Expansion Valve Vibration-Proof Spring for Stable Shaft Sliding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing expansion valves face challenges in preventing vibration of actuating members due to refrigerant pressure fluctuations, leading to noise issues, with existing vibration-proof springs either being too large or having low rigidity, which affects their effectiveness in stabilizing the valve element.
Innovation Solution
A vibration-proof spring with a hollow tube shape and a spring part integrally formed with the side wall, where the spring part is warped to provide sliding friction and sufficient elasticity, allowing the actuating rod to slide stably, while maintaining a compact size by positioning the spring part along or slightly outward from the spring body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the annular section is made larger to accommodate the vibration-proof spring, then the spring can provide sufficient biasing force, but the overall size of the expansion valve increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration-proof spring is nested inside the actuating rod, with the spring body positioned within the hollow cylindrical section of the actuating rod. This nesting arrangement allows the spring to provide sufficient biasing force while maintaining a compact overall size, as the spring occupies space within the existing actuating rod structure rather than requiring additional external space
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is oriented radially inward, with its biasing force applied in a radial direction rather than axially. This dimensional change allows the spring to exert sufficient force on the actuating rod while maintaining a compact axial length, effectively utilizing the radial dimension to achieve the required force without increasing the overall valve size
2Volume of moving object
If the wire is bent to form the vibration-proof spring, then the spring can be compact, but the rigidity is low and the spring bends along the axis line
Solution Approach 1:
The spring body is formed with a curved or arc-shaped cross-section rather than a simple bent wire configuration. This curved geometry provides inherent rigidity while maintaining a compact form factor, preventing the spring from bending along the axis line under load while still achieving the required compact size
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is constructed using a composite structure combining a rigid outer shell with an elastic inner core, or using a specially formulated elastic alloy that provides both rigidity and flexibility. This composite approach enables the spring to maintain its shape and provide sufficient rigidity while remaining compact in size
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 effectively inhibits valve element vibration, providing appropriate sliding friction and sufficient sliding load, thus stabilizing the actuating rod and maintaining a reduced and compact spring size, addressing the limitations of previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
configured to develop a sliding friction by biasing the actuating rod
Implementation Method 2
the spring part is warped such that the spring part is coplanar with the side wall of the spring body or the spring part is warped outwardly from the spring body and an elastically reactive force resulting from the warped spring part
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2F
Figure 3A~3E
AI summary
An expansion valve (1) according to one embodiment includes a shaft (33) for transmitting the drive force of a drive section (3) to a valve element (18) and a vibration-proof spring (50, 250, 350, 450, 550), set between the body (2) and the shaft (33), which generates the sliding friction by biasing the shaft (33). The vibration-proof spring (50, 250, 350, 450, 550) includes a body (52, 252, 352, 452, 552), of a hollow tube shape (cylindrical shape), inside which the shaft (33) is insertable, a spring part (54, 454, 554), which is integrally formed with a side wall of the body (52, 252, 352, 452, 552) and which is supported by the body (52, 252, 352, 452, 552), and a bulging portion (56, 556) formed on the spring part (54, 454, 554) in a protruding manner such that the tip of the bulging portion (56, 556) is placed opposite to a part of the shaft (33) corresponding to the spring part (54, 454, 554). When the bulging portion (56, 556) abuts against the shaft (33) inserted to the vibration-proof spring (50, 250, 350, 450, 550), the spring part (54, 454, 554) is placed in a position along the body (52, 252, 352, 452, 552) or is warped outwardly from the body (52, 252, 352, 452, 552), so that the elastically reactive force resulting from the warped spring part (54, 454, 554) allows the shaft (33) to slide in a stabilized manner.