Electromagnetic proportional valve and flow meter

Abstract

The utility model provides an electromagnetic proportional valve and flowmeter, it includes: the first accommodating cavity is formed with in the casing, coil part is arranged in the first accommodating cavity, the valve element is arranged at the first accommodating cavity opening with the coil part abuts, the valve element includes: the valve seat, the second accommodating cavity is formed with in the valve seat inside and accommodates the second accommodating cavity inside the piston, when the coil part is electrified, the piston moves towards the coil part, the through -hole is formed with in the piston inside, and the through -hole is used for communicating with the air inlet, the diaphragm is arranged in the piston outer periphery to only communicate with the through -hole with the space between the diaphragm and the second accommodating cavity bottom wall, the utility model discloses a through -hole is arranged in the piston inside, and the diaphragm is used for separating the valve seat bottom cavity and external gas circuit, only makes the cavity pass through the through -hole in the piston inside and communicates with the air inlet, realizes the pressure balance control to the key gas chamber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of gas control technology, and in particular relates to an electromagnetic proportional valve and a flow meter. Background Technology

[0002] Existing solenoid valves typically consist of a bottom valve core and an inner valve core. The valve core structure includes: an upper rubber support, a lower support cover, an inner rubber column, a spring plate positioned above the rubber column, and a piston on the spring plate.

[0003] In the prior art, during the movement of the solenoid valve, a gas exchange occurs between the piston and the bottom surface of the coil above it, which is only through a through hole in the spring plate. During the process of the solenoid valve closing and opening, the gas pressure change of the above-mentioned cavity is nonlinear. That is, during the start-up process, the pressure of the above-mentioned cavity is too high, which leads to a high electromagnetic force requirement of the solenoid valve. This results in an increase in the volume of the coil, which in turn leads to an increase in the power consumption and heat generation of the coil.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide a solution that can balance the gas pressure in the cavity, thereby reducing the size and power consumption of the coil. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, the purpose of this paper is to provide an electromagnetic proportional valve to solve the problems of large coil volume and high heat generation in the prior art.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the specific technical solution of this paper is as follows: This application provides an electromagnetic proportional valve, comprising: A housing having a first receiving cavity formed within it; The coil component is disposed within the first receiving cavity; The valve core abuts against the coil component and is disposed at the opening of the first receiving cavity; The valve core includes: Valve seat, wherein a second receiving cavity for accommodating the live part is formed inside the valve seat; The actuator is disposed inside the second receiving cavity. When the coil component is energized, the actuator moves toward the coil component. A through hole is formed inside the actuator, which is used to communicate with the air inlet. A diaphragm is disposed on the outer periphery of the live element so that the space between the diaphragm and the bottom wall of the second receiving cavity communicates only with the through hole; The outer diameter of the piston is smaller than the inner diameter of the valve seat, so as to form an air outlet between the piston and the valve seat.

[0007] Optionally, it may also include: a first gasket, the first gasket being fixedly disposed on the side of the diaphragm near the coil component, the surface area of ​​the first gasket being smaller than the surface area of ​​the diaphragm.

[0008] Optionally, it may also include: a second gasket, wherein the first gasket is fixedly disposed on the side of the diaphragm away from the coil component, and the surface area of ​​the second gasket is smaller than the surface area of ​​the diaphragm.

[0009] Optionally, the opening of the through hole near the coil component is located between the diaphragm and the coil component.

[0010] Optionally, the diaphragm is made of rubber.

[0011] Optionally, the diaphragm is a deformable material.

[0012] Optionally, the coil component includes: a winding and a coil shaft; The bottom surface of the housing has an opening for the winding to pass through, and the opening is close to the coil shaft.

[0013] On the other hand, this application provides a flow meter, the flow meter comprising: Base; An electromagnetic proportional valve for regulating flow is disposed on the base, wherein the electromagnetic valve is any of the electromagnetic valves described above. This invention achieves pressure balance control of the critical air chamber by setting a through hole inside the valve stem and using a diaphragm to isolate the bottom cavity of the valve seat from the external air path, allowing the cavity to be connected to the air inlet only through the through hole inside the valve stem. During the transition of the electromagnetic proportional valve from the closed to the open state, gas can continuously enter the sealed cavity below the valve stem through the through hole, effectively alleviating the opening resistance caused by pressure accumulation within the cavity. Compared to the traditional structure that relies solely on tiny through holes on the spring plate for gas exchange, this solution significantly improves the gas flow path, making pressure changes more linear and stable, and avoiding the problem of needing to significantly increase the electromagnetic force due to excessive back pressure at startup.

[0014] Furthermore, the electromagnetic force required to drive the coil can be significantly reduced, allowing for a coil structure with fewer turns and a smaller size. This reduces the overall size of the electromagnetic components and lowers material costs while maintaining response speed and control accuracy. Simultaneously, the reduced input power significantly decreases power consumption and heat generation during coil operation, improving the device's energy efficiency and long-term operational stability. It also reduces the need for heat dissipation design, facilitating the miniaturization, low power consumption, and high reliability of electromagnetic proportional valves. This makes them particularly suitable for space- and energy-sensitive applications such as portable medical devices, battery-powered instruments, and precision automated control systems.

[0015] To make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this document more apparent and understandable, preferred embodiments are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

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

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an electromagnetic proportional valve structure according to an embodiment of this article is shown; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a cross-sectional structure of a valve core according to an embodiment of this article is shown; Figure 3 A cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of an electromagnetic proportional valve according to an embodiment of this article is shown; 1-Shell; 2-Wound wire; 22-Coil shaft; 31-Valve seat; 32-Live piece; 321 - Through hole; 33-September; 4-Air outlet; 5-First gasket; 6-Second gasket. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions in the embodiments described below will be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments described herein, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments described herein, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this document.

[0019] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings herein are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, apparatus, product, or device that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0020] This invention provides an electromagnetic proportional valve for precise flow regulation in gas or liquid fluid control systems. The valve uses electromagnetic force to drive the axial movement of a piston, controlling the flow area between the through-hole and the outlet, thereby achieving continuous and proportional flow regulation. It features a compact structure, fast response, and high control accuracy, making it particularly suitable for applications requiring high flow control, such as medical equipment, industrial automation, and environmental monitoring.

[0021] The electromagnetic proportional valve comprises three core components: a housing 1, a coil assembly, and a valve core. The housing 1 can be an integral or split structure, typically made of corrosion-resistant metals such as stainless steel or engineering plastics. It contains a first receiving cavity for mounting the coil assembly and the valve core. One end of the first receiving cavity is closed, and the other end is open. The valve core is positioned at the open end and is fixedly connected to the housing 1 by threads, snap-fit, or welding to ensure a reliable seal.

[0022] The coil assembly, comprising a winding 21 and a coil shaft 22, is housed within the first receiving cavity. The winding 21 is wound around the outer circumference of the coil shaft 22, forming an electromagnetic drive unit. When an external control signal is input, the winding 21 is energized to generate a magnetic field, driving the piston 32 in the valve core to move, thereby opening or closing the valve. The coil shaft 22 is typically made of a magnetically conductive material such as pure iron or silicon steel to enhance magnetic circuit efficiency. An opening is formed on the bottom surface of the housing 1 for the lead wires of the winding 21 to pass through. This opening is located close to the coil shaft 22 for convenient centralized lead wire routing, and waterproofing and dustproofing are achieved through potting compound or sealing plugs.

[0023] The valve core is positioned at the opening of the first receiving cavity and abuts against the end of the coil component to directly transmit electromagnetic thrust. The valve core includes a valve seat 31 and a piston 32. The valve seat 31 has a cylindrical structure with a second receiving cavity inside to accommodate the piston 32. The piston 32 is slidably disposed within the second receiving cavity, and its outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the valve seat 31, forming an annular gap between them, which is the air outlet 4. The flow area of ​​the air outlet 4 changes with the position of the piston 32, thereby achieving a proportional adjustment function.

[0024] An axial through-hole 321 is formed inside the valve 32, which is used to communicate with an external air inlet. When the electromagnetic proportional valve is installed in the pipeline, the air inlet is connected to the through-hole 321 through an interface on the housing or valve seat. Gas first enters the through-hole 321 and then exits through the air outlet 4. The end of the through-hole 321 near the coil component is open between the diaphragm 33 and the coil component, ensuring that the gas is effectively guided before entering the air outlet 4, avoiding leakage or turbulence.

[0025] A diaphragm 33 is provided around the periphery of the actuator 32. Its function is to isolate the bottom space of the second receiving cavity from the external environment, allowing this space to communicate with the air inlet only through the through hole 321. The diaphragm 33 is typically an annular thin sheet structure, fixed between the actuator 32 and the valve seat 31. Its outer edge is sealed to the inner wall of the valve seat 31, and its inner edge is sealed to the outer wall of the actuator 32, forming a closed air chamber. This air chamber communicates with the air inlet only through the through hole 321, ensuring that the gas pressure acts on the bottom of the actuator 32, assisting the electromagnetic force to achieve stable regulation.

[0026] The diaphragm 33 is preferably made of rubber, such as fluororubber (FKM), silicone rubber (VMQ), or ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), which has good elasticity, aging resistance, and sealing performance. In other embodiments, the diaphragm 33 may also be made of deformable materials, such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or metal bellows, to adapt to different media such as corrosive gases and high-temperature steam. The deformable nature of the diaphragm 33 allows it to expand and contract synchronously during the movement of the actuator 32, maintaining a seal while reducing movement resistance.

[0027] To enhance the structural strength and stress uniformity of the diaphragm 33, this invention also includes a first gasket 5 and a second gasket 6. The first gasket 5 is fixedly disposed on the side of the diaphragm 33 closest to the coil component, i.e., on the upper surface of the diaphragm 33; the second gasket 6 is fixedly disposed on the side of the diaphragm 33 furthest from the coil component, i.e., on the lower surface of the diaphragm 33. The surface areas of both the first gasket 5 and the second gasket 6 are smaller than the total surface area of ​​the diaphragm 33, and they have a circular or cross-shaped structure with a deformation space left in the central area. The gaskets are typically made of rigid plastic or thin metal sheets and are used to distribute pressure, prevent localized tensile damage to the diaphragm 33, and improve response consistency.

[0028] When the coil component is energized, the winding 21 generates an electromagnetic field, driving the actuator 32 to overcome the spring force or gas pressure and move towards the coil component. As the actuator 32 moves upward, the annular outlet 4 between its outer circumference and the inner wall of the valve seat 31 gradually increases, the flow area increases, and the flow rate rises accordingly. Since the electromagnetic force is proportional to the input current, the displacement of the actuator 32 is also linearly related to the current, thereby achieving proportional regulation of the flow rate. When the current decreases or the power is cut off, the actuator 32 returns to its original position under the action of the return spring or back pressure, the outlet 4 narrows or closes, and the flow rate decreases or stops.

[0029] This invention ensures the singularity and controllability of the airflow path by placing the through hole 321 inside the valve stem 32 and using the diaphragm 33 to isolate the bottom space of the second receiving cavity, allowing it to communicate only with the through hole 321. This avoids the control inaccuracy problems caused by leakage or diversion in traditional structures. At the same time, the design of the annular air outlet 4 between the valve stem 32 and the valve seat 31 makes the flow area change continuously and linearly, significantly improving the flow regulation accuracy.

[0030] In some embodiments, the electromagnetic proportional valve may also integrate a return spring (not shown), disposed between the piston 32 and the bottom of the valve seat 31, for automatically closing the valve upon power failure, thus achieving normally closed control. The spring stiffness can be optimized according to the response speed and control range.

[0031] In addition, an O-ring or welded structure can be installed at the connection between the housing 1 and the valve core to ensure overall sealing. A sealing gasket can also be installed between the valve seat 31 and the housing 1 to prevent gas leakage from the mating surface.

[0032] On the other hand, this application also provides a flow meter, which includes a base and an electromagnetic proportional valve mounted on the base. The base serves as a support platform, typically made of aluminum alloy or engineering plastic, and is used to fix components such as the electromagnetic proportional valve, flow sensor, and control circuit. The electromagnetic proportional valve, as a flow regulation actuator, is installed on the fluid channel of the base and connected to the inlet and outlet pipes. Flow sensors, such as thermal, differential pressure, or ultrasonic sensors, are located upstream and downstream of the electromagnetic proportional valve to detect the actual flow rate in real time and feed the signal back to the controller. The controller adjusts the current input to the electromagnetic proportional valve based on the deviation between the set value and the feedback value, forming a closed-loop control to achieve high-precision and stable flow output.

[0033] This invention achieves pressure balance control of the critical air chamber by setting a through hole inside the valve stem and using a diaphragm to isolate the bottom cavity of the valve seat from the external air path, allowing the cavity to be connected to the air inlet only through the through hole inside the valve stem. During the transition of the electromagnetic proportional valve from the closed to the open state, gas can continuously enter the sealed cavity below the valve stem through the through hole, effectively alleviating the opening resistance caused by pressure accumulation within the cavity. Compared to the traditional structure that relies solely on tiny through holes on the spring plate for gas exchange, this solution significantly improves the gas flow path, making pressure changes more linear and stable, and avoiding the problem of needing to significantly increase the electromagnetic force due to excessive back pressure at startup.

[0034] Furthermore, the electromagnetic force required to drive the coil can be significantly reduced, allowing for a coil structure with fewer turns and a smaller size. This reduces the overall size of the electromagnetic components and lowers material costs while maintaining response speed and control accuracy. Simultaneously, the reduced input power significantly decreases power consumption and heat generation during coil operation, improving the device's energy efficiency and long-term operational stability. It also reduces the need for heat dissipation design, facilitating the miniaturization, low power consumption, and high reliability of electromagnetic proportional valves. This makes them particularly suitable for space- and energy-sensitive applications such as portable medical devices, battery-powered instruments, and precision automated control systems.

[0035] In practical applications, electromagnetic proportional valves typically operate at 5V, 12V, or 24V DC, with control signals ranging from 0 to 5V or 4 to 20mA analog signals. They can also support digital communication protocols such as RS485 and CAN. The controller can be integrated into a base or remotely controlled via external devices.

[0036] To improve the durability of the electromagnetic proportional valve, the contact surfaces of the piston 32 and valve seat 31 can be surface-treated, such as by hard chrome plating, nitriding, or spraying a ceramic coating, to enhance wear resistance and corrosion resistance. The diaphragm 33 can be connected to the piston 32 and valve seat 31 by bonding, pressing, or hot-melt processes to ensure that it does not fall off during long-term use.

[0037] During manufacturing, the electromagnetic proportional valve can adopt a modular design, with the housing 1, coil components, and valve core being machined and assembled separately, facilitating mass production and maintenance. The lead wire of the winding 21 is led out through an opening on the bottom surface of the housing 1 and encapsulated with epoxy resin to prevent vibration breakage or short circuit due to moisture.

[0038] In summary, this invention achieves high-precision, linear flow regulation of the electromagnetic proportional valve by incorporating a perforated piston within the valve core and combining it with a diaphragm sealing structure to form an independent air chamber that communicates only with the air inlet. This, along with the annular air outlet between the piston and the valve seat, further enhances the valve's stability and lifespan. Furthermore, by adding upper and lower gaskets to strengthen the diaphragm structure and employing a combination of magnetic drive and mechanical guidance, the valve's stability and lifespan are improved.

[0039] It should also be understood that, in the embodiments herein, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following associated objects have an "or" relationship.

[0040] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, the components and steps of the various examples have been generally described in terms of functionality in the foregoing description. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this document.

[0041] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0042] In the embodiments provided herein, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the couplings or direct couplings or communication connections shown or discussed may be indirect couplings or communication connections through some interfaces, apparatuses, or units, or they may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms of connection.

[0043] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of the embodiments described herein, depending on actual needs.

[0044] This document uses specific embodiments to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this document. The descriptions of the embodiments above are only for the purpose of helping to understand the methods and core ideas of this document. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this document. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this document.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic proportional valve, characterized in that, include: A housing having a first receiving cavity formed within it; The coil component is disposed within the first receiving cavity; The valve core abuts against the coil component and is disposed at the opening of the first receiving cavity; The valve core includes: Valve seat, wherein a second receiving cavity for accommodating the live part is formed inside the valve seat; The actuator is disposed inside the second receiving cavity. When the coil component is energized, the actuator moves toward the coil component. A through hole is formed inside the actuator, which is used to communicate with the air inlet. A diaphragm is disposed on the outer periphery of the live element so that the space between the diaphragm and the bottom wall of the second receiving cavity communicates only with the through hole; The outer diameter of the piston is smaller than the inner diameter of the valve seat, so as to form an air outlet between the piston and the valve seat.

2. The electromagnetic proportional valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A first gasket is fixedly disposed on the side of the diaphragm near the coil component, and the surface area of ​​the first gasket is smaller than the surface area of ​​the diaphragm.

3. The electromagnetic proportional valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: The second gasket is fixedly disposed on the side of the diaphragm away from the coil component, and the surface area of ​​the second gasket is smaller than the surface area of ​​the diaphragm.

4. The electromagnetic proportional valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opening of the through hole near the coil component is located between the diaphragm and the coil component.

5. The electromagnetic proportional valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diaphragm is made of rubber.

6. The electromagnetic proportional valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diaphragm is made of a deformable material.

7. The electromagnetic proportional valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The coil component includes: a winding wire and a coil shaft; The bottom surface of the housing has an opening for the winding to pass through, and the opening is close to the coil shaft.

8. A flow meter, characterized in that, The flow meter includes: Base; An electromagnetic proportional valve for regulating flow is disposed on the base, the electromagnetic valve being the electromagnetic valve as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

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