Rotary Valve Housing Geometry for Coolant Debris Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

In typical valve devices, the constant distance between the outer circumferential wall and the inner wall of the housing leads to difficulties in discharging foreign matter from the coolant water, causing potential malfunctions and increased load torque and pressure drop resistance.

Innovation Solution

The valve device features a housing inner wall with varying distances along the circumferential direction, allowing foreign substances to move to larger gaps during rotation, facilitating their discharge and preventing operational failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the distance between the housing inner wall and the valve outer circumferential wall is kept constant, then the valve structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but foreign matter accumulates in the gap causing malfunctions and increased load torque

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of operational failuresVSAvoidhousing inner wall geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing inner wall is designed with non-uniform thickness, creating varying gap distances between the housing inner wall and the valve outer circumferential wall in different circumferential positions. This local variation in gap size allows foreign matter to be discharged at positions with larger gaps while maintaining adequate sealing at other positions, thus preventing operational failures without requiring complete redesign of the valve mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The housing inner wall geometry transitions from a symmetric constant-distance design to an asymmetric variable-distance design. The asymmetric gap configuration creates preferential discharge paths for foreign matter while maintaining functional integrity, resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If the gap between housing inner wall and valve outer circumferential wall is reduced, then sealing performance improves, but foreign matter discharge becomes difficult leading to malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign matter discharge capabilityVSAvoidpressure drop resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing inner wall is designed with position-dependent gap distances, creating localized larger gaps at specific circumferential positions that serve as discharge paths for foreign matter. This allows the system to maintain adequate sealing at most positions while providing dedicated discharge channels, thus improving foreign matter discharge capability without causing excessive pressure drop.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Use of energy by moving object

If the valve rotates smoothly with minimal resistance, then energy consumption is reduced, but foreign matter accumulation increases load torque and causes malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation energy consumptionVSAvoidprevention of foreign matter accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The variable gap design creates localized larger gaps at specific circumferential positions that serve as discharge paths for foreign matter. This prevents foreign matter accumulation that would otherwise increase load torque and energy consumption, allowing the valve to rotate smoothly with minimal resistance while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the potentially harmful effect of gap variation into a beneficial discharge mechanism. The non-uniform gap configuration, which might seem to compromise sealing, actually creates effective discharge paths that prevent foreign matter accumulation, thereby reducing load torque and energy consumption while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS11560958B2Valve device

Publication Date: 2023.01.24 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A housing has a housing main body and an outlet port. The housing main body includes a cylindrical housing inner wall that defines an internal space therein. The outlet port fluidly connects the internal space and an outside of the housing main body to each other. The valve has a valve body rotatable about an rotation axis along a rotation axis of the cylindrical housing inner wall. The valve is configured to selectively open and close the outlet port depending on a rotation position of the valve. The housing inner wall is formed such that a distance between the housing inner wall and the axis of the housing inner wall varies in a circumferential direction.