Motorized Refrigerant Valve Bearing Layout for Rotor Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow-rate adjustment valves for refrigeration fluids suffer from misalignment due to mismatched rotary friction reduction means and screw-and-nut coupling, leading to inefficient operation and increased complexity and costs due to varying dimensions and components.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a radial bearing to support the rotor component, ensuring balanced radial thrusts and preventing axial offsetting torques, combined with standardized components and a cost-effective manufacturing approach using commercially available materials and technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a ball bearing is used to support the rotor component, then rotary friction is reduced, but misalignment occurs between the bearing and screw-and-nut coupling causing radial thrust imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
A thrust bearing is introduced as an intermediary component between the ball bearing and the screw-and-nut coupling. The thrust bearing specifically handles axial thrust forces, allowing the ball bearing to focus on reducing rotary friction while the thrust bearing maintains proper alignment and balances radial thrusts, preventing misalignment of the flow control element
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing support system is segmented into two distinct functional components: a ball bearing for reducing rotary friction and a thrust bearing for managing axial thrust and maintaining alignment. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between friction reduction and alignment precision
2Adaptability or versatility
If different dimensions are used for flow control elements to match specific uses, then application versatility is improved, but device complexity and management costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate flow control elements of different dimensions and types through a standardized mounting interface. This allows a single valve body design to serve multiple applications by simply changing the flow control element, thereby achieving application versatility without increasing overall device complexity or requiring multiple valve body variants
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 achieves correct rotational and translational motion of the flow control element, ensuring efficient operation, reduced costs, and flexibility in application, while maintaining technical capabilities comparable to existing valves.
Implementation Method 1
a radial bearing (19) supporting said rotor component (13) in such a position as to affect the portion (13a) of the rotor component (13) inside which the screw-and-nut coupling (14) is formed
Implementation Method 2
means for reducing rotary friction, generally a ball bearing, that support the rotor component
Implementation Method 3
The rotor component, which is fixed axially, has a screw-and-nut coupling to a part of the flow control element, which is rigidly coupled to the valve body so as to perform only axial translational motions
Implementation Method 4
a driver section for actuating and adjusting the flow control element, in which the rotor component of the motor is supported rotatably
Data Source
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AI summary
A valve for adjusting the flow-rate of fluids, particularly refrigeration fluids, which is servo-controlled by means of an electric motor (11), of the type that comprises, within a hermetic enclosure capsule (12) and supported rotatably with means for reducing rotary friction, the rotor component (13) of the electric motor with a screw-and-nut coupling (14) with a flow control element (15) which is restrained so as to perform only axial translational motions in a valve body (16) provided with intake and discharge ports (17, 18), the valve body (16) being fixed coaxially to the capsule (12). The means for reducing rotary friction, provided by means of a radial bearing (19), are associated with the rotor component (13) in such a position as to affect the portion (13a) of the rotor component (13) inside which the screw-and-nut coupling (14) is provided.