Hydraulic Amplified Fluid Valve for Large Stroke Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluidic valves with solenoid electric actuators face challenges in achieving large valve member strokes while minimizing the mass and current requirements, particularly in applications where high flow rates and limited size/weight are necessary, such as in aeronautics.
Innovation Solution
The fluidic valve design utilizes a pilot-induced pressure difference between cavities to create a displacement force for the valve member, allowing for large strokes with a small pilot movement and reduced actuator size, weight, and current consumption, by connecting the valve body to external pressure and incorporating a fixed restriction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the valve member is designed to describe a large stroke for proportional control of larger flow rates, then the flow rate control capability is improved, but the mass of the fluid valve increases due to larger valve member and pilot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydraulic amplification where a small displacement of the pilot (actuated by low-current solenoid) creates a pressure difference between first and second cavities. This pressure difference acts on the larger surface area of the valve member to generate sufficient force for large stroke movement, enabling high flow rate control without proportionally increasing valve mass
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and parameters of the fluid medium by creating controlled pressure differences between cavities. By modulating the pressure differential through small pilot movements, the system achieves large valve member strokes and high flow rates without requiring proportionally larger mechanical components
2Length of moving object
If the pilot and valve member are made large to achieve long strokes, then the stroke length is improved, but the current required in the solenoid increases to generate sufficient magnetic field
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs hydraulic force multiplication where the solenoid only needs to move a small pilot against relatively low force. The resulting pressure difference is then amplified by the hydraulic system to produce the large forces needed for long valve member strokes, dramatically reducing the current requirement compared to direct solenoid actuation of large valves
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot acts as an intermediary element between the low-power solenoid and the high-power valve member. The small pilot displacement creates a pressure differential that serves as the mediating mechanism to drive the large valve member stroke, decoupling the solenoid size from the required stroke length
3Weight of moving object
If the valve member stroke is limited to reduce mass, then the mass is reduced, but the pressure drops become excessive even when valve is fully open
Solution Approach 1:
By maintaining adequate valve member stroke through hydraulic amplification, the system ensures sufficient flow passage area is available even with compact overall valve design. The pressure difference mechanism ensures the valve member can achieve full opening position to minimize pressure drops while the valve assembly remains compact due to the amplified actuation mechanism
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
This design enables large valve member displacements with reduced weight and current usage, maintaining high performance and precision, with characteristics like open loop accuracy of 10% and resolution of 5% on valve position, suitable for applications like aircraft engines.
Implementation Method 1
By injecting an electric current into the solenoid actuator, it is possible to move a pilot called 'push pin' from a first position to a second position
Implementation Method 2
a movement of the pilot induces a pressure difference between the first and second cavities. This pressure difference gives rise to a displacement force on the valve member
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Fluidic valve (50) for a hydraulic circuit of an aircraft and comprising: - a valve body (20) including an inlet (22), two outlets (23) and a communication (21; 25) to an external pressure; - an electric solenoid actuator (40) located in the valve body (20) and including a movable ferromagnetic pilot (41); - a valve member (5) movable in the valve body (20) to at least partially close a passage between said inlet (22) and one of the two outlets (23), said valve member (5) defining at least partially a first (1) and a second (2) cavities, - a fixed restriction (30) in said communication (21; 25) such that a displacement of said movable pilot (41) induces a pressure variation in one of said first (1) and second (2) cavities to create a displacement force on said valve member (5).