Cooling Water Valve Housing Layout for Narrow Engine Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooling water control valve devices have a large radial size, making it difficult to arrange them in narrow spaces when attached to engines, and the size is further increased by sealing members, complicating installation.
Innovation Solution
The device includes a housing with a bypass passage that extends parallel to the attachment surface, reducing the perpendicular size and allowing easier installation in narrow spaces, and uses sealing members with axes parallel to the attachment surface to maintain a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing includes multiple radially extending ports, then the cooling water control valve device can control cooling water flow effectively, but the radial size of the housing becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorients the port arrangement from radial extension to axial extension. The first and second inlet ports are positioned at different axial locations on the housing, and the outlet port extends axially. This dimensional change allows effective cooling water flow control while reducing the radial footprint of the housing, enabling installation in narrow spaces.
2Reliability
If sealing members are added to ensure liquid-tight sealing, then sealing reliability improves, but the device size and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing members are integrated directly into the housing structure rather than being separate components. The housing includes first, second, and third sealing members positioned at specific locations to ensure liquid-tight sealing between the housing and engine, and between the bypass passage and valve. This integration simplifies installation by eliminating separate sealing component assembly steps while maintaining reliable sealing.
3Length of stationary object
If the bypass passage is configured to extend parallel to the attachment surface, then the perpendicular size of the housing is reduced, but the passage routing becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass passage is segmented into distinct sections with clear functional divisions. The passage extends parallel to the attachment surface in controlled segments, allowing the housing perpendicular size to be reduced while maintaining clear routing. The segmentation enables systematic design of the passage layout, reducing overall complexity despite the non-traditional routing.
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling water control valve device includes a housing and a valve. The housing includes an inside space, an attachment surface, at least one inlet port, and at least one outlet port. The attachment surface is in contact with an outer wall of the engine. The valve is disposed in the inside space to control communication between the at least one inlet port and the at least one outlet port by rotating. The housing includes a housing body that defines the inside space therein and a bypass passage forming member that defines at least a portion of a bypass passage. The bypass passage bypasses the valve and fluidly connects the at least one inlet port and the inside space. The housing is attached to the engine such that the attachment surface comes into contact with the outer wall of the engine.