Expansion valve device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing expansion valve devices face difficulties in assembling the heat insulating member, which complicates the connection of pipes and interferes with other components, leading to unstable attachment and poor contact between the heat insulating member and the expansion valve.
Innovation Solution
An expansion valve device with a casing that has an elastic holding portion and a support portion, where the elastic holding portion is formed of a soft material to surround the expansion valve body and provide a reaction force for holding it, while the support portion is made of a harder material for added rigidity, allowing for stable assembly and improved heat insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a heat insulating member is attached to the expansion valve, then heat insulation performance is improved, but assembly complexity increases and interference with other components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulating member is merged with the casing to form an integrated structure. The casing is formed as a single piece that simultaneously provides structural support and thermal insulation, eliminating the need for separate attachment of heat insulating members and simplifying the assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The casing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, acts as a heat insulating member, and prevents interference with other components. By combining these functions into a single component, the design reduces assembly complexity while maintaining heat insulation performance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the heat insulating member is attached to the expansion valve, then heat insulation is improved, but contact stability between the heat insulating member and expansion valve deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulating member and expansion valve are merged into a single integrated casing structure. This eliminates the interface between separate components, ensuring stable and reliable thermal contact without the risk of detachment or misalignment that would occur with separate attached members.
3Strength
If a rigid structure is used for the casing, then structural strength is improved, but noise and vibration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The casing is formed as a single-piece structure that combines rigid and flexible materials or regions. The integrated design allows the casing to maintain structural strength while incorporating damping characteristics that reduce noise and vibration, avoiding the need for separate rigid components that would amplify harmful vibrations.
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
The solution enables stable assembly and effective heat insulation of the expansion valve device, preventing dew condensation and reducing noise and vibration by ensuring close contact between the casing and the expansion valve body, while also simplifying the assembly process.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic holding portion formed of an elastic material and holding the expansion valve body by a reaction force due to elastic deformation
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an expansion valve device which is capable of being mounted easily. The expansion valve device includes: an expansion valve body that depressurizes refrigerant; and a casing in which the expansion valve body is housed. The casing includes a tube portion having an opening through which the expansion valve body is able to pass. The tube portion is formed integrally to surround over an entire perimeter of the expansion valve body. The tube portion has: an elastic holding portion formed of an elastic material and holding the expansion valve body by a reaction force due to elastic deformation by surrounding the entire perimeter of the expansion valve body; and a support portion formed of a material having a higher rigidity than the elastic holding portion and supporting the elastic holding portion. At least a part of the support portion is exposed to outside of the casing.