Canned Motor Expansion Valve With Hall Sensor Position Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing expansion valve arrangements in refrigeration or air conditioning circuits suffer from inaccuracies and delays in activation due to their design, which affects the regulation of pressure drop and fluid flow.
Innovation Solution
A canned motor with a rotor arrangement featuring permanent magnet areas and a Hall sensor for precise position detection is used, where the rotor is non-rotatably connected to an internal thread part, converting rotary motion into axial movement of the coupling element, and a dual Hall sensor provides accurate position and direction detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional electromagnetically actuated actuators or stepper motors are used in expansion valve arrangements, then the valve can be actuated, but inaccuracies and delays occur in activation which affect regulation precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional electromagnetic actuators and stepper motors with a canned motor that directly converts electrical energy to rotational motion. This substitution eliminates the mechanical complexities and delays associated with traditional actuation systems, providing more precise and timely valve activation. The canned motor's direct drive mechanism through the threaded arrangement enables immediate response to control signals without the inertial delays of electromagnetic actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a Hall sensor that detects the rotational position of the rotor and provides feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables precise determination of the coupling element's axial position, allowing the system to accurately monitor and adjust valve opening in real-time. The continuous position feedback eliminates activation delays by enabling closed-loop control that immediately responds to position deviations.
2Measurement precision
If complex actuator mechanisms are used to achieve precise control, then regulation accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the actuator structure by replacing complex electromagnetic actuators and multi-component stepper motors with a canned motor. The canned motor's integrated design, where the rotor is directly connected to the threaded arrangement, eliminates the need for separate gear trains, belts, or complex mechanical linkages. This substitution maintains precise control capability while significantly reducing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the motor housing with the valve body housing, creating an integrated assembly where the canned motor is directly mounted within the valve structure. The rotor's threaded arrangement is directly coupled to the coupling element, eliminating intermediate transmission components. This merging of functions reduces the number of parts, simplifies assembly, and decreases overall device complexity while maintaining precise positioning control through the Hall sensor feedback system.
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 design enhances the precision and simplicity of the expansion valve arrangement, allowing for effective regulation of fluid flow and pressure drop while being cost-effective and easy to install, resulting in improved performance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a Hall sensor being provided in the motor housing for detecting the position of the rotor cylinder part
Implementation Method 2
a synchronous motor designed as a canned motor, in whose containment shell there is a rotor arrangement with a rotor cylinder part on the permanent magnet areas
Data Source
AI summary
Expansion valve arrangement for a refrigeration or air conditioning circuit comprising a flow housing (4) with an inlet (6) and an outlet (8), a synchronous motor (10) with a motor housing (12) which is operatively connected to a control body (20) via a threaded arrangement (14) with a coupling element (16) such that the coupling element (16) is axially movable with the control body (20), at least one flow cross-section (22) between the inlet (6) and the outlet (8) which is surrounded by a valve seat (24) and which can be closed and opened by means of the control body (20), wherein the synchronous motor (10) is designed as a canned motor, in whose can (26) a rotor arrangement (32) with a rotor cylinder part (42) is provided on the longitudinally extending permanent magnet areas (44, 46) arranged alternately with respect to polarity.wherein the rotor cylinder part (42) is non-rotatably connected via rotor connecting means (48) to an internally threaded part (50) which engages an external thread (54) of the coupling element (16), wherein the internally threaded part (50) is rotatably mounted in the flow housing (4) via bearing means (56), wherein a Hall sensor (62) for position detection of the rotor cylinder part (42) is provided in the motor housing (12).