Engine Cooling Valve Stopper Control for Stable Open Degree
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling apparatuses for internal combustion engines fail to maintain the rotation angle of flow rate adjustment valves, leading to inefficiencies in coolant flow regulation, as they lack a mechanism to restrict further rotation of the valve member once the open degree is set.
Innovation Solution
A cooling apparatus with a flow rate adjustment valve that includes a stopper moving between a restriction and retraction position, controlled by the pump discharge amount to maintain the open degree, and a controller that adjusts the pump discharge to manage the stopper's position and valve member rotation, ensuring consistent coolant flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a swing-type valve member is used to adjust coolant flow rate, then the valve can respond to pressure differences, but the rotation angle (open degree) cannot be maintained once adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is preliminarily positioned to engage with the valve member before the valve needs to maintain its open degree. This preliminary positioning prevents the valve member from rotating further, thereby maintaining the desired open degree without requiring continuous active control.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper acts as an intermediary element between the valve member and the valve body. It transfers the function of maintaining open degree from an active control mechanism to a passive mechanical constraint, allowing the valve to hold its position through the stopper's engagement.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the stopper is always engaged with the valve member, then the open degree is maintained, but the valve cannot be adjusted to different positions
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper's engagement state is made dynamic rather than fixed. It can engage with the valve member to maintain position, or disengage to allow adjustment. This dynamic behavior enables the system to switch between maintaining a specific open degree and allowing repositioning as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the valve's operational state and control the stopper's engagement accordingly. When adjustment is needed, the stopper disengages; when position maintenance is required, the stopper engages, creating a feedback-controlled system that adapts to operational requirements.
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 configuration allows for precise adjustment and maintenance of the open degree of the flow rate adjustment valve, enhancing the operability and efficiency of coolant flow regulation, thereby optimizing engine cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
the valve member is configured to rotate in a valve-opening direction that is a rotation direction in which the open degree increases when a pressure difference increases between a position upstream of the valve member and a position downstream of the valve member
Implementation Method 2
a pump arranged on the circulation circuit, the pump being configured to change a discharge amount of coolant
Implementation Method 3
a stopper that moves between a restriction position at which the stopper engages with the valve member to restrict rotation of the valve member and a retraction position at which the stopper does not engage with the valve member
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A cooling apparatus includes a circulation circuit, a pump, a flow rate adjustment valve, and a controller. The flow rate adjustment valve includes a valve member that rotates to change an open degree of the flow rate adjustment valve and a stopper that moves between a restriction position and a retraction position. The controller is configured to execute, when maintaining the open degree of the flow rate adjustment, a preparatory process of moving the stopper to the restriction position after arranging the stopper at the retraction position and arranging the valve member further in the valve-closing direction than the stopper through control of the pump discharge amount.