Mechatronic Pressure Control Valve With Motor-Driven Spool Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrohydraulic pressure control valves suffer from poor response due to poor damping, delay in feedback signaling, inertia-dominated dynamics, sensitivity to fluid contamination, and limited flow gain resolution, primarily due to the high mass of the solenoid armature and misalignment between the stator and rotor.
Innovation Solution
An electric motor-based mechatronic drive system that integrates a novel electromechanical subassembly with a power screw, power nut, and energizing spring, utilizing a precision composite body to achieve precise alignment of stator and rotor axes, eliminating the solenoid armature and enhancing bandwidth, damping, and resistance to fluid contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a linear solenoid is used as the energizing motive element, then the valve structure is simple, but the response is poor due to high mass of the solenoid armature and inertia dominated dynamics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the solenoid armature from the system entirely, replacing it with a rotary actuator that drives a cam mechanism. This extraction of the heavy armature eliminates the primary source of inertia, enabling faster response while maintaining structural simplicity through the cam-based valve actuation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the linear solenoid mechanical system with a rotary actuator and cam mechanism. This substitution allows for lighter moving masses in the valve actuation path while achieving the same valve control function, thereby improving response speed without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
2Volume of moving object
If a linear solenoid is used, then the valve is compact, but the damping characteristics are poor and bandwidth is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cam mechanism that provides dynamic control of valve actuation. The cam profile can be optimized to provide controlled acceleration and deceleration of the valve element, improving damping characteristics and bandwidth while maintaining a compact valve structure. The rotary actuator also provides smoother motion control compared to linear solenoids.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional centering features are used for stator and rotor alignment, then manufacturing is easier, but misalignment occurs due to stack up tolerances causing imbalanced magnetic forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the centering features directly into the stator and rotor bodies, eliminating separate alignment components. This integration ensures that stator and rotor are precisely aligned during assembly, preventing misalignment due to stack up tolerances and avoiding imbalanced magnetic forces, while maintaining ease of manufacture through the unified design.
4Measurement precision
If a rotary stepper or servo motor is used, then control precision is improved, but the linear space required for integration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the cam mechanism within the rotary actuator assembly, and integrates the entire drive system within the valve body. This nested arrangement achieves precise control through the rotary actuator while minimizing the linear space required by efficiently utilizing the radial and axial dimensions of the compact nested structure.
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 provides superior control, displacement, and force characteristics with improved dynamic and flow resolution, while being compact and robust to fluid contamination, and allows precise tuning of damping characteristics through high-pressure fluid damping.
Implementation Method 1
A first cross-section of the electrohydraulic pressure control valve of FIG. 1, taken through A-A, and illustrating electric motor features of the mechatronic apparatus
Implementation Method 2
an electromechanical subassembly to generate an elastic (spring) force to provide the energizing force input to the valve spool
Implementation Method 3
In pursuit of this objective, high pressure fluid is delivered to a pair of opposed dashpots
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods and systems of electromechanical actuation applied to robust electrohydraulic pressure control. The system includes an electric motor optimized for electrohydraulic systems and characterized by features that provide for the conversion of rotational to linear motion in a compact package. A valve body includes a high-pressure port, a low-pressure port, and a variable working pressure port. A valve spool is disposed within the valve body to direct oil flow into and out of a working volume, wherein the motive force to operate the valve spool is provided by an integrated electric motor and mechatronic assembly that eliminates conventional solenoid limitations while achieving superior dynamic response and contamination resistance.