Control Valve Recess for Sudden Fluid Flow Increase

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control valves for pumps exhibit a proportional or constant increase in fluid flow from zero overlap to maximum negative overlap, lacking a sudden increase in fluid flow, which is advantageous for fluid conveying applications.

Innovation Solution

The control valve design includes a recess in the valve housing that forms a secant with the orifice opening, allowing the piston to change from positive to negative overlap and vice versa, resulting in a sudden increase in fluid flow by altering the effective flow cross section.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the piston control edge transitions from positive overlap to negative overlap with respect to the orifice control edge, then the fluid flow increases proportionally or remains constant, but a sudden increase in fluid flow is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid flowVSAvoidcontrol behavior
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a second control dimension by adding a recess control edge axially offset from the orifice control edge. This creates a multi-dimensional control structure where the piston can interact with multiple control edges at different axial positions, transforming the single-dimension proportional control into a multi-stage control system that delivers sudden flow increases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The control valve's control edge is segmented into multiple distinct edges (orifice control edge and recess control edge) positioned at different axial locations. This segmentation allows the piston to interact with different control edges at different stroke positions, creating discrete control stages including zero overlap positions and sudden flow increase phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the recess control edge is axially offset from the orifice control edge, then a sudden increase in fluid flow is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid flowVSAvoidvalve structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the recess structure into the valve housing body, integrating the second control edge formation into the existing housing geometry. This combining approach adds the sudden flow increase capability while minimizing additional structural complexity, as the recess is formed as part of the housing rather than as a separate component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4043727B1Control valve with optimized cross section
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 SCHWABISCHE HUTTENWERKE AUTOMOTIVE CMBH
  • EP4043727B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4043727B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4043727B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Control valve for a pump for conveying a fluid, the control valve comprising: a valve housing which delimits a piston chamber, a piston which is movable within the piston chamber, preferably axially movable along its longitudinal axis, a first fluid channel which opens into the piston chamber with an orifice opening, wherein the orifice opening defines an orifice control edge, characterized in that the valve housing comprises a recess which extends into the first fluid channel, wherein the recess defines a recess control edge axially offset to the orifice control edge, and/or the piston comprises a piston recess which defines a piston recess control edge.