Flow Modulator Gear Transmission for Tolerance-Compensated Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow modulators for fluids, such as combustion gas, face challenges in reliable flow modulation and tolerance compensation, often requiring complex and costly designs to achieve precise control over fluid flow resistance.
Innovation Solution
A flow modulator with a rotatable valve body and gear transmission system, where the input side is connected to an actuator with a fixed axis of rotation and the output side is connected to the valve body with a translationally displaceable axis, allowing for rotational and translational displacement control, and featuring a guide pin and groove mechanism for precise alignment and a toothing system for tolerance compensation, enabling simple and inexpensive assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional flow modulator design is used, then the structure is simpler, but the flow modulation reliability and tolerance compensation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
A gear transmission mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the actuator and the valve body. This gear transmission converts the rotational motion of the actuator into both rotational and translational displacement of the valve body, enabling precise flow modulation and tolerance compensation without requiring direct complex linkage between the actuator and valve body.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed with a translationally displaceable axis of rotation, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and orientation. This dynamic capability enables the valve body to compensate for manufacturing tolerances while maintaining reliable flow modulation, resolving the contradiction between reliability and structural simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If precise flow control is achieved through complex design, then the flow resolution is higher, but the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gear transmission serves as a mechanical intermediary that provides precise motion conversion with built-in tolerance compensation. This allows high-resolution flow control to be achieved through a relatively simple and inexpensive assembly process, as the gear mechanism naturally accommodates manufacturing variations while maintaining precise control.
3Manufacturing precision
If the valve body has a fixed axis of rotation, then the structure is simpler, but the flow modulation precision and tolerance compensation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is designed with a translationally displaceable axis of rotation rather than a fixed axis. This dynamic design allows the valve body to adjust its position to compensate for manufacturing tolerances while maintaining precise alignment, achieving high manufacturing precision without requiring overly complex mechanical structures.
Data Source
AI summary
Flow modulator (10) for a fluid like combustion gas, comprising: a modulator body (11) having a channel (14) providing a flow passage (20) for the fluid: a valve body (17) having an opening (18) providing another flow passage (19) for the fluid: an actuator (21) by which the valve body (17) is rotatably displaceable relative to the modulator body (11) to modulate the fluid flow by changing the overlap between the opening (18) or flow channel (19) of the valve body (17) and the channel (14) or flow passage (20) of the modulator body (11); a gear transmission (22), wherein an input side of the gear transmission (22) is in operative connection with the actuator (21) having a fixed axis of rotation (23), and wherein an output side of the gear transmission (22) is in operative connection with the valve body (17) having a translationally displaceable axis of rotation (24).