Control Valve Spool Layout for Single Pilot Port Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing control valve design requires two pilot ports to ensure proper communication between the pilot port and pilot chamber, leading to increased housing size and complicating size reduction efforts.

Innovation Solution

A control valve design where the spool allows communication between the first supply port and the pilot port at both the first and second communication positions, eliminating the need for a second pilot port and reducing the housing size by integrating the pilot port functionality within the existing port structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If two pilot ports are formed in the housing to ensure proper communication between pilot port and pilot chamber at both operation positions, then the reliability of pilot pressure supply is improved, but the housing size increases and size reduction becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepilot pressure supply reliabilityVSAvoidhousing volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The first pilot port is designed to serve multiple functions: it supplies pilot pressure to the pilot chamber at both the first operation position and the second operation position. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a second pilot port, thereby reducing housing size while maintaining reliable pilot pressure supply throughout the valve's operation cycle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the pilot pressure supply function for both operation positions into a single pilot port. By combining what would traditionally require two separate ports into one, the housing size is reduced while the pilot chamber continues to receive necessary pressure control for both valve positions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reduces the number of ports and land portions in the housing, allowing for a smaller control valve size while maintaining efficient fluid flow and pressure control, enabling continuous supply to the pilot chamber without additional ports.

Implementation Method 1

the spool is configured to allow the first supply port and the pilot port to communicate with each other both at the first communication position and the second communication position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid communication:

Implementation Method 2

a control valve that controls a flow of a working fluid from a pump to an actuator and that controls the flow of the working fluid from the pump to a pilot chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow control:

Data Source

PatentUS11137081B2Control valve

Publication Date: 2021.10.05 KYB CORP

AI summary

A control valve includes a housing formed with first and second supply ports, first and second actuator ports, and a pilot port, and a spool accommodated slidably in the housing, and the spool is configured to allow the first supply port and the pilot port to communicate with each other both at the first communication position and the second communication position.