Magnetic Valve Actuator With Pulsed Coil to Limit Overheating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic valve actuators are incompatible with aseptic environments, and electric actuators tend to overheat due to rapid temperature increases, especially under high stress conditions, making them impractical for use in such environments.
Innovation Solution
A valve actuator design featuring a coil surrounded by ferromagnetic rings with magnets, where the coil is powered only briefly to move a buffer between positions, utilizing elastically deformable elements to facilitate movement and reduce overheating, and an optional inductive sensor for position detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electric valve actuators are used in aseptic environments, then compatibility with aseptic environments is improved, but overheating occurs due to rapid temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coil is supplied with electrical energy only periodically during brief intervals necessary to move the buffer from one position to another, rather than continuous operation. This pulsed activation pattern allows the actuator to complete its function while minimizing total energy input and heat generation, directly addressing the overheating issue while maintaining aseptic environment compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful thermal effect is extracted and eliminated by removing the continuous power supply that causes overheating. The invention extracts only the necessary brief intervals of electrical energy needed for buffer movement, discarding the continuous operation that generates excessive heat, thus solving the temperature problem while preserving the actuator's functionality in aseptic environments
2Reliability
If the coil is powered continuously to maintain buffer position, then positioning reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases causing overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator uses self-locking magnetic rings that automatically maintain the buffer in its positioned state without requiring continuous external energy input. After the coil provides brief energy pulses to move the buffer, the magnetic rings self-lock to hold the position, eliminating the need for continuous power supply and thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining positioning reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous power supply, the coil receives periodic brief energy pulses only when buffer position changes are needed. This periodic activation combined with the self-locking mechanism ensures reliable positioning while dramatically reducing overall energy consumption and preventing overheating
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 actuator effectively limits overheating by powering the coil only during position changes, allowing for efficient operation in aseptic environments with minimal energy consumption and reduced risk of overheating.
Implementation Method 1
the supply of the coil causing the attraction of one of the magnets and the repulsion of the other of the magnets carried by the core
Implementation Method 2
a coil surrounded by two rings of ferromagnetic material, all three secured to a frame of the actuator so as to surround the core which itself carries two magnets
Implementation Method 3
at least two elastically deformable elements linked to the core in such a way that the pairs of rings of the core are offset from the pair of rings of the frame when the buffer is locked
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a valve actuator comprising moving gear designed to cause a plug (7) of said gear to slide along a given axis between two extreme positions, the moving gear comprising a core (18) moving as one with the plug in terms of translational movement along the given axis, the actuator comprising a coil (28) surrounded by two rings (29, 30) made of ferromagnetic material, all three components being secured to a frame of the actuator in such a way as to surround the core which itself bears two magnets (23, 24) mounted in opposition on the core in the region of the coil, a ring (26) made of ferromagnetic materials separating the two magnets also flanked on the outside by two other rings (25, 27) made of ferromagnetic material. The invention also relates to a valve and to a machine each equipped with such an actuator.