Pilot-Operated Poppet Valve for High-Pressure Flow Without Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valves, such as solenoid latch valves and ball valves, face challenges in maintaining high flow rates under high pressure while being compact and lightweight, and they require continuous power supply, which is not feasible in restricted power systems like satellites or projectiles, and they also suffer from high frictional forces leading to increased size and weight.
Innovation Solution
A thin, ultrathin on-off valve design featuring a poppet and piston mechanism with a solenoid valve, where the diameter of the seat is greater than the guide, allowing fluid pressure to maintain the valve's state without a spring, and a pilot gas system ensures the valve remains open even without power, with a friction ring and O-ring to manage frictional forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a solenoid latch valve uses a permanent magnet to maintain valve state, then electric power consumption is reduced, but the stroke cannot be increased and the valve cannot handle high flow rate under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pilot valve as an intermediary component that controls a main valve. The pilot valve uses a permanent magnet for low power consumption, while the main valve handles the high flow rate. The pilot valve controls pilot fluid that acts on a piston to operate the main valve, separating the power consumption function from the flow control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system is divided into two separate valves: a pilot valve and a main valve. The pilot valve is responsible for controlling the pilot fluid with low power consumption using a permanent magnet, while the main valve handles the high flow rate fluid. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.
2Productivity
If the valve size is increased to handle high flow rate under high pressure, then the flow path is increased, but the weight is inevitably increased
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is divided into a small pilot valve and a larger main valve. The pilot valve remains compact and lightweight while controlling the much larger main valve through pilot fluid pressure. This allows the system to handle high flow rates without proportionally increasing the weight of the entire valve assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot fluid acts as an intermediary that transmits force from the small pilot valve to the main valve. A small volume of pilot fluid under high pressure can control a much larger main valve, allowing high flow rate capability without proportional weight increase.
3Productivity
If a ball valve is used to achieve high flow coefficient, then the flow rate is improved, but the frictional force increases causing increased driving torque
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the high flow coefficient function from the ball valve geometry and achieves it through a different mechanism. The main valve uses a poppet design with a large diameter seat that provides high flow coefficient, while the friction is reduced by using a friction ring with low friction material and by distributing the sealing force.
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 valve maintains an open state without power supply malfunctions, has a high flow rate, and is lightweight with a compact structure, outperforming traditional valves in terms of size and weight, suitable for high-pressure applications in vehicles and projectiles.
Implementation Method 1
The latch valve controls the closed or opened state of the valve by instantaneously flowing an electric current through a coil to the extent that magnetic flux of the permanent magnet may be cancelled out
Implementation Method 2
The solenoid latch valve using a permanent magnet maintains a closed or opened state of the valve by using a polarity of the permanent magnet
Implementation Method 3
a piston configured to be pressed by pilot gas; a body having pressing spaces into which the pilot gas is introduced
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a valve including: an inlet unit IL; an outlet unit OL perpendicular to the inlet unit; and an opening/closing unit. The opening/closing unit includes: a rod to open or close the discharge port while extending or retracting in the discharge port in a flow direction of the fluid, having a poppet to open or close the discharge port, and having a piston to be pressed by a pilot gas; a body having a guide to accommodate the rod and guide the extension and retraction of the rod, and pressing spaces into which the pilot gas is introduced; and a solenoid valve to supply the pilot gas into the pressing spaces, in which the opening/closing unit has no spring, and in which a diameter of a seat, which comes into contact with the poppet in the outlet unit, is greater than a diameter of the guide.