Electromagnetic Actuator Damping for Fast, Low-Wear Valve Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electromagnetic actuators, such as flow passage changeover valves, face issues with oscillation of the valve body due to elastic forces from plate springs, leading to decreased responsiveness and difficulty in stopping oscillations without generating frictional forces.
Innovation Solution
An electromagnetic actuator design incorporating a pair of plate springs, a movable member supported by these springs, a drive unit applying electromagnetic force, and a damper with a predetermined gap to create a damping effect, allowing the movable member to move without sliding and control fluid flow to suppress oscillations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the movable member is driven by electromagnetic force in a non-contact state, then responsiveness is improved, but oscillation occurs due to elastic forces from plate springs
Solution Approach 1:
A damper is introduced as an intermediary component between the movable member and the external environment. The damper includes a piston that moves within a cylinder, creating a damping force through fluid resistance without direct mechanical contact between the movable member and fixed structures. This intermediary damping mechanism suppresses oscillation while preserving the non-contact electromagnetic drive capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper utilizes hydraulic or pneumatic principles where fluid (liquid or gas) is forced through a restricted passage as the piston moves. The fluid resistance provides a damping force that counteracts the oscillation caused by plate spring elastic forces. This allows oscillation suppression without mechanical friction or direct contact, maintaining the responsiveness benefits of non-contact actuation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If plate springs are used to support the movable member, then oscillation can be suppressed, but frictional force is generated reducing responsiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical damping mechanisms (which would involve direct contact and friction) with a hydraulic or pneumatic damper system. The damping force is generated through fluid resistance in a restricted passage rather than through mechanical friction between solid surfaces. This substitution eliminates the frictional force problem while maintaining oscillation suppression capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Fluid acts as an intermediary medium between the movable member and the damping mechanism. The piston moves the fluid through a restricted passage, and the fluid's resistance provides the damping force. This intermediary approach avoids direct mechanical contact and friction between the movable member and fixed structures, preserving responsiveness while suppressing oscillation.
3Reliability
If the movable member is supported without sliding movement, then wear is reduced, but oscillation damping becomes difficult without friction
Solution Approach 1:
The damper employs hydraulic or pneumatic principles where fluid resistance provides damping force. As the piston moves within the cylinder, fluid is forced through a restricted passage, creating resistance that damps oscillation. This mechanism provides effective oscillation damping without requiring sliding friction between solid surfaces, thus maintaining wear resistance while achieving oscillation suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
Fluid serves as an intermediary that provides damping force without direct mechanical contact. The piston displaces fluid through a restricted passage, and the fluid's viscous resistance damps the oscillation. This intermediary approach allows oscillation damping to occur without friction between solid surfaces, preserving the wear-free operation achieved through non-contact support.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances responsiveness by preventing friction and effectively damps oscillations, maintaining the actuator's performance without sliding movements, thus improving the control of fluid flow and reducing wear.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of plate springs, each of which applies elastic force in a predetermined direction in accordance with an amount of deformation
Implementation Method 2
a drive unit which drives the movable member in the predetermined direction in a non-contact state by means of electromagnetic force applied to a region between the pair of plate springs in the predetermined direction
Implementation Method 3
a damper which is attached to the movable member, defines a sectioned predetermined space in cooperation with an inner surface of the container, and forms a predetermined gap between the damper and the inner surface, the predetermined gap establishing communication in the predetermined direction between the predetermined space and the exterior of the predetermined space
Data Source
AI summary
A flow rate ratio control valve includes a pair of plate springs, each of which applies elastic force in a predetermined direction in accordance with the amount of deformation, a valve body supported by the pair of plate springs to be movable in the predetermined direction, a drive unit which drives the valve body in the predetermined direction in a non-contact state by means of electromagnetic force applied to a region between the pair of plate springs in the predetermined direction, a container in which the plate springs and the valve body are contained, and a damper which is attached to the valve body, defines a sectioned predetermined space in cooperation with an inner surface of the container, and forms a predetermined gap between the damper and the inner surface, the predetermined gap establishing communication in the predetermined direction between the predetermined space and the exterior of the predetermined space.