Pilot Pressure Valve Control Without Fluid Discharge Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid pressure control devices suffer from fluid wastage and increased device size due to the need for discharge valves and additional sensors, particularly when transitioning between operating and standby modes.

Innovation Solution

A fluid pressure control device that transitions between normal and standby modes without a discharge path for pressure fluid, utilizing a supply valve with a diaphragm and solenoid valves to adjust pressure, and eliminating the need for a shutoff valve and flow rate sensor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a discharge valve element is used to control pressure from high to low, then pressure control is achieved, but fluid is wasted without being used in the fluid pressure equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid wasteVSAvoidpressure control capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the discharge valve element from the system. Instead of using a discharge valve to reduce pressure, the system only retains the supply valve element that controls fluid flow from the supply source to the fluid pressure equipment, thereby preventing fluid waste while maintaining pressure control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of controlling pressure by discharging excess fluid through a discharge valve, the invention inverts the approach by controlling pressure solely through regulating the supply flow. The supply valve element modulates the amount of fluid entering the system, achieving pressure control without any discharge mechanism, thus eliminating fluid waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a shutoff valve is connected in series to and downstream of a proportional pressure regulating valve, then mode transition is enabled, but the size and scale of the device becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemode transition capabilityVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The supply valve element is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both the pressure regulating valve during normal operation and as the shutoff valve during standby mode. By making the supply valve element universal, the invention eliminates the need for a separate shutoff valve, thereby reducing device size while maintaining mode transition capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the functions of the supply valve element and the shutoff valve into a single component. The supply valve element can fully open for normal operation and fully close for standby mode, combining the functions of pressure regulation and flow shutoff, thus eliminating the need for additional valves and reducing overall device volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If a flow rate sensor is provided in addition to a pressure sensor, then flow rate detection is enabled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow rate detectionVSAvoidsensor quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the existing pressure sensor to detect pressure changes that indicate flow rate conditions. Instead of adding a dedicated flow rate sensor, the invention enables the pressure sensor to serve dual purposes by monitoring pressure variations that correlate with flow rate, thereby achieving flow rate detection without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure sensor is designed to perform multiple measurement functions: it directly measures pressure for pressure control and indirectly indicates flow rate through pressure change detection. This multi-functional use of the pressure sensor eliminates the need for a separate flow rate sensor, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 minimizes fluid loss and reduces the device's size by eliminating unnecessary valves and sensors, while effectively adjusting fluid pressure between operating and standby modes.

Implementation Method 1

a diaphragm configured to displace a valve element of the supply valve... A pilot chamber is formed on one side of the diaphragm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a pilot pressure supply solenoid valve disposed in a flow path connecting the inlet port and the pilot chamber, and a pilot pressure discharge solenoid valve disposed in a flow path through which a pressure fluid in the pilot chamber is discharged

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid pressure control: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP4030259B1Fluid pressure control device
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 SMC CORP
  • EP4030259B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4030259B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4030259B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A pilot pressure supply solenoid valve (36) is disposed in a flow path connecting an inlet port (16) and a pilot chamber (48), and a pilot pressure discharge solenoid valve (38) is disposed in a flow path through which a pressure fluid in the pilot chamber is discharged to the exterior. A flow path, through which the pressure fluid that has passed through a supply valve (26) is discharged to the exterior, is not provided.