Multi-Way Valve Spring-Damped Switching for Precise Control Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-way valves suffer from leakage issues and unprecise control pressure due to high control fluid pressures, and previous designs with seat valve types experience rebound problems leading to unprecise state changes and energy inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A multi-way valve design with a reduced mass armature and valve body arrangement, utilizing a second spring member to bias the valve body towards the inactive position and a third spring member to bias the armature, along with an internal rubber damper to prevent rebounds, and a drive body arranged within the control fluid channel to minimize energy consumption and increase precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seat valve type is used to master high control fluid pressures, then leakage is reduced, but the entire mass of the armature and valve body arrangement rebounds against the valve seat during state change, leading to unprecise state changes and change of state 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 the first valve body to close the first control fluid channel while the second valve body opens the second control fluid channel, preventing the entire mass from rebounding simultaneously and improving state change precision while maintaining leakage control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic behavior by allowing sequential operation of the valve bodies. The first valve body closes before the second valve body opens, creating a dynamic transition that prevents pressure buildup and rebound effects, thereby improving state change precision without compromising leakage control.
2Stress or pressure
If a large and heavy valve body is used in multi-way valve designs, then the valve can handle high pressures, but it takes a long time to stop after displacement, leading to unprecise state changes
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body arrangement is segmented into multiple lighter valve bodies (first and second valve bodies) that can be independently displaced. This reduces the mass of each individual valve body, allowing faster acceleration and deceleration, thereby improving state change speed while maintaining pressure handling capability through the collective arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a pilot control mechanism where a small pilot pressure acts on a larger area to control the main valve bodies. This partial action approach allows precise control of heavy valve bodies without requiring excessive force, enabling faster response times while maintaining pressure handling capability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the armature and valve body arrangement have long rebound duration, then the valve can absorb pressure changes, but it leads to unprecise equipment control and energy inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces damping elements that provide beforehand cushioning during valve body displacement. These dampers absorb rebound energy in advance, reducing rebound duration and preventing unprecise state changes, thereby improving pressure stability while reducing energy consumption associated with prolonged rebound movements.
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 achieves faster and more precise state changes, reduced energy consumption, and a more compact form, significantly decreasing rebound duration and frequency, thereby eliminating change of state leakage and improving control pressure precision.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring member arranged between the armature and the drive body, the valve body arrangement being biased in the direction towards the inactive position by means of a second spring member, and in that the armature when located in the inactive position is biased in the direction towards the active position by means of a third spring member, the first spring member exerting a greater spring force than the third spring member
Implementation Method 2
an internal rubber damper to prevent rebounds
Data Source
Figure 1
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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 (12) extending between a first opening (13) and said control pressure channel (5), a second control fluid channel (14) extending between a second opening (15) and said control pressure channel (5), a valve body arrangement (16) arranged in said first control fluid channel (12) and in said second control fluid channel (14), 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 (16) to an active position where the first control fluid channel (12) is closed and the second control fluid channel (14) is open, and the electrically controlled device (6) further comprising a drive body (18) connected to said armature (8) and a first spring member (19) arranged between the armature (8) and said drive body (18). The multi-way valve is characterized in that the valve body arrangement (16) is biased in the direction towards the inactive position by means of a second spring member (17), and in that the armature (8) when located in the inactive position is biased in the direction towards the active position by means of a third spring member (20), the first spring member (19) exerting a greater spring force than the third spring member (20).According to a second aspect the present invention relates to an actuator comprising such a multi-way valve.