Control Valve Noise Reduction via Magnetic Spring Actuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional engine cooling systems with solenoid valves face issues of noise generation due to sympathetic vibration, high power consumption, and large solenoid size, as they require continuous power supply to maintain the valve open state and rely on magnetic force for closure, leading to inefficient operation and potential frictional wear.
Innovation Solution
The control valve is designed to adhere the valve body to the seat using a combination of spring and magnetic forces when power is supplied, reducing power consumption and noise by ensuring stable closure without continuous power, and utilizing an urging member to manage valve operation based on pump pressure, allowing for compact solenoid design and efficient coolant circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the solenoid is designed to provide sufficient magnetic force to overcome the spring urging force for valve closure, then the valve closed state can be maintained stably, but the solenoid size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is preliminarily urged toward the valve seat by the spring before the solenoid activates. This preliminary mechanical action reduces the magnetic force requirement, allowing a smaller solenoid to achieve stable valve closure without requiring excessive magnetic force to overcome a large spring force.
2Ease of operation
If power is supplied to the solenoid to maintain the valve open state, then the valve can remain open during in-use conditions, but electric power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using the solenoid to maintain the valve in the open state (conventional approach), the invention inverts the logic: the solenoid is used only to close the valve when needed, while the valve naturally remains open during in-use conditions without continuous power supply, thereby dramatically reducing energy consumption.
3Productivity
If the valve body is held away from the valve seat during in-use state, then coolant can flow through the passageway, but continuous power supply is required leading to high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is designed to automatically maintain the open state for coolant circulation without requiring continuous external power supply. The valve body naturally remains positioned away from the valve seat during normal operation, allowing coolant to flow through the passageway while consuming minimal energy, and only requires solenoid activation when closure is needed.
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 solution effectively reduces noise and power consumption, enhances durability by preventing frictional wear, and allows for a compact solenoid design, improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the engine cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
a solenoid configured to cause the valve body to be adhered to the valve seat with a magnetic force generated in response to supply of electric power thereto
Implementation Method 2
a valve body movable between a position away from the valve seat and a position in contact with the valve seat
Data Source
Figure 1~2(b)
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Provided is a control valve that hardly generates noise from vibration applied thereto, while achieving compactization and power consumption saving of the valve. The valve is incorporated in a coolant circulatory passageway for circulating coolant between an engine and a heat exchanger via a pump. The valve includes a main body having a coolant channel and a valve seat, a valve body movable between a position away from the valve seat and a position in contact with the valve seat, and a solenoid configured to cause the valve body to be adhered to the valve seat with a magnetic force generated in response to supply of electric power thereto. The control valve is configured such that the power supply to the solenoid is started when an ignition key of the engine is under its ON state and the pump is stopped.