Latching Valve Assembly for Retractable Axle Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for controlling retractable axles in vehicles lack a reliable and modular fluid system that maintains desired states even when actuation signals are removed, potentially leading to unsafe operations during failures.
Innovation Solution
A modular valve assembly with a pilot supply valve and pilot exhaust valve configuration, utilizing solenoid coils, armatures, and magnets to maintain actuated or unactuated states of the main valve without continuous power, ensuring safe operation by allowing fluid flow to actuate or drain the axle-lifting or axle-lowering bags based on commanded states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fluid system uses conventional valves without latching mechanism, then the system is simpler and uses less components, but the valves cannot maintain commanded state when actuation signal is removed, leading to safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system transitions from static valve positions to dynamic latched states. The solenoid coil and magnet create a dynamic latching mechanism where the armature can be actuated electrically and then maintain its position without continuous power, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by introducing controlled dynamics only when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces continuous electrical actuation with a magnetic latching mechanism. Instead of using continuous electrical signals to maintain valve state, the system uses magnetic fields from permanent magnets to hold the armature in position, substituting a mechanical/magnetic holding system for an electrical one, thereby improving reliability while managing complexity.
2Reliability
If the valve assembly requires continuous power to maintain commanded state, then the valve response is immediate and controllable, but the system consumes more energy and becomes vulnerable to power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic or pulsed electrical actuation instead of continuous power. The solenoid coil is energized only temporarily to switch the valve state, after which the magnetic latch maintains the position without power. This periodic action reduces energy consumption while maintaining operational safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic latching mechanism is self-sustaining once actuated. The permanent magnets and armature configuration allow the valve to maintain its commanded state autonomously without external power, making the system self-service in terms of state maintenance and eliminating continuous power dependency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the valve assembly is designed as a integrated unit, then the system is more compact and easier to install, but it reduces modularity and flexibility for different truck configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is segmented into modular components: mounting plate, pilot supply valve, pilot exhaust valve, and main valve. Each component can be independently configured and assembled, allowing the system to adapt to different truck configurations while maintaining a relatively compact overall structure. The segmentation enables flexibility without requiring a completely integrated unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular valve assembly components are designed with universal mounting interfaces and standardized connections. The same basic valve components can serve different functions depending on configuration, allowing a single modular set of components to accommodate various truck and trailer configurations, thereby improving adaptability while managing complexity through standardization.
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 solution ensures the retractable axles can be safely controlled and maintained in desired positions even without continuous power, enhancing operational safety and reliability by preventing unintended changes in axle states during power loss.
Implementation Method 1
a first solenoid coil, (d) a first armature slidably accommodated within the first solenoid coil
Implementation Method 2
a first magnet fixedly disposed within the first solenoid coil, wherein the first magnet applies a magnetic force on the first armature in a distal direction
Implementation Method 3
a first spring applying a biasing force on the first armature in a proximal direction
Data Source
AI summary
An example valve assembly includes a mounting plate having an inlet port configured to be fluidly coupled to a source of fluid; a pilot supply valve mounted to the mounting plate, wherein the pilot supply valve comprises (i) an inlet port fluidly coupled to the inlet port of the mounting plate, and (ii) a first outlet port configured to be fluidly coupled to a pilot port of a main valve; and a pilot exhaust valve mounted to the mounting plate, wherein the pilot exhaust valve comprises (i) a vent port, (ii) a second outlet port that is fluidly coupled to the first outlet port of the pilot supply valve.