Rotary Fluid Control Valve for Switching Multi-Port Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid control valves lack the ability to efficiently switch between various fluid flow patterns, such as allowing fluid to flow from one inlet to multiple outlets or from multiple inlets to a single outlet, limiting their versatility in fluid circulation systems.
Innovation Solution
A fluid control valve design that includes a rotatable valve with multiple flow path portions and a housing with inlet and outlet ports, allowing the valve to switch between different flow patterns by rotating about an axial center, enabling fluid to flow from one inlet to one or more outlets, or from multiple inlets to a single outlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional fluid control valve is used, then the structure is simple, but the ability to switch between various fluid flow patterns is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into multiple flow path portions (first, second, third, and fourth flow path portions), each capable of independently controlling fluid flow between different inlet and outlet ports. This segmentation allows the valve to switch between various flow patterns (one inlet to one outlet, one inlet to multiple outlets, multiple inlets to one outlet) by rotating the valve body to align different flow path portions with the ports, thereby improving adaptability without requiring multiple separate valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed with multiple flow path portions that can perform multiple functions: guiding fluid from one inlet to one outlet, dividing fluid from one inlet to multiple outlets, merging fluid from multiple inlets to one outlet, and dividing/merging fluid through the fourth flow path portion. By rotating the valve body to different positions, a single valve structure can achieve various fluid control functions that would traditionally require multiple separate valves, thus improving versatility while maintaining relatively simple structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate valves are used to achieve various flow patterns, then the fluid flow control capability is improved, but the device complexity and space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple flow path portions that would traditionally require separate valves are merged into a single integrated valve body. The first, second, third, and fourth flow path portions are all contained within one valve structure, allowing various fluid flow patterns to be achieved by rotating the single valve body to different positions. This merging significantly reduces the space occupation compared to using multiple separate valves while maintaining comprehensive fluid flow control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed to be rotatable about an axial center, allowing dynamic switching between different flow patterns. By rotating the valve body to different angular positions, different flow path portions are aligned with the inlet and outlet ports, enabling the valve to adaptively control various fluid flow patterns (one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one) using a single dynamic component instead of multiple static valves.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid control valve includes a valve and a housing. A plurality of opening portions include fluid inlets and a plurality of fluid outlets. A plurality of flow path portions include a first flow path portion that guides fluid flowing in from one fluid inlet to one fluid outlet, a second flow path portion that divides fluid flowing in from one fluid inlet and guides the divided fluid to two or more fluid outlets, and a third flow path portion that merges fluid flowing in from two or more fluid inlets and guides the merged fluid to one fluid outlet. The plurality of flow path portions further includes a fourth flow path portion that merges fluid flowing in from two or more fluid inlets, divides the merged fluid, and guides the divided fluid to two or more fluid outlets.