Gerotor Check Valve Hole Array for Low-Leakage Flow Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current check valve designs for hydraulic motors, particularly gerotor/geroler motors, are complex and use many components, leading to increased package size, cost, and external leakage points, which complicates fluid flow management.
Innovation Solution
A simplified check valve design with only three parts – two housing parts and a valve element – where the second port opens into a stop face via an array of holes with smaller cross-section areas than the valve element, allowing fluid flow while maintaining low pressure drop and minimizing leakage through a sealing mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current check valve designs are used with many components and complicated structures, then the check valve can effectively control fluid flow, but the package size increases and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated valve body structure. The housing combines the valve chamber, flow paths, and mounting features into one piece, eliminating the need for separate components for each function. This reduces the overall package size while maintaining effective fluid flow control through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as the housing structure, contains the fluid flow paths, provides mounting surfaces, and incorporates the sealing mechanisms. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of parts needed while maintaining full fluid flow control capability.
2Reliability
If current check valve designs with many components are used, then the check valve can effectively control fluid flow, but the manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple components into a single valve body, the patent reduces the number of manufacturing steps, assembly operations, and quality inspections needed. This integrated approach lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining fluid flow control effectiveness through the unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the valve geometry and flow path dimensions to achieve effective fluid flow control with simpler manufacturing processes. By carefully selecting dimensional parameters and flow path configurations, the design maintains performance while reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Reliability
If current check valve designs with complicated structures are used, then the check valve can effectively control fluid flow, but the number of external leakage points increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the sealing mechanisms directly into the valve body structure, the patent eliminates external leakage points that would exist between separate components. The unified design ensures that sealing surfaces are built-in rather than relying on interfaces between multiple parts, thereby reducing external leakage while maintaining fluid flow control.
4Loss of energy
If the array of holes covers a large area of the stop face, then the flow area is sufficient and pressure drop is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the hole array parameters including hole diameter, spacing, and distribution pattern to achieve sufficient total flow area while maintaining manufacturability. By carefully selecting these geometric parameters, the design reduces pressure drop without requiring excessive manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The array of holes creates a porous-like flow structure in the stop face, providing sufficient flow area through multiple small openings rather than a single large opening. This distributed flow path reduces pressure drop while the regular pattern of holes can be manufactured with standard precision techniques.
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 design ensures efficient fluid flow with reduced pressure drop and minimized leakage, achieving a compact and cost-effective solution for hydraulic motors by maintaining a sufficient flow area and preventing cavitation during pumping operations.
Implementation Method 1
A check valve is used to allow a flow of a fluid in one direction and to block the flow of the fluid in the opposite direction, at least when there is a pressure gradient across the check valve.
Implementation Method 2
The array of holes allow a flow of the fluid when the check valve is open. The valve element is stopped at the stop surface, however, it cannot close all of the holes of the array, so that a flow is still possible.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A check valve (1) is described, the check valve (1) comprising a valve housing having a first port (2) and a second port (3) connected to a valve chamber (4), a valve seat (5) having a valve seat axis (6) and being arranged between the first port (2) and the valve chamber (4), and a valve element (7) movably arranged within the valve chamber (4) between the valve seat (5) and a stop face (8) opposite the valve seat (5), wherein the valve housing comprises a first part (9) having the first port (2) and a second part (10) having the second port (3) and being connected to the first part (9). Such a check valve should have a simple design. To this end the second port (3) opens into the stop face (8) by means of an array of holes (12), wherein the cross section area of the holes (12) is smaller than the smallest cross section area of the valve element (7).