Electro-Hydraulic Proportional Valve With Hydraulic Thrust Amplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro-hydraulic proportional valves face challenges in achieving high pressure and high flow rates while maintaining a simple structure, with direct-acting types having limited thrust and pilot-controlled types having complex structures.
Innovation Solution
The electro-hydraulic proportional valve design includes a valve core, valve sleeve, valve body, driving mechanism, and transmission mechanism, where the transmission mechanism drives the valve core to rotate circumferentially, generating a hydraulic pressure difference to move the valve core axially, similar to a pilot-controlled type but with a simpler structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If direct-acting type is used, then structure is simple, but thrust is limited and high pressure/high flow cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
A pilot valve is introduced as an intermediary component to generate hydraulic pressure that acts on the main valve core. The pilot valve converts electromagnetic force into hydraulic pressure, which then amplifies the thrust on the main valve core, enabling high pressure and flow rates while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes hydraulic pressure generated by the pilot valve to drive the main valve core. By converting electromagnetic energy into hydraulic pressure and then into mechanical motion, the system achieves force amplification, allowing high thrust output without requiring a large electromagnetic motor.
2Force
If pilot-controlled type is used, then high pressure and high flow are achieved, but structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pilot valve and main valve are integrated into a single compact assembly with shared components such as the valve body and hydraulic passages. This merging reduces the overall structural complexity compared to separate pilot and main valve systems, while maintaining the force amplification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot valve serves multiple functions: it controls the main valve core position, generates hydraulic pressure, and regulates flow rates. By making the pilot valve multi-functional, the system achieves high thrust output without requiring additional specialized components, thereby simplifying the overall structure.
3Stress or pressure
If pilot valve controls pressure chamber, then hydraulic pressure is generated to drive valve core, but structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pilot valve is nested within the main valve assembly, with the pilot valve core positioned inside the main valve body. This nested configuration allows the pilot valve to control pressure chambers that are integrated into the main valve structure, generating hydraulic pressure directly at the point of application without requiring separate external pressure control systems.
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 high pressure and high flow rates with a reduced complexity, improving response speed and maintaining equal pressure states in sensitive cavities, thus overcoming the limitations of traditional direct-acting and pilot-controlled valves.
Implementation Method 1
The transmission mechanism may be configured to be driven by the driving mechanism to drive the valve core to rotate along a circumferential direction of the valve core relative to the valve sleeve, so as to generate a hydraulic pressure difference. The valve core may be driven by the hydraulic pressure difference to move along an axial direction of the valve core relative to the valve sleeve.
Data Source
AI summary
An electro-hydraulic proportional valve includes: a valve core; a valve sleeve, sleeving an outside of the valve core; a valve body, sleeving an outside of the valve sleeve and fixedly connected to the valve sleeve; a left end cap, covering an end of the valve body, a left sensitive cavity being defined by the left end cap, the valve body, and the valve sleeve; a right end cap, covering the other end of the valve body, a right sensitive cavity being defined by the right end cap, the valve body, and the valve sleeve; a driving mechanism disposed out of the valve body; and a transmission mechanism connected to the driving mechanism and the valve core.