Angled Shaft Valve Device for Combustion Engine Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve devices for internal combustion engines, such as combination valves, face challenges with high actuating forces, complex actuator arrangements, and installation space issues due to parallel inlet and outlet channels, making it difficult to achieve intermediate positions and requiring high costs.
Innovation Solution
A valve device with a planar first flap element connected to a shaft, allowing the valve body to assume an intermediate position where part of the fluid flow enters one outlet channel and part enters another, with the flap element's center of gravity close to the shaft, enabling easy adjustability and sealing, and an actuator failure fail-safe mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the valve body is mounted centrally on a rotating shaft with the closing surface directed against the fluid flow, then the valve can control fluid flow to outlet channels, but high actuating forces are required and the actuator becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional valve design by orienting the shaft at an angle of 0°≤α≤45° relative to the fluid flow direction instead of having the shaft run parallel to the flow with the closing surface facing the flow. This inversion reduces the actuating force required while maintaining effective flow control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the shaft orientation angle α (where 0°≤α≤45°) to optimize the balance between actuating force and flow control effectiveness. This parameter modification allows the valve to achieve intermediate positions more easily with reduced actuator complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If inlet channel and outlet channels are arranged parallel to each other, then the valve body can control flow distribution, but major installation space problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a parallel arrangement of inlet and outlet channels to an angular configuration where the shaft is oriented at an angle α (0°≤α≤45°) to the flow direction. This dimensional reconfiguration enables effective flow distribution control while significantly reducing the installation space footprint.
3Device complexity
If the valve body is designed with a planar flap element and shaft oriented at an angle to the flow, then intermediate positions are easily achieved with reduced actuator complexity, but the closing surface is no longer directed against the fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inversion principle by reorienting the shaft at an angle α (0°≤α≤45°) relative to the fluid flow, which simplifies the actuator design and enables easy achievement of intermediate positions, even though the closing surface is no longer directly facing the flow.
Solution Approach 2:
By modifying the shaft orientation parameter α within the range 0°≤α≤45°, the patent achieves an optimal balance where the actuator complexity is reduced and intermediate positions are easily attainable, while maintaining sufficient flow control capability through the angular configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a valve device for an internal combustion engine (2) with a housing (28) having an inlet port (30) and a first and a second outlet port (32, 34), wherein a valve body (38) is provided which controls a fluid flow from the inlet port (30) to the two outlet ports (32, 34), wherein the valve body (38) is arranged on a shaft (42) which is rotatably mounted in the housing (28) and can be driven by means of an actuator (40), wherein a longitudinal axis of the shaft runs essentially in the direction of flow of the fluid.