Electromagnetic Valve Fluid Flow Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electromagnetic valves experience unstable fluid flow between the valve seat surface and valve body, leading to operation noise and variability in performance due to uncertain fluid flow paths and interference with return springs, which affects controllability.

Innovation Solution

The valve body design features a larger diameter semi-spherical seal portion and a diameter expanding portion, ensuring fluid flows along the valve seat surface instead of the valve body, reducing noise and stabilizing performance by avoiding unnecessary force on return springs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the valve body has a tapered surface extending continuously from the semi-spherical distal end face, then fluid flows along the tapered surface of the valve body, but fluid may be separated from the valve body and flow along the valve seat surface due to attraction towards both surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve body shapeVSAvoidperformance consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The valve body is segmented into distinct functional zones: a semi-spherical distal end face for sealing, a cylindrical intermediate portion with specific diameter relationships, and a stem portion. This segmentation creates clear flow path guidance that prevents uncertain fluid behavior between surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the valve body have locally optimized geometries: the semi-spherical distal end face provides smooth sealing contact, while the cylindrical portion with controlled diameter ratios creates specific flow attachment conditions. This local quality optimization ensures reliable fluid flow along the intended path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the valve body has a smoothly connected stem portion to the semi-spherical distal end, then manufacturing is easier, but fluid flow path becomes uncertain between valve body and valve seat surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve body manufacturingVSAvoidfluid flow stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Specific diameter parameters are defined to control fluid flow behavior: the cylindrical portion has a diameter larger than the stem portion but controlled relative to the valve seat surface diameter. This parameter optimization creates stable flow attachment without requiring complex smooth transitions, balancing manufacturability with flow stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If fluid flows along the valve body to the return spring portion, then the return spring is subjected to fluid force, but the controllability of the electromagnetic valve is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid flow pathVSAvoidvalve controllability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful fluid force acting on the return spring is extracted/eliminated by designing the flow path to detach from the valve body before reaching the spring portion. The cylindrical geometry with controlled diameter ratios ensures fluid flows along the valve seat surface instead, protecting the return spring from destabilizing forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If the diameter of the end portion of the semi-spherical seal portion is larger than the stem portion, then a difference in level is formed to separate fluid flow from the valve body, but the valve body structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid flow stabilityVSAvoidvalve body structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The semi-spherical distal end face provides natural curvature for smooth fluid flow and sealing. By combining this spherical geometry with a cylindrical portion of controlled diameter, the design achieves flow separation and stability without requiring complex shaped transitions, maintaining structural simplicity while ensuring reliable performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 stabilizes fluid flow, suppresses operation noise, and enhances controllability by ensuring consistent fluid path alignment with the valve seat surface, reducing the impact of minor production errors and maintaining performance stability.

Implementation Method 1

an electromagnetic valve is configured to have a coil, a fixed core and a movable core and generates a magnetic field by an electric current being caused to flow through the coil so as to attract the movable core towards the fixed core

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP1953434B1Electromagnetic valve
Publication Date: 2014.04.09 NISSIN KOGYO CO LTD
  • EP1953434B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1953434B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP1953434B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An electromagnetic valve (1) has a fixed core (3), a movable core (7), a coil (4) attract the fixed core (3) and the movable core (7) each other, a valve body (5) and a valve seat member (6) including a funnel-shaped valve seat surface (61) and an inlet path (62). The flow path is closable by retreat/advance of the valve body (5) relative to the valve seat surface (61). The valve body (5) includes a semi-spherical seal portion (51) and a stem portion (52) extending from the seal portion (51) towards the movable core (7), a diameter of an end portion (53) of the seal portion (51) at the stem portion (52) side is larger than a diameter of an end portion of the stem portion (52) at the seal portion side (51). A space (84) is defined in an area located on an extended line extending from a small diameter end portion to a large diameter end portion of the valve seat surface (61).