Temperature-based flow controller and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a temperature-based flow controller and a control method thereof, and the flow controller comprises a housing which sleeves a hose for circulating an anti-freezing solution and forms an accommodating cavity outwards; the temperature sensing driving mechanism is positioned in the accommodating cavity and comprises a thermal expansion medium and a driving part which moves along with the increase or decrease of the volume of the thermal expansion medium; the executing mechanism comprises clamping pieces symmetrically arranged on the two sides of the hose, and the clamping pieces are connected with the driving piece in a matched mode; along with the increase or decrease of the volume of the thermal expansion medium, the driving piece drives the clamping pieces on the two sides of the hose to inwards extrude or outwards loosen the hose. Through the application, the purpose of throttling can be achieved by changing the flow area of the hose for circulating the anti-freezing solution.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of fluid delivery, in particular to a temperature-based flow controller and a control method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] The fuel used by natural gas engines is liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG), the main component of which is methane (CH4). A large amount of water is produced after methane combustion. In extremely cold conditions, such as below -15℃, when the engine runs at low load for a period of time, the engine body is relatively cold at low load, and the water vapor entering the mixer through the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system will condense into water, which will freeze and block the inner cavity of the mixer after the engine is turned off, causing problems such as unstable engine speed after starting, no response to stepping on the accelerator, and the engine cannot start when the freezing is severe.

[0003] In view of the above situation, in order to prevent the mixer cavity from freezing, the mixer often increases a heating cavity, which is heated by engine antifreeze (or heated water). However, the mixer has different requirements for the flow of antifreeze in winter and summer, and there is a lack of corresponding control devices in the prior art, which results in that the heating in winter can meet the requirements, but in summer it will affect the intake air volume, and also brings additional accessory power consumption. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application provides a temperature-based flow controller and a control method thereof, which can achieve throttling by changing the flow area of the antifreeze circulating hose.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application provides a temperature-based flow controller. It comprises: a shell which is sleeved on an antifreeze circulating hose, the shell forms an accommodating cavity outwardly; a temperature sensing driving mechanism which is located in the accommodating cavity, comprising a thermal expansion medium and a driving piece which moves with the volume of the thermal expansion medium increasing or decreasing; an execution mechanism which comprises clamping pieces symmetrically arranged on both sides of the hose, the clamping pieces are connected with the driving piece in cooperation; with the volume of the thermal expansion medium increasing or decreasing, the driving piece drives the clamping pieces on both sides of the hose to press inwardly or loosen outwardly.

[0006] In combination with the first aspect, in some embodiments, the temperature sensing driving mechanism further comprises an elastic sealing piece and a baffle, the elastic sealing piece seals the thermal expansion medium in the accommodating cavity, the baffle is fixedly connected with the shell to limit the elastic sealing piece, the baffle is provided with a guide hole, and the driving piece extends into the guide hole.

[0007] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some embodiments, one end of the drive member extends into the guide hole and is embedded in the elastic seal, while the other end is connected to the clamping member.

[0008] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some embodiments, the receiving cavity is located on the side of the hose, and the axial direction of the guide hole is the radial direction of the hose, and the driving member moves axially along the guide hole as the volume of the thermal expansion medium increases or decreases.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some embodiments, the clamping member includes a gear set, a connecting rod, and a pressing block. The shaft of the gear set is mounted on the inner wall of the receiving cavity, and the gear set meshes with the driving member. The inner wall of the pressing block contacts the hose, and the outer wall is connected to the gear set via the connecting rod.

[0010] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some embodiments, the gear set includes a drive gear and a driven gear, the diameter of the drive gear being smaller than the diameter of the driven gear, and the drive gear meshing with a drive member.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some embodiments, the connecting rod includes a long rod and a short rod, the ends of which are joined to form an included angle, the other end of the long rod being fixedly connected to the driven gear, and the other end of the short rod being fixedly connected to the outer wall of the extrusion block.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some embodiments, the included angle is an acute angle, and the included angles formed by the two connecting rods are arranged opposite each other, with the long rod fixed to the end plane of the driven gear.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some embodiments, the hose is a circular tube with its core located at the line connecting the two extrusion blocks.

[0014] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a control method for a temperature-based flow controller based on any of the above embodiments. It includes: if the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to a preset temperature, the volume of the thermally expanding medium increases, the driving member moves outward from the receiving cavity, causing the clamping members on both sides of the hose to squeeze the hose inward, thereby reducing the flow area of ​​the hose; if the ambient temperature is less than the preset temperature, the volume of the thermally expanding medium decreases, the driving member moves inward from the receiving cavity, causing the clamping members on both sides of the hose to release the hose outward, thereby restoring the flow area of ​​the hose.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the technical solutions provided in this application include: By fitting the housing over the hose carrying antifreeze, no modification to the hose is required, reducing costs and installation difficulty. A cavity is formed outward from the housing, and the temperature-sensing actuator is housed within this cavity. This actuator includes a thermally expanding medium and a drive component that moves as the volume of the medium increases or decreases. The cavity provides a sealed space for the actuator, effectively isolating it from oil, dust, vibration, and other interference factors in the engine compartment, preventing leakage of the thermally expanding medium or jamming of the drive component. Furthermore, since the drive component's movement relies on the temperature sensitivity of the thermally expanding medium, no additional power, hydraulic, or pneumatic systems are needed, reducing energy consumption. Moreover, the volume change of the thermally expanding medium is continuously and linearly related to ambient temperature, allowing adjustment of the drive component's displacement based on subtle changes in temperature. By symmetrically positioning two clamping members on both sides of the hose and connecting them to the drive component, a uniform force is applied to the hose when the clamping members press inward or release outward, preventing deformation, breakage, or localized wear caused by unilateral force. This application utilizes a novel method: as the volume of the thermally expanding medium increases, the driving component causes the clamping components on both sides of the hose to squeeze the hose inward, reducing its flow area. Conversely, as the volume of the thermally expanding medium decreases, the driving component causes the clamping components on both sides of the hose to loosen outward, restoring the flow area. This allows for automatic adjustment of the antifreeze flow rate in the hose during winter, summer, and transitional seasons, without manual or electronic intervention, based on the temperature sensitivity of the thermally expanding medium. This covers the mixer heating requirements under all engine temperature conditions. Furthermore, it reduces accessory power consumption in summer and ensures heating effectiveness in winter, resolving icing issues and avoiding impacts on intake air volume, achieving the dual goals of "energy saving" and "stable engine performance." Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the temperature-based flow controller in a low-temperature state in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the temperature-based flow controller under high-temperature conditions in the embodiments of this application.

[0018] In the picture: 1. Shell; 11. Receiving cavity; 2. Temperature-sensing drive mechanism; 21. Thermal expansion medium; 22. Drive component; 23. Elastic seal; 24. Baffle; 241. Guide hole; 3. Actuator; 31. Clamping component; 311. Gear set; 3111. Drive gear; 3112. Driven gear; 312. Connecting rod; 3121. Long rod; 3122. Short rod; 313. Pressing block; 4. Hose. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0020] This application provides a temperature-based flow controller and its control method, which can achieve the purpose of throttling by changing the flow area of ​​the hose through which antifreeze flows.

[0021] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a temperature-based flow controller.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the temperature-based flow controller in a low-temperature state in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the temperature-based flow controller under high-temperature conditions in an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, in one embodiment, the temperature-based flow controller includes a housing 1, a temperature-sensing drive mechanism 2, and an actuator 3. The housing 1 is fitted onto a hose 4 through which antifreeze flows. The hose 4 can be a rubber hose or a plastic hose, and its axial direction is freely bendable. When subjected to radial compression, it contracts inward, reducing the flow area of ​​the antifreeze within the hose 4. After the external force is removed, it rebounds radially, restoring the normal flow area of ​​the antifreeze within the hose 4. The housing 1 forms an outward-facing cavity 11, where "outward" refers to the direction away from the hose 4. The temperature-sensing drive mechanism 2 is located within the cavity 11. The temperature-sensing drive mechanism 2 includes a thermal expansion medium 21 and a drive element 22 that moves as the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 increases or decreases. The thermal expansion medium 21 can be paraffin wax. The direction of movement of the drive element 22 when the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 increases is completely opposite to the direction of movement when the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 decreases. The actuator 3 includes clamping members 31 symmetrically arranged on both sides of the hose 4. The clamping members 31 are connected to the drive member 22 and are used to squeeze the hose 4 inward or release it outward. Here, "inward" means towards the direction closer to the hose 4, and "outward" means towards the direction away from the hose 4. As the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 increases or decreases, the drive member 22 drives the clamping members 31 on both sides of the hose 4 to squeeze the hose 4 inward or release it outward. That is, when the ambient temperature is high, the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 in the receiving cavity 11 increases, causing the drive member 22 to shift, which in turn drives the clamping members 31 on both sides of the hose 4 to squeeze the hose 4 inward; when the ambient temperature is low, the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 in the receiving cavity 11 decreases, causing the drive member 22 to shift in the opposite direction, which in turn drives the clamping members 31 on both sides of the hose 4 to release it outward.

[0023] In this embodiment, by fitting the housing 1 onto the hose 4 through which the antifreeze flows, no modification to the hose 4 is required, reducing cost and installation difficulty. A receiving cavity 11 is formed outward from the housing 1, and the temperature-sensing drive mechanism 2 is disposed within the receiving cavity 11. The temperature-sensing drive mechanism 2 includes a thermal expansion medium 21 and a drive component 22 that moves as the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 increases or decreases. Thus, the receiving cavity 11 provides a closed space for the temperature-sensing drive mechanism 2, effectively isolating it from interference factors such as oil, dust, and vibration in the engine compartment, preventing leakage of the thermal expansion medium 21 or jamming of the drive component 22. Simultaneously, since the drive component 22 relies on the temperature sensitivity of the thermal expansion medium 21 for movement, no additional power, hydraulic, or pneumatic systems are required, reducing energy consumption. Furthermore, the volume change of the thermal expansion medium 21 is continuously and linearly related to the ambient temperature, allowing adjustment of the displacement of the drive component 22 based on subtle changes in ambient temperature. By symmetrically arranging the two clamping members 31 of the actuator 3 on both sides of the hose 4 and connecting the clamping members 31 with the drive member 22, a uniform force can be applied to the hose 4 when the two clamping members 31 squeeze inward or release outward, avoiding deformation, cracking, or localized wear of the hose 4 due to unilateral force. In this embodiment, as the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 increases, the drive member 22 drives the clamping members 31 on both sides of the hose 4 to squeeze the hose 4 inward, reducing the flow area of ​​the hose 4; as the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 decreases, the drive member 22 drives the clamping members 31 on both sides of the hose 4 to release the hose 4 outward, restoring the flow area of ​​the hose 4. In this way, without manual or electronic intervention, the flow rate of antifreeze in the hose 4 can be automatically adjusted through the temperature sensitivity of the thermal expansion medium 21, covering the mixer heating requirements under all engine temperature conditions. In addition, it reduces accessory power consumption in summer and ensures heating effect in winter, solving icing problems and avoiding the impact of intake air volume, achieving the dual goals of "energy saving" and "engine performance stability".

[0024] Furthermore, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the temperature-sensing drive mechanism 2 also includes an elastic seal 23 and a baffle 24. The elastic seal 23 seals the thermal expansion medium 21 within the receiving cavity 11. The baffle 24 is fixedly connected to the housing 1 to limit the elastic seal 23. The baffle 24 has a guide hole 241 into which the drive member 22 extends. In this embodiment, the elastic seal 23 can be made of rubber, and the thermal expansion medium 21 can be paraffin wax. By sealing the thermal expansion medium 21 within the receiving cavity 11 with the elastic seal 23, leakage of the thermal expansion medium 21 is prevented, ensuring that the thermal expansion medium 21 can increase or decrease in volume with the ambient temperature. This avoids the drive member 22 from being unable to move due to the loss of the thermal expansion medium 21, ensuring the flow regulation of the antifreeze in the hose 4. By fixing the baffle 24 to the housing 1 to limit the elastic seal 23, the initial position of the elastic seal 23 can be fixed, preventing excessive displacement of the elastic seal 23 when the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 increases, which would result in insufficient driving force for the drive member 22. The baffle 24 has a guide hole 241, and the drive component 22 extends into the guide hole 241, which effectively prevents the drive component 22 from shifting or tilting during the displacement process. This ensures that the drive component 22 can vertically push / pull the clamping component 31, and avoids uneven force on the clamping components 31 on both sides due to drive offset (the hose 4 is squeezed inward / loosened outward on one side), thereby ensuring uniform flow regulation and no damage to the hose 4.

[0025] Furthermore, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, one end of the driving member 22 extends into the guide hole 241 and is embedded in the elastic seal 23, while the other end is connected to the clamping member 31. In this embodiment, the part of the driving member 22 extending into the guide hole 241 is embedded in the elastic seal 23. Preferably, the part of the driving member 22 extending into the guide hole 241 (hereinafter referred to as the first part) is embedded in the elastic seal 23 but is not fixedly connected to the elastic seal 23. When the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 increases, the elastic seal 23 will squeeze the first part of the driving member 22 into the guide hole 241; while the part that does not extend into the guide hole 241 (hereinafter referred to as the second part) is fixedly connected to the elastic seal 23. When the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 decreases, the elastic seal 23 will drive the second part to pull the first part out of the guide hole 241 and re-embed it in the elastic seal 23. Here, the second part is always embedded in the elastic seal 23. The above connection method enables the elastic seal 23 and the drive 22 to move as a single unit, ensuring lossless transmission of the thermal expansion medium 21. By connecting the other end of the drive 22 to the clamping member 31, the driving action of the drive 22 can be directly converted into a clamping action, avoiding lag in the flow regulation of the antifreeze in the hose 4, and ensuring that the clamping members 31 on both sides of the hose 4 can be subjected to force synchronously.

[0026] Furthermore, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 andFigure 2 As shown, the receiving cavity 11 is located on the side of the hose 4, and the axial direction of the guide hole 241 is the radial direction of the hose 4. The driving member 22 moves along the axial direction of the guide hole 241 as the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 increases or decreases. In this embodiment, the receiving cavity 11 is located on the side of the hose 4, and the temperature-sensing driving mechanism 2 is located inside the receiving cavity 11, so that the temperature-sensing driving mechanism 2 and the hose 4 are in the same environment (i.e., both are located in the mixing chamber). This allows for accurate sensing of the ambient temperature around the hose 4 and timely adjustment of the flow rate of the antifreeze in the hose 4. The axial direction of the guide hole 241 is the radial direction of the hose 4. As the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 increases or decreases, the drive component 22 moves along the axial direction of the guide hole 241. In this way, the "axial thrust / tension" generated by the change of the thermal expansion medium 21 is directly transmitted to the clamping component 31 through the drive component 22. The clamping component 31 applies the extrusion force on the hose 4 along the "radial direction of the hose 4". The hose 4 will change from a circular cross section to an elliptical shape (radial compression, circumferential extension). During the deformation process, the stress distribution on the inner wall of the hose 4 is uniform (no local stress concentration) and is always within the "elastic deformation range" (it can return to a circular shape after the extrusion force is unloaded). This greatly improves the transmission efficiency and does not generate intermediate losses.

[0027] Furthermore, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the clamping member 31 includes a gear set 311, a connecting rod 312, and a pressing block 313. The shaft of the gear set 311 is mounted on the inner wall of the receiving cavity 11, and the gear set 311 meshes with the driving member 22. The inner wall of the pressing block 313 contacts the hose 4, and the outer wall is connected to the gear set 311 through the connecting rod 312. In this embodiment, the clamping member 31 includes a gear set 311, a connecting rod 312, and a pressing block 313. The gear set 311 serves as the "power conversion core," and its shaft is rigidly fixed to the inner wall of the receiving cavity 11. The gears of the gear set 311 are mounted on the shaft through bearings or bushings, allowing the gears to rotate around the shaft. The gear set 311 meshes with the drive component 22, indicating that the drive component 22 is equipped with a "rack segment" adapted to the gears of the gear set 311, or the drive component 22 itself can be a rack that can mesh with the gears of the gear set 311, converting the radial linear displacement of the drive component 22 (radial along the hose 4) into the rotational motion of the gear set 311. The connecting rod 312, acting as a "power transmission link," is made of rigid metal (such as stainless steel or high-strength aluminum alloy). One end is fixedly connected to the gear set 311 via a pin, and the other end is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the extrusion block 313, converting the rotation angle of the gear set 311 into the radial linear displacement of the extrusion block 313 (moving closer to / away from the hose 4). The inner wall of the extrusion block 313 contacts the hose 4. The inner wall can be flat or an arc-shaped surface matching the outer diameter of the hose 4, symmetrically distributed on both sides of the hose 4, achieving compression or release of the hose 4 through synchronous movement.

[0028] Furthermore, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the gear set 311 includes a drive gear 3111 and a driven gear 3112. The diameter of the drive gear 3111 is smaller than the diameter of the driven gear 3112. The drive gear 3111 meshes with the drive member 22. In this embodiment, the gear set 311 includes a drive gear 3111 and a driven gear 3112, with the drive gear 3111 meshing with the drive member 22. The driven gear 3112 not only meshes with the drive gear 3111 but is also fixedly connected to the connecting rod 312. In this way, the radial displacement of the drive member 22 (approaching / moving away from the radial direction of the hose 4) can synchronously drive the two drive gears 3111 to rotate, thereby driving the two driven gears 3112 to rotate, and pressing / releasing the hose 4 inwards / outwards through the connecting rods 312 on both sides of the hose 4. The diameter of the drive gear 3111 is smaller than that of the driven gear 3112. This is the "speed-increasing transmission" design of the gear set 311, which can effectively amplify the displacement of the drive component 22 and ensure that the squeezing block 313 quickly squeezes inward / relaxes outward to the hose 4, thereby adjusting the flow rate of antifreeze in the hose 4.

[0029] Furthermore, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the connecting rod 312 includes a long rod 3121 and a short rod 3122, with their ends joined to form an included angle. The other end of the long rod 3121 is fixedly connected to the driven gear 3112, and the other end of the short rod 3122 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the extrusion block 313. In this embodiment, through the above technical solution, the rotational motion of the driven gear 3112 is converted into the radial linear motion of the extrusion block 313 (approaching / moving away from the hose 4). The included angle structure at the ends of the long rod 3121 and the short rod 3122 allows the short rod 3122 to "directionally decompose" the force of the long rod 3121 into the radial force required by the extrusion block 313, thereby enhancing the flexibility and durability of the actuator 3 and ensuring the stability of the flow regulation of the antifreeze in the hose 4.

[0030] Furthermore, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the included angle is acute, and the included angle formed by the two connecting rods 312 is set opposite to each other. The long rod 3121 is fixed to the end plane of the driven gear 3112. In this embodiment, the acute angle is preferably in the range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees. This makes the force transmission direction of the long rod 3121 and the short rod 3122 closer to the radial direction of the hose 4, which can convert the rotational force of the driven gear 3112 into the radial force of the squeezing block 313, avoiding insufficient squeezing / releasing due to force loss. At the same time, the zigzag structure of the acute angle is more "compact" than that of a right angle, which can be flexibly arranged in a narrow gap without interfering with surrounding components. By setting the included angle formed by the two connecting rods 312 opposite to each other and fixing the long rod 3121 to the end plane of the driven gear 3112, it can be ensured that the hose 4 is subjected to symmetrical force, the force transmission direction is stable, and there is no action jamming caused by fixed deviation.

[0031] Furthermore, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the hose 4 is a circular tube, with its center located at the line connecting the two compression blocks 313. In this embodiment, the line connecting the two compression blocks 313 is the "axis of symmetry" for applying force. The fact that the center of the hose 4 is located at this line means that the force exerted by the two compression blocks 313 on the center of the hose 4 will be transmitted entirely along the "radial direction of the center," without any deviation. This avoids excessive force on one side causing "asymmetric deformation" of the hose 4's cross-section, ensuring that the hose 4 always contracts / expands uniformly around its center. The hose 4 is a circular tube, and its flow cross-sectional area is directly related to the "distance from the center to the compression block 313." When the center coincides with the connecting line, the displacement of the compression blocks 313 on both sides will uniformly reduce the radius of the hose 4, which is more conducive to controlling the flow rate of antifreeze within the hose 4.

[0032] Secondly, the embodiments of this application provide a control method for a temperature-based flow controller.

[0033] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the control method of the temperature-based flow controller includes: if the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to a preset temperature, the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 increases, driving it to move outward from the receiving cavity 11, causing the clamping members 31 on both sides of the hose 4 to squeeze the hose 4 inward, thereby reducing the flow area of ​​the hose 4. If the ambient temperature is less than the preset temperature, the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 decreases, driving the drive member 22 to move into the receiving cavity 11, causing the clamping members 31 on both sides of the hose 4 to release the hose 4 outward, thereby restoring the flow area of ​​the hose 4.

[0034] In this embodiment, the "ambient temperature" is used as the control input. No additional temperature sensor is required (the thermal expansion medium 21 itself can sense the temperature, and its volume changes synchronously with the temperature). The conversion of "temperature → power" is directly achieved by utilizing the physical properties of the thermal expansion medium 21, which can effectively avoid the regulation failure caused by temperature sensor failure.

[0035] In summer high-temperature conditions, when the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the preset temperature, the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 increases, causing the drive component 22 to move out of the receiving cavity 11, which in turn causes the clamping component 31 to squeeze the hose 4 inward, resulting in a reduction in the flow area inside the hose 4. This reduces the flow rate of the antifreeze inside the hose 4, preventing the mixer from being affected by overheating and solving the problem of the intake volume being affected in summer.

[0036] In extremely cold winter conditions, when the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature, the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 decreases, causing the drive component 22 to move into the receiving cavity 11. This causes the clamping component 31 to loosen the hose 4 outward, resulting in the flow area inside the hose 4 returning to its maximum. This maximizes the flow rate of the antifreeze inside the hose 4, ensuring that the mixer receives sufficient heating and preventing water vapor from freezing, thus solving the problem of freezing in winter.

[0037] During the transition from spring to autumn, the ambient temperature is close to the preset temperature. The volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 changes slightly, causing the drive component 22 to shift slightly. This causes the clamping component 31 to slightly squeeze / release the hose 4. The flow area inside the hose 4 is dynamically adjusted, and the flow rate of the antifreeze inside the hose 4 is adapted to the current temperature requirements without manual intervention.

[0038] The above technical solution requires no additional energy consumption, conforming to the engine's design principle of "reducing fuel consumption and energy consumption," especially for natural gas engines, which can directly reduce the overall vehicle operating cost. When the ambient temperature changes, the volume of the thermal expansion medium 21 (such as paraffin wax) changes synchronously, eliminating the need to wait for sensor detection, ECU calculation, and drive component startup processes. It can complete "temperature sensing → flow adjustment" in a short time, avoiding "short-term icing in winter" or "short-term excessive flow in summer" caused by adjustment lag. The volume change of the thermal expansion medium 21 is approximately linearly related to temperature changes (e.g., volume expands by 0.5% for every 1°C increase in temperature). The displacement of the drive component 22, the squeezing force of the clamping component 31, and the flow area of ​​the hose 4 all change linearly with temperature, ensuring that the mixer temperature remains stable within a reasonable range (e.g., 50-70°C) without significant fluctuations.

[0039] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0040] It should be noted that in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0041] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A temperature-based flow controller, characterized in that, include: The housing (1) is fitted with a hose (4) for the flow of antifreeze, and the housing (1) forms an outward cavity (11). The temperature-sensing drive mechanism (2) is located in the receiving cavity (11) and includes a thermal expansion medium (21) and a drive member (22) that moves as the volume of the thermal expansion medium (21) increases or decreases. The actuator (3) includes clamping members (31) symmetrically arranged on both sides of the hose (4), and the clamping members (31) are connected to the drive member (22); As the volume of the thermal expansion medium (21) increases or decreases, the driving member (22) causes the clamping members (31) on both sides of the hose (4) to squeeze inward or release the hose (4) outward.

2. The temperature-based flow controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature-sensing drive mechanism (2) further includes an elastic seal (23) and a baffle (24). The elastic seal (23) seals the thermal expansion medium (21) in the accommodating cavity (11). The baffle (24) is fixedly connected to the housing (1) to limit the elastic seal (23). The baffle (24) has a guide hole (241), and the drive member (22) extends into the guide hole (241).

3. The temperature-based flow controller as described in claim 2, characterized in that, One end of the drive member (22) extends into the guide hole (241) and is embedded in the elastic seal (23), while the other end is connected to the clamping member (31).

4. The temperature-based flow controller as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The receiving cavity (11) is located on the side of the hose (4), and the axial direction of the guide hole (241) is the radial direction of the hose (4). The driving member (22) moves along the axial direction of the guide hole (241) as the volume of the thermal expansion medium (21) increases or decreases.

5. The temperature-based flow controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping member (31) includes a gear set (311), a connecting rod (312) and a pressing block (313). The shaft of the gear set (311) is mounted on the inner wall of the receiving cavity (11), and the gear set (311) meshes with the driving member (22). The inner wall of the extrusion block (313) is in contact with the hose (4), and the outer wall is connected to the gear set (32) through the connecting rod (312).

6. The temperature-based flow controller as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The gear set (311) includes a drive gear (3111) and a driven gear (3112). The diameter of the drive gear (3111) is smaller than the diameter of the driven gear (3112). The drive gear (3111) meshes with the drive member (22).

7. The temperature-based flow controller as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The connecting rod (312) includes a long rod (3121) and a short rod (3122), the ends of which are joined to form an angle. The other end of the long rod (3121) is fixedly connected to the driven gear (3112), and the other end of the short rod (3122) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the extrusion block (313).

8. The temperature-based flow controller as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The included angle is an acute angle, and the included angle formed by the two connecting rods (312) is set opposite to each other. The long rod (3121) is fixed to the end plane of the driven gear (3112).

9. The temperature-based flow controller as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The hose (4) is a round tube, and its core is located at the line connecting the two extrusion blocks (313).

10. A control method for a temperature-based flow controller according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, include: If the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the preset temperature, the volume of the thermal expansion medium (21) increases, the drive (22) moves out of the receiving cavity (11), and drives the clamps (31) on both sides of the hose (4) to squeeze the hose (4) inward to reduce the flow area of ​​the hose (4); If the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature, the volume of the thermal expansion medium (21) decreases, the drive (22) moves into the receiving cavity (11), and drives the clamps (31) on both sides of the hose (4) to loosen the hose (4) to restore the flow area of ​​the hose (4).

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