Multi-Port Control Valve Sealing Layout for Easier Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control valves face challenges in arranging multiple flow channels and sealing members to manage multiple flow paths efficiently, leading to increased manufacturing difficulty and cost.

Innovation Solution

A control valve design with a valve body and sealing member featuring communication ports arranged along the height and circumferential directions, and a sealing body with through holes, reducing the arc length of the sealing member's arc surface to simplify manufacturing and improve sealing performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple flow channels are arranged in the control valve to control multiple flow paths, then the fluid control capability is improved, but the manufacturing difficulty of the sealing member increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid control capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty of sealing member
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing member is divided into a sealing body and a balancing block, with each component having specific functions. The sealing body contains through-holes for sealing flow channels, while the balancing block counteracts fluid pressure on the sealing body, allowing the sealing member to handle multiple flow paths without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The communication ports are arranged in both height direction and circumferential direction, creating a two-dimensional port layout. This dimensional arrangement allows multiple flow paths to be controlled while reducing the arc length of the sealing member's arc surface, thereby simplifying manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the sealing member covers a large arc surface to seal multiple communication ports, then the sealing performance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity of sealing member
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing member's arc surface covers only the necessary portion (central angle ≤180°) required to seal the communication ports, rather than covering a full 360° circumference. This partial coverage is sufficient for sealing performance while significantly reducing manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The balancing block acts as an intermediary component that counteracts fluid pressure on the sealing body. This allows the sealing body to maintain effective sealing with a reduced arc surface, as the balancing block provides additional structural support and pressure distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4325104B1Control valve and sealing component
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 ZHEJIANG SANHUA AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS CO LTD
  • EP4325104B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4325104B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4325104B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control valve (1), comprising a valve body (10), a valve core (20), and a sealing component (41). The control valve (1) comprises communication ports; the communication ports are communicated with a valve cavity (101); the communication ports comprise first communication ports (311); the first communication ports (311) are arranged along the height direction of a side wall portion (11) and the circumferential direction of the side wall portion (11); two first communication ports (311) is arranged on the side wall portion (11) along the circumferential direction of the side wall portion (11); the sealing component (41) comprises a sealing body portion (410); the sealing body portion (410) is located between the valve core (20) and the side wall portion (11); the sealing body portion (410) has through holes (411); the number of the through holes (411) is the same as that of the first communication ports (311), and the through holes are correspondingly communicated with the first communication ports; the through holes (411) are arranged along the height direction of the sealing body portion (410) and the circumferential direction of the sealing body portion (410); two through holes (411) are arranged on the sealing body portion (410) along the circumferential direction of the sealing body portion (410); the inner surface of the sealing body portion (410) is an arc surface; and the central angle corresponding to the arc surface of the sealing body portion (410) is greater than 100 degrees and less than or equal to 180 degrees. In this way, the control valve (1) can not only realize fluid control of multiple flow paths, but also lower the difficulty in manufacturing the sealing component.