Integrated Sleeve Flow Control Valve for Constant Hydraulic Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow control valves in hydraulic systems face challenges in maintaining a constant fluid flow rate despite changes in pressure, and they often require additional components that increase weight and cost, with limited safety features to manage unintended component operations.
Innovation Solution
A flow control valve design featuring a multi-functional sleeve with integrated fluid flow channels and an orifice plug, which reduces the number of parts by eliminating separate lock nuts and orifice plates, and provides a minimum fluid flow rate as a safety feature to ensure actuator movement even in unintended operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of stationary object
If conventional flow control valves use separate components (lock nuts, orifice plates), then assembly and maintenance are straightforward, but the valve weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (sleeve, lock nut, orifice plate) into a single integrated sleeve structure. The sleeve itself forms the fluid flow channels and includes integrated features that previously required separate parts, thereby reducing overall valve weight and part count while maintaining functional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously serves as a structural element, a flow control element with integrated channels, and a mounting feature for seals and other components. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated parts for each function.
2Measurement precision
If flow control valves maintain constant flow rate despite pressure changes, then flow control precision is improved, but the valve structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The valve utilizes pressure-induced changes in the spool position to automatically adjust flow channel openings. As pressure changes, the spool shifts position, which in turn adjusts the effective flow area to compensate for pressure variations and maintain relatively constant flow rate, achieving precision control through parameter coupling rather than complex mechanisms.
3Reliability
If flow control valves include safety features for unintended operations, then system safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve design incorporates inherent safety features through its structural design, where the spool and housing geometry are configured to prevent unintended operations. The integrated sleeve and spool design includes features that naturally limit or prevent unsafe operating conditions without requiring additional safety components or complex control systems.
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 achieves reduced weight and cost by integrating features into the sleeve, ensuring consistent fluid flow control and safe actuator operation across varying pressure conditions, while minimizing the risk of component failure.
Implementation Method 1
based on the spool movement in the sleeve, cross-holes defined on the sleeve are opened and closed to achieve the desired flow rate
Data Source
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AI summary
An example valve (214) includes a housing (400), a sleeve (412) disposed within the housing and having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and the sleeve includes a plurality of sleeve protrusions (700-706) at the first end and a plurality of fluid flow channels (708-714) are formed between adjacent sleeve protrusions, a seal carrier (424) disposed within the sleeve and having a carrier protrusion (426, 428) that extends from the second end of the sleeve and abuts against an interior surface of the housing, and an end cap (404) mounted to the housing such that the plurality of sleeve protrusions abut against the end cap.