Multi-Way Valve Spring-Coupled Actuation for Precise Pressure Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-way valves suffer from leakage and unprecise control pressure due to high control fluid pressures, and their design leads to unprecise state changes and increased energy consumption, especially in applications like internal combustion engines.
Innovation Solution
A multi-way valve design with a reduced mass armature and valve body arrangement, where the drive body is positioned in the control fluid channel, and a spring member is used to compress the drive body when the armature is active, allowing for faster and more precise state changes without intermediate elements, reducing energy consumption and leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a seat valve type multi-way valve is used to handle high control fluid pressures (20-25 Bar), then the valve can operate at high pressures, but the armature and valve body arrangement rebound against the valve seat for a long period, causing unprecise state changes and control pressure leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body arrangement is divided into a first valve body and a second valve body that can be independently displaced. This segmentation allows each valve body to be controlled separately by the armature, reducing the rebound period and improving state change precision while maintaining high pressure capability
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body arrangement is designed to be dynamically controllable through the armature's back-and-forth movement. The first and second valve bodies can be rapidly displaced to active positions, enabling fast state changes and reducing the rebound period against the valve seat
2Device complexity
If a slide valve type multi-way valve is used, then the valve structure is simple, but control fluid leaks past the valve body arrangement at high pressures, causing unprecise control pressure levels
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second valve bodies are merged into a single integrated valve body arrangement that is controlled by one armature. This merging ensures coordinated movement of both valve bodies, preventing control fluid leakage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The armature acts as an intermediary that transmits movement to both the first and second valve bodies. This intermediary mechanism ensures precise control of the valve bodies, preventing leakage while maintaining structural simplicity
3Stress or pressure
If a large and heavy valve body is used, then the valve can handle high pressures, but the valve takes a long time to stop after displacement, reducing response speed
Solution Approach 1:
The heavy valve body is segmented into lighter first and second valve bodies. This segmentation reduces the overall mass that needs to be accelerated and decelerated, improving response speed while maintaining pressure handling capability through the distributed valve body design
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body mass parameter is changed by using a lighter, segmented valve body arrangement instead of a single heavy valve body. This parameter change improves response speed while the valve body geometry is optimized to maintain adequate pressure handling capability
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
This design results in a more compact, efficient, and precise valve operation with reduced changeover time and energy consumption, minimizing state change leakage and maintaining precise control pressure levels, especially suitable for high-pressure applications like internal combustion engines.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member arranged between the armature and said drive body... the spring member being in a compressed state when the armature is located in the active position
Implementation Method 2
an electrically controlled device having a drive member and an armature. The armature is displaceable back and forth under the effect of said drive member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
The invention relates according to a first aspect to a multi-way valve comprising a control pressure channel (5), a first control fluid channel (11) extending between a first opening (12) and said control pressure channel (5), a second control fluid channel (13) extending between a second opening (14) and said control pressure channel (5), a valve body arrangement (15) arranged in said first control fluid channel (11) and in said second control fluid channel (13), and an electrically controlled device (6) having a drive member (7) and an armature (8). The armature is displaceable back and forth under the effect of said drive member (7) between an inactive position and an active position, wherein the multi-way valve (1) is configured by means of the movement of the armature (8) from the inactive position to the active position to displace the valve body arrangement (15) to an active position where the first control fluid channel (11) is closed and the second control fluid channel (13) is open, and the electrically controlled device (6) further comprising a drive body (17) connected to said armature (8) and a spring member (18) arranged between the armature (8) and said drive body (17). The multi-way valve is characterized in that the drive body (17) is configured to abut the valve body arrangement (15) and the spring member (18) being in a compressed state when the armature (8) is located in the active position. According to a second aspect the present invention relates to an actuator comprising such a multi- way valve.