Hydraulic Flow Control with Non-Mechanical Leak Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic control devices for liquid-conducting appliances face issues with precision and reliability due to sticking impellers caused by impurities and wear in mechanical flow sensors, which affect detection accuracy, especially for minor leaks or dripping.
Innovation Solution
A non-mechanical flow sensor using electromagnetic-induction technology with electrical detection elements within a duct, eliminating moving parts and incorporating a leakage sensor to differentiate between appliance and device malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a mechanical flow sensor with an impeller is used, then the device can detect flow-rate, but the impeller sticks due to impurities and wear, reducing detection precision and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical impeller-based flow sensor with a magnetic field-based detection system. Instead of using a rotating impeller that sticks due to impurities and wear, the invention uses a magnet coupled to the impeller that interacts with a Hall-effect sensor or other magnetic field sensors, eliminating direct mechanical contact and friction that cause sticking and wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the impeller and the detection system. The magnet coupled to the impeller transmits rotational information through magnetic field interactions with the Hall-effect sensor or magnetic field sensors, rather than through direct mechanical contact, thereby reducing wear and sticking.
2Reliability
If a mechanical flow sensor is used, then flow detection is possible, but wear and impurities cause sticking, affecting detection accuracy for minor leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based detection system with a magnetic field-based system using Hall-effect sensors or magnetic field sensors. This substitution eliminates friction and sticking caused by impurities, enabling reliable and precise detection of even minor leaks without the degradation that plagues mechanical systems.
3Device complexity
If a flow sensor is integrated into the hydraulic body, then space is saved, but electrical components are exposed to liquid and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a magnetic field as an intermediary to transmit flow information from the liquid environment to the electrical sensors. The Hall-effect sensor or magnetic field sensors are positioned to detect the magnetic field of the rotating magnet without being directly exposed to the liquid, while still achieving integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical or electrical contact with liquid-prone components with a magnetic field-based detection system. The magnetic field penetrates the hydraulic body wall, allowing the electrical sensors to detect flow information without being exposed to the liquid environment, thus maintaining both integration and reliability.
4Measurement precision
If a non-mechanical flow sensor is used, then detection precision and reliability are enhanced, but the device requires electromagnetic-induction technology which may increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical flow sensing mechanisms with a relatively simple electromagnetic-induction system consisting of a magnet coupled to the impeller and Hall-effect sensors or magnetic field sensors. This substitution actually reduces overall complexity by eliminating mechanical wear components while achieving superior measurement precision.
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
Enhances detection precision and reliability, enabling accurate measurement of low flow-rates and rapid identification of leak sources, distinguishing between appliance and device faults.
Implementation Method 1
a flow sensor on the hydraulic body, wherein the flow sensor is a non-mechanical flow sensor comprising an electromagnetic-induction flow sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic control device for liquid-conducting household appliances or systems comprises:—a hydraulic unit (11), having a hydraulic body (15) defining a duct (30) for the liquid, the duct (30) having an inlet (18i) and an outlet (31), the duct (30) being at least partially defined with an electrically insulating material, —an electrical valve arrangement (EV, SH) on the hydraulic body (15), which is electrically switchable between a closing position and an opening position, to prevent or enable, respectively, passage of the liquid between the inlet (180 and the outlet (31) of the duct (30), —a flow sensor on the hydraulic body (15). The flow sensor is a non-mechanical flow sensor comprising at least two electrical detection elements (42), prearranged for contact with the liquid that flows in the duct (30) and carried by at least one support (41), that preferably at least partly extends within, or faces the inside of, the duct (30) and/or has two opposite major faces that are substantially parallel to a direction of a flow of the liquid.