Integrated Vehicle Valve Housing for Flow-Optimized Liquid Passages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid system valves and tanks for vehicles have design and manufacturing limitations, particularly in achieving flow-optimized shapes and component centralization, with circular cross sections being restrictive and labor-intensive post-processing required for seal sides.
Innovation Solution
The valve and liquid tank design integrates a single first passage shell as the valve housing with a second passage shell to form flow passages, allowing for non-circular cross sections, angled orientations, and moldable construction to simplify manufacturing and reduce components, enabling curved layouts and flash-free seal sides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If circular cross sections are used for flow passages, then manufacturing is simpler, but flow optimization is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved surfaces and non-circular cross-sectional shapes (such as oval or rectangular with rounded corners) to the flow passage design. This allows the flow passages to be molded directly in the desired shape without requiring post-processing, achieving both manufacturing simplicity and flow optimization simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for valve housing and passage shells, then assembly flexibility is improved, but component count and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the valve housing and passage shells into a single integrated component that is molded as one piece. This integration eliminates the need for separate assembly of multiple components, reducing part count and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining the functional flexibility of having distinct housing and passage sections.
3Manufacturing precision
If labor-intensive post-processing is applied to seal sides, then sealing precision is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates seal preparation directly into the molding process, creating flash-free seal surfaces during the initial molding operation. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent post-processing steps, achieving both high sealing precision and manufacturing efficiency by preparing the seal surfaces in advance during production.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve for a liquid system of a vehicle having a valve housing with a multiplicity of valve housing openings, a valve body that is arranged in the valve housing so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis and has at least one flow-conducting connecting passage for the flow-conducting connection of at least two valve housing openings of the multiplicity of valve housing openings. A valve seal is arranged between the valve housing and the valve body. A valve actuator rotates the valve body about the rotational axis, and a multiplicity of flow passages corresponding to the valve housing openings for the flow-conducting connection of the valve to a remainder of the liquid system, are provided. The flow passages are jointly formed from a single first passage shell and a single second passage shell. The first passage shell is simultaneously formed as the valve housing.