Flow Path Switching Valve Assembly With Integrated Valve Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow channel switching valves have complex structures and are difficult to assemble, leading to high component and assembly costs, especially when dealing with large pressure differences between inlet/outlet ports.
Innovation Solution
A flow channel switching valve with a simplified structure, featuring a valve element with a smaller diameter lower portion that can be inserted through the upper valve orifice, and a valve body with a single-component configuration and a valve element guide hole to limit lateral movement, allowing for easier assembly and reduced vibration noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the upper valve element and lower valve element are selectively moved into contact with or away from the upper valve seat and lower valve seat to switch flow direction, then the flow channel switching function is achieved, but the structure becomes complicated and difficult to assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the upper valve element and lower valve element into a single integrated valve stem, eliminating the need for separate components and their associated assembly steps. This unified structure reduces overall complexity while maintaining the flow switching capability through vertical movement of the combined element.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve element is designed with a nested structure where the lower valve element portion is inserted through the upper valve orifice, creating a telescopic or nested configuration. This allows compact arrangement of components and simplifies assembly by enabling one-piece insertion into the valve body.
2Ease of operation
If the conventional valve element structure with separate upper and lower elements is used, then flow direction switching is achieved, but assembly difficulty and component cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple valve elements into a single integrated component that can be manufactured as one piece, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly of upper and lower elements. This reduces assembly steps and associated costs while maintaining flow switching functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve element is pre-configured with the lower portion inserted through the upper orifice during manufacturing, so that assembly requires only a single insertion step into the valve body. This preliminary configuration of components before final assembly significantly simplifies the manufacturing process.
3Ease of manufacture
If the lower valve element portion is formed with smaller diameter to be inserted through upper valve orifice, then assembly is simplified and cost is reduced, but valve element stability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The smaller diameter lower valve element portion is nested within the upper valve orifice, creating a compact telescopic structure. This nested arrangement simplifies assembly by enabling one-piece insertion while maintaining structural integrity through the interlocking geometry of the nested components.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve element transitions from a uniform cylindrical structure to a variable cross-section design where the lower portion has reduced diameter. This dimensional variation allows the element to pass through the upper orifice during assembly while maintaining adequate stability during operation through the geometry of the expanded upper portion.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a flow channel switching valve that has a simple structure and is easy to assemble, and thus can reduce the component cost or assembly cost. A lower valve element portion 24 provided on a valve element 20 on the opposite side of a stepping motor 50 forming a vertical movement drive unit is formed to have a smaller diameter than that of an upper valve orifice 17 and a lower valve orifice 19, and can be inserted into the inside of the lower valve orifice 19 (with a gap of a predetermined size) via the upper valve orifice 17, and thus the valve element 20 can be inserted into the valve chamber 11 and disposed in a predetermined position within the valve chamber 11 (in one direction) from the upper side of the valve body 10.