Fluid-Circulation Valve Sensor Target Housing Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid circulation valves for motor vehicles, such as inlet gas metering and EGR valves, face issues with mechanical damage and demagnetization of magnetic sensors during the overmolding process, leading to increased manufacturing costs and reduced sensor effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A fluid circulation valve design featuring a housing with projecting reliefs for the magnetic sensor target, allowing for insertion without overmolding, which reduces mechanical stress and prevents demagnetization, while maintaining accurate angular positioning for reliable measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the sensor target is overmolded directly onto the control member, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the sensor target suffers mechanical damage and demagnetization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidsensor target integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control member is divided into two separate components: the main control member body and a housing for the sensor target. The housing is overmolded onto the control member, while the sensor target is inserted into the housing separately. This segmentation prevents the sensor target from being damaged during the overmolding process while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing acts as an intermediary component between the control member and the sensor target. It provides a protective receptacle that receives the sensor target after the control member has been overmolded, thereby isolating the sensor target from the harmful overmolding process while maintaining its functional connection to the control member.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the sensor target is overmolded in an intermediate part and then attached to the rotary control member, then mechanical damage is reduced, but manufacturing steps and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor target integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing for the sensor target is integrated into the control member through overmolding, merging two components (housing and control member) into a single manufacturing operation. This reduces the overall number of parts and assembly steps compared to providing the housing as a separate attached component, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while protecting the sensor target.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the sensor target is inserted into the housing with protruding reliefs, then mechanical stress on the sensor is reduced, but the housing structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor target protectionVSAvoidhousing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing features localized protruding reliefs at specific contact points with the sensor target, rather than a uniformly complex structure. These reliefs are strategically positioned to provide mechanical support and stress distribution only where needed, maintaining simplicity in the overall housing design while offering enhanced protection to the sensor target.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 prevents mechanical damage and demagnetization of the sensor, simplifies the manufacturing process, and ensures accurate fluid flow regulation without additional costs, enhancing the reliability and longevity of the valve.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic sensor target making it possible to measure the angular positioning of the control member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3172470B1Fluid-circulation valve, in particular for a motor vehicle, with recess for receiving a target of a ribbed sensor
Publication Date: 2018.05.16 VALEO SYSTEMES DE CONTROLE MOTEUR SAS
  • EP3172470B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3172470B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3172470B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a fluid-circulation valve, in particular for a motor vehicle (2) having a duct (3) for passing a fluid, a shutter (5) of the duct (3), a shaft (4) to which the shutter (5) is attached and a rotary member (21) for controlling the shaft (4), the rotation of which selectively controls the opening and the closing of the duct (3) by the shutter (5), in which the rotary control member (21) comprises a recess for receiving a sensor target, the wall of which comprises at least one raised pattern, preferably in the form of a rib.