Low-drag seal for thermal management valve rotor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotor valves in thermal management systems face challenges in achieving an effective fluid seal while minimizing operating torque and actuator size, as existing seals often result in excessive friction and leakage.
Innovation Solution
A low-drag seal arrangement featuring a face seal piston with a low-friction coating and a quad-seal within a circumferential groove, which reduces friction and maintains a sealed connection between the piston and the rotor, allowing for efficient fluid control and reduced actuator size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wiper seals are used between the piston and bore, then sealing connection is established, but excessive friction and drag are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the seal by using a resilient member (such as a rubber or elastomeric material) instead of traditional wiper seal materials. This resilient material provides effective sealing against the bore wall while inherently reducing friction and drag forces, allowing the piston to move more freely during rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal arrangement combines multiple materials with complementary properties: the resilient member provides low-friction sealing, while the rod (attached to the piston) provides structural support and positioning. This composite approach achieves both reliable sealing and reduced drag that single-material seals cannot accomplish.
2Ease of operation
If larger actuators are used to overcome friction, then rotor valve operation is maintained, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the friction parameter through the use of a resilient seal member instead of traditional wiper seals, the patent reduces the force required to operate the rotor valve. This allows for the use of smaller, less complex actuators while maintaining reliable valve operation throughout the rotation cycle.
3Reliability
If the piston contacts the bore directly, then sealing is achieved, but excessive drag reduces operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the contact parameter by using a resilient member that can deform and conform to the bore surface, achieving effective sealing with minimal contact pressure. This reduces the drag force during piston movement while maintaining sealing integrity, thereby improving operational efficiency.
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 effectively minimizes torque requirements and seal leakage, enabling more efficient operation with smaller actuators and improved sealing performance compared to traditional wiper seals.
Implementation Method 1
The face seal piston has a portion coated with low friction material that is in selective engagement with the rotor
Implementation Method 2
there is a resilient member positioned within the bore and configured to apply a force to the face seal piston
Implementation Method 3
A quad-seal is located within the circumferential groove for creating a seal between the bore and the face seal piston
Data Source
AI summary
A low-drag seal arrangement for a thermal management valve including a housing having a chamber and at least one bore for flowing a fluid medium through the at least one bore between a location exterior of the housing and the chamber of the housing. A rotor is configured to rotate within the chamber of the housing relative to the bore. The rotor moves between a closed position where the flow of fluid medium through the at least one bore is blocked, an open position where the fluid medium flows through the at least one bore and an intermediate position where the flow of fluid medium through the at least one bore is partially restricted by the rotor's position relative to the bore. The low-drag seal arrangement also includes a face seal piston positioned within the at least one bore and configured to move axially within the bore.