Split Electric Valve Assembly for Independent Sensor Servicing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The replacement process of the first sensing device in electric valves used in air conditioning or thermal management systems is cumbersome, requiring the disassembly of the housing and electric control board, which complicates maintenance and parameter setting.

Innovation Solution

The electric valve is designed with a split structure comprising a first and second valve body, where the second valve body includes a mounting chamber for the sensing device, allowing independent removal of the second valve body and housing for simplified replacement of the sensing device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the sensing device is integrated into the housing with the electric control board, then the overall structure is compact, but the replacement process becomes cumbersome requiring disassembly of the housing and control board

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrationVSAvoidsensing device replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The valve body is divided into a first valve body and a second valve body that can be separated from each other. The sensing device is mounted on the second valve body, which can be independently removed from the housing. This segmentation allows the sensing device to be replaced without disassembling the entire housing or electric control board, resolving the contradiction between structural integration and ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the sensing device is mounted in a fixed position within the housing, then the structural stability is improved, but the maintenance efficiency decreases due to complex disassembly requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The valve body is segmented into two separable parts: the first valve body remaining in the housing and the second valve body containing the sensing device. This allows the second valve body to be quickly detached and replaced during maintenance without affecting the overall structural stability of the housing and first valve body, thereby reducing maintenance time while preserving structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensing device is extracted from the housing structure and mounted on the separable second valve body. This extraction enables the sensing device to be removed independently without disassembling the housing, reducing maintenance time while the first valve body and housing maintain their structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If the valve body is designed as a single integrated piece, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the sensing device replacement requires opening the entire housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve body manufacturingVSAvoidsensing device accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The valve body is divided into a first valve body and a second valve body that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. The second valve body is designed to be separable from the housing, allowing the sensing device to be accessed and replaced without opening the entire housing. This segmentation maintains manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving sensing device accessibility for repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4585839A1Electric valve and assembly method
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 ZHEJIANG SANHUA AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS CO LTD
  • EP4585839A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4585839A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4585839A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed is an electric valve, comprising a first valve body (401) and a second valve body (402), the first valve body (401) and the second valve body (402) being of a split structure. The second valve body (402) comprises a first opening portion (42), wherein the first opening portion (42) is provided with a mounting cavity (423) which has an opening facing a housing; at least part of a first sensing device (50) is located in the mounting cavity (423); the second valve body (402) is fixedly connected or limitedly connected to the housing (10); and when the first sensing device is replaced, the second valve body and the housing can be separately disassembled, and then the first sensing device is disassembled, so as to facilitate the simplifying of the step of replacing the first sensing device. Further disclosed is an assembly method for the electric valve.