Modular Multi-Port Valve Core for Four- to Six-Way Fluid Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-port valves require replacing the valve core to facilitate fluid routing in four, five, or six-way valves, leading to additional cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A multi-port valve assembly with a valve core configured to route fluid in one or more of a four, five, or six-way valves, allowing a single valve core to be used to build three different valves, thereby reducing cost and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single valve core is used to facilitate fluid routing in four, five, or six-way valves, then manufacturing cost and production complexity are reduced, but the valve core design must achieve higher versatility to work across multiple configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The valve core is designed with multiple ports and flow channels that can be configured to provide different fluid routing patterns. The same valve core can be used in four-way, five-way, or six-way valve assemblies by selectively plugging certain ports or configuring the flow channels to achieve the desired number of active pathways, eliminating the need for different valve cores for different valve types.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve core incorporates modular flow channel designs and selectable port configurations that can be independently activated or deactivated. This segmentation allows the valve core to be adapted to different valve configurations (four, five, or six-way) by selectively enabling specific flow paths while keeping the physical valve core unchanged.
2Reliability
If existing multi-port valves use different valve cores for four, five, or six-way configurations, then each configuration can be optimized specifically, but the overall system complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal valve core design replaces the need for multiple specialized valve cores. The valve core maintains configuration-specific reliability through its ability to provide optimized flow paths for four, five, or six-way configurations while reducing system complexity by eliminating the need to manage multiple valve core inventories and perform different installation procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a valve core for adjusting fluid flow in a multi-port valve assembly having a valve body defining a valve seat. The valve core includes a valve plug, and a valve stem. The valve plug defines two or more flow channels to facilitate fluid flow between two or more channel ports. The valve plug is configured to rotate within the valve seat about an axis of rotation between a first position and a second position. The valve stem extends outwardly from the valve plug.