Magnetic Valve System for Leak-Proof Sealing and Battery Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve systems often experience leaks due to insufficient spring force and inadequate sealing between the valve element and seat, and pilot valves can also leak, necessitating a solution that prevents leaks and allows for easy removal and replacement of operational components for battery replacement.
Innovation Solution
A valve system with a main body housing a valve element and driving element, sealed within a watertight first housing, and an operation unit generating a magnetic field to autonomously operate the driving element, which controls the valve element, ensuring no external mechanical access and preventing leaks. The operation unit includes a programmable control unit and electric actuator for scheduling and manual operation, with a magnetic field-driven pilot valve reducing operational force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve element is pressed onto the valve seat by spring force to stop fluid flow, then the valve can control flow between ports, but leaks occur due to insufficient spring force and inadequate sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring force system with a magnetic field-driven system. The operation element generates a magnetic field that acts on the driving element (permanent magnet) to move the valve element, eliminating the need for spring force and providing more reliable sealing through magnetic actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameter from mechanical spring force to magnetic field strength. By controlling the magnetic field generated by the operation element, the valve element can be precisely positioned against the valve seat to ensure reliable sealing without the limitations of spring force.
2Ease of repair
If the operation unit is detachably attached to the main body for battery replacement, then ease of maintenance is improved, but the connection between operation element and driving element becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the valve system into two detachable segments: the main body housing containing the valve element and driving element, and the operation unit containing the operation element and battery. This segmentation allows the operation unit to be easily removed for battery replacement while maintaining a simple magnetic field-based connection interface between segments.
3Reliability
If the first housing is sealed to prevent leaks, then reliability is improved, but the driving element cannot be mechanically accessed from outside
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical access to the driving element with magnetic field transmission through the sealed housing. The operation element generates a magnetic field that penetrates the first housing wall to act on the driving element, allowing the housing to remain fully sealed while maintaining operational capability.
4Ease of operation
If a pilot valve is used to control the main valve, then operational control is improved, but leaks can occur from the pilot valve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional pilot valve mechanism with a magnetic field-driven system. The operation element's magnetic field directly actuates the driving element to control the main valve, eliminating the pilot valve component and its associated sealing problems while maintaining precise operational control.
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 system effectively prevents leaks and allows for easy battery replacement by ensuring the valve element and driving element are sealed within the main body, with the magnetic field operation reducing mechanical stress and enabling programmable control for efficient fluid flow management.
Implementation Method 1
an operation element that generates a magnetic field that operates the driving element
Implementation Method 2
a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet that face one another in a first direction and operates a valve by rotating the first permanent magnet using an operation transmitting body so that the north pole and the south pole are reversed to alternately produce attraction (a pulling force) and repulsion (a repelling force) between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
There is provided a valve system having a main body including a valve element that controls flow of fluid between a plurality of ports and an operation unit capable of being detachably attached to the main body. The main body includes: a driving element that is operated from the outside by a magnetic force and directly or indirectly drives the valve element; and a first housing that houses the valve element and the driving element and is watertight in a state where pipes are connected to the plurality of ports. The operation unit includes: an operation element that generates a magnetic field that operates the driving element; and a second housing that houses the operation element, when attached to the first housing, the operation element and the driving element being in a facing state via part of a wall of the first housing and part of a wall of the second housing.