Flow Path Switching Valve with Shared Gear Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow path switching valves require multiple rotation drive parts for each valve body, leading to increased complexity and component count.
Innovation Solution
A flow path switching valve design that utilizes a single rotation drive part to distribute rotational force to multiple valve shafts through a driving force distribution mechanism, reducing the number of required drive parts by using gears to simultaneously rotate multiple valve bodies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valve bodies are connected to switch multiple flow paths, then the flow path switching capability is improved, but the number of rotation drive parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple rotation drive parts are merged into a single rotation drive part through the driving force distribution mechanism. The single rotation drive part simultaneously drives multiple valve bodies via gears, achieving flow path switching for multiple valves while reducing the number of drive parts from multiple to one.
Solution Approach 2:
The single rotation drive part is designed to perform multiple functions by simultaneously driving multiple valve bodies. Through the driving force distribution mechanism with gears, one rotation drive part can control the rotation of multiple valve bodies, making it a multi-functional component that replaces several individual drive parts.
2Ease of operation
If multiple rotation drive parts are used for each valve body, then each valve body can be independently controlled, but the device complexity and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent control functions into a single rotation drive part. By using the driving force distribution mechanism with gears, one rotation drive part can simultaneously and independently control multiple valve bodies, maintaining independent control capability while reducing component count.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving force distribution mechanism segments the rotational motion from the single rotation drive part and distributes it to multiple valve shafts. Each gear in the mechanism can independently transmit rotation to corresponding valve bodies, enabling segmented control of multiple valves through a single drive source.
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
Minimizes the number of rotation drive parts, simplifies control, and enhances compactness while maintaining efficient switching of fluid flow paths.
Implementation Method 1
The driving force distribution mechanism includes a first gear connected to the first valve shaft, a second gear connected to the second valve shaft, and a third gear connected to the rotation drive part and meshing with the first gear and the second gear
Data Source
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AI summary
A flow path switching valve includes plural valve units in each of which a communication state of plural flow paths is changed by rotating a valve body provided in a valve chamber of a valve main body, a gear shaft that rotates a valve body of one valve unit, a gear shaft that rotates a valve body of the other valve unit, a rotation drive part for rotating the gear shafts, and a driving force distribution mechanism that distributes a rotational driving force of the rotation drive part to the two gear shafts.