wire are fastened to the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact respectively by screws.
[0015] Further, the valve body also has a third conductive contact and a fourth conductive contact. The third conductive contact is electrically connected to the first conductive contact, and the fourth conductive contact is electrically connected to the second conductive contact. One end of the conductive elastic sheet is fixedly electrically connected to the third conductive contact, and the other end of the conductive elastic sheet is elastically electrically connected to the fourth conductive contact.
[0016] Further, the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact are located on the left and right sides of the valve body, and the third conductive contact and the fourth conductive contact are located on the front and back sides of the valve body.
[0017] Further, the valve body is fixedly connected in sequence by an upper cover, a middle cover and a lower cover.
[0018] Further, a sealing ring is also arranged at the connection between the middle cover and the lower cover.
[0019] Further, the upper cover and the lower cover are fixedly connected by fasteners.
[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:
[0021] This switching valve can protect and control the shape memory alloy wire without additional chip hardware and program control. By means of a pure physical structure, the control and protection of the shape memory metal wire are realized, the use of components is reduced, the structure is simple, and the use and maintenance are convenient.
[0022] This switching valve has the same control ability as the solenoid valve, but overcomes the noise and vibration generated by the collision of the valve core with other metal parts due to the excessive electromagnetic force of the solenoid valve. Since the deformation of the shape memory metal wire requires a certain amount of time, the movement of the valve core will not be as rapid as that of the solenoid valve. The movement of the valve core of this device is quiet, the operation is quiet, and the service life is long.
[0023] To make the above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the following specific preferred embodiments are given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and are described in detail as follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Figure 1 It is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] Figure 2 It is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] Figure 3 It is Figure 2 the A-A cross-sectional view in
[0027] Figure 4 It is Figure 2 the B-B cross-sectional view in
[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic structural view of the conductive elastic piece and the fourth conductive contact being disengaged from electrical connection in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] In the figure: 1 - valve body, 11 - first conductive contact, 12 - second conductive contact, 13 - third conductive contact, 14 - fourth conductive contact, 15 - conductive elastic piece, 16 - upper cover, 17 - middle cover, 18 - lower cover, 2 - first channel, 21 - first connection hole, 3 - second channel, 31 - second connection hole, 4 - third channel, 5 - shape memory wire, 6 - valve core, 61 - spring, 62 - sealing gasket, 63 - clamping groove. Specific embodiments
[0030] To further elaborate on the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the predetermined invention purpose, the following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, details the specific embodiments, structures, features, and their effects of the present invention as follows.
[0031] As Figures 1-4 shown, a switching valve with a structure for protecting and controlling a shape memory alloy wire includes: a valve body 1, a valve core 6, and a shape memory wire 5. The valve body 1 is fixedly connected in sequence by an upper cover 16, a middle cover 17, and a lower cover 18. A sealing ring is also provided at the connection between the middle cover 17 and the lower cover 18, and the upper cover 16 and the lower cover 18 are fixedly connected by screws.
[0032] The valve body 1 has a first channel 2, a second channel 3, and a third channel 4. The first channel 2 has a first connection hole 21 communicating with the third channel 4, and the second channel 3 has a second connection hole 31 communicating with the third channel 4.
[0033] The top of the valve body 1 has a first conductive contact 11, a second conductive contact 12, a third conductive contact 13, and a fourth conductive contact 14. The third conductive contact 13 is electrically connected to the first conductive contact 11, the fourth conductive contact 14 is electrically connected to the second conductive contact 12, the third conductive contact 13 is fixedly electrically connected to a conductive elastic piece 15, and one end of the conductive elastic piece 15 always maintains electrical connection with the fourth conductive contact 14 under the action of its own elastic force.
[0034] The valve core 6 is movably connected to the valve body 1. The lower end of the valve core 6 is located in the third channel 4. The lower end of the valve core 6 is connected with a sealing gasket 62. A spring 61 is sleeved on the upper end of the side wall of the valve core 6. Under the action of the spring 61, the valve core 6 always maintains a tendency to move downward; the upper end of the valve core 6 is located directly below the conductive elastic piece 15.
[0035] Both ends of the shape memory wire 5 are electrically connected to the first conductive contact 11 and the second conductive contact 12 respectively. The shape memory wire 5, the first conductive contact 11, the second conductive contact 12, the third conductive contact 13, the fourth conductive contact 14, the conductive elastic sheet 15 and an external power supply together form a closed conductive loop; the middle part of the shape memory wire 5 is connected to the valve core 6. After the shape memory wire 5 is energized and heated, the shape memory wire 5 contracts and forces the valve core 6 to move upward against the force of the spring.
[0036] In this embodiment, the side wall of the valve core 6 has a clamping groove 63, and the shape memory wire 5 is embedded in the clamping groove 63. The setting of the clamping groove facilitates the installation and disassembly of the shape memory wire.
[0037] In this embodiment, both ends of the shape memory wire 5 are fastened to the first conductive contact 11 and the second conductive contact 12 respectively by screws.
[0038] In this embodiment, the first conductive contact 11 and the second conductive contact 12 are located on the left and right sides of the valve body 1, and the third conductive contact 13 and the fourth conductive contact 14 are located on the front and back sides of the valve body 1. The layout of the conductive contacts facilitates the arrangement of the conductive elastic sheet, avoids insufficient installation space, and thus ensures that the conductive elastic sheet has sufficient displacement space.
[0039] This switching valve has the following working states:
[0040] The external power supply is cut off, and the shape memory wire is not energized. As Figure 4 shown, the valve core moves downward under the action of the spring until the sealing gasket seals the second connection hole. At this time, the first channel is connected to the third channel, and one end of the conductive elastic sheet is electrically connected to the second conductive contact;
[0041] The external power supply supplies power, and the shape memory wire is energized and heated. As Figure 5 shown, the shape memory wire gradually contracts and forces the valve core to move upward until the sealing gasket seals the first connection hole, and the upper end of the valve core pushes up the conductive elastic sheet so that one end of the conductive elastic sheet is separated from the electrical connection with the second conductive contact. At this time, the second channel is connected to the third channel, and the shape memory wire is powered off; after the shape memory wire is powered off, it cools down and gradually returns to its original shape. The acting force of the deformation of the shape memory wire on the valve core gradually becomes smaller than the acting force of the spring on the valve core, and the valve core gradually moves downward until one end of the conductive elastic sheet resumes the electrical connection with the second conductive contact. The shape memory wire is energized and heated, and the shape memory wire gradually contracts and forces the valve core to move upward so that the second channel and the third channel always remain in a connected state.
[0042] The shape memory wire is in a metallic state with martensitic properties at room temperature. When the shape memory wire is heated by passing an electric current to a threshold of about 80 °C, it transforms into an austenitic structure. Due to this transformation, the length of the shape memory wire shortens, and thus it can drive the valve core. The continuous movement of the valve core pushes the conductive elastic piece open until the entire closed conductive circuit is disconnected, the shape memory wire is powered off, and the conductive elastic piece is similar to a switch.
[0043] After the shape memory wire is powered off, it cools down slowly, its length increases slowly, and the force it exerts on the valve core gradually becomes smaller than the force exerted by the spring on the valve core. The valve core moves downward. Before the gasket reaches the second connection hole, the conductive elastic piece is electrically connected to the fourth conductive contact first, the conductive circuit is closed, the shape memory wire is energized again to generate deformation and shorten, and it pulls up the valve core again, thus repeating the above process.
[0044] This device can keep the valve core in this state (that is, the second channel and the third channel always remain in a connected state). This state does not require control and protection by a circuit board and a program, and this function can be achieved by a pure physical structure, thus achieving the control and protection effect on the shape memory wire.
[0045] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it is not intended to limit the present invention in any form. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some changes or modifications to equivalent embodiments by using the above-disclosed technical content within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention. However, as long as it does not depart from the content of the technical solution of the present invention, any brief modification, equivalent change, and modification made to the above embodiment according to the technical essence of the present invention still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.
Claims
1. A switch valve with a protection and control memory alloy wire structure, characterized in that: include: A valve body, wherein the valve body has a first channel, a second channel and a third channel, the first channel has a first connection hole connected to the third channel, and the second channel has a second connection hole connected to the third channel; the outer side wall of the valve body also has a first conductive contact and a second conductive contact, the first conductive contact is fixedly electrically connected to a conductive spring, and one end of the conductive spring always maintains electrical connection with the second conductive contact under the action of its own elastic force; A valve core, wherein the valve core is movably connected to the valve body, the lower end of the valve core is located in the third channel, the lower end of the valve core is connected to a sealing gasket, the upper end of the side wall of the valve core is sleeved with a spring, and the valve core always maintains a downward movement trend under the action of the spring; the upper end of the valve core is located directly below the conductive spring; A memory metal wire, wherein two ends of the memory metal wire are electrically connected to the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact respectively, and the memory metal wire, the first conductive contact, the second conductive contact, the conductive spring and an external power source together form a closed conductive loop; the middle portion of the memory metal wire is connected to the valve core, and after the memory metal wire is powered on and heated, the memory metal wire contracts to force the valve core to overcome the force of the spring and move upward; The switch valve has the following working states: When the external power supply is turned off and the memory wire is not energized, the valve core moves downward under the action of the spring until the sealing gasket seals the second connecting hole. At this time, the first channel is connected to the third channel, and one end of the conductive spring is electrically connected to the second conductive contact. An external power source is used to supply power, and the memory wire is energized and heated. The memory wire gradually contracts and forces the valve core to move upward until the sealing gasket seals the first connecting hole, and the upper end of the valve core lifts the conductive spring sheet so that one end of the conductive spring sheet is disconnected from the electrical connection with the second conductive contact. At this time, the second channel is connected to the third channel, and the memory wire is powered off; after the power is off, the memory wire cools down and gradually returns to its original shape. The force exerted by the deformation of the memory wire on the valve core is gradually less than the force exerted by the spring on the valve core, and the valve core gradually moves downward until one end of the conductive spring sheet recovers the electrical connection with the second conductive contact. The memory wire is energized and heated. The memory wire gradually contracts and forces the valve core to move upward, so that the second channel and the third channel always remain connected.
2. The switch valve with a protection and control memory alloy wire structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side wall of the valve core is provided with a slot, and the memory metal wire is embedded in the slot.
3. The switch valve with a protection and control memory alloy wire structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two ends of the memory metal wire are fastened to the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact respectively by screws.
4. The switch valve with a protection and control memory alloy wire structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve body also has a third conductive contact and a fourth conductive contact, the third conductive contact is electrically connected to the first conductive contact, the fourth conductive contact is electrically connected to the second conductive contact, one end of the conductive spring is fixedly electrically connected to the third conductive contact, and the other end of the conductive spring is elastically electrically connected to the fourth conductive contact.
5. The switch valve with a protection and control memory alloy wire structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first conductive contact and the second conductive contact are located at left and right sides of the valve body, and the third conductive contact and the fourth conductive contact are located at front and back sides of the valve body.
6. The switch valve with a protection and control memory alloy wire structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve body is formed by an upper cover, a middle cover and a lower cover which are fixedly connected in sequence.
7. The switch valve with a protection and control memory alloy wire structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: A sealing ring is also provided at the connection between the middle cover and the lower cover.
8. The switch valve with a protection and control memory alloy wire structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The upper cover and the lower cover are fixedly connected by fasteners.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Current overload self-recovery protector
CN116313636A
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