Rotary Fluid Control Valve for Switchable Multi-Path Flow Routing
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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 one 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 featuring fluid inlets and outlets, allowing the valve to switch between different flow paths by rotating about an axial center, enabling fluid to flow from one inlet to one or more outlets, or from multiple inlets to one 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 designed with multiple flow path portions (first, second, third, and fourth flow path portions) that enable different fluid flow patterns including one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many connections. A single valve structure can switch between these different flow patterns by rotating the valve core, making the device universal and multi-functional without requiring multiple separate valves
Solution Approach 2:
The valve core is designed to be rotatable relative to the valve body, allowing dynamic switching between different flow patterns. The rotation of the valve core changes which flow path portions are aligned with the inlet and outlet ports, enabling flexible and dynamic control of fluid flow distribution without manual reconfiguration
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate valves are used to achieve various flow patterns, then the flow pattern versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple flow path portions (first, second, third, and fourth flow path portions) are integrated into a single valve body, allowing multiple fluid flow patterns to be achieved within one valve structure. This merging of multiple flow control functions into one device eliminates the need for multiple separate valves while maintaining flow pattern versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The single valve is designed to perform multiple functions by enabling different flow patterns (one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, many-to-many) through the rotation of the valve core, replacing what would traditionally require multiple specialized 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.