Rotary Valve Assembly With Guide Shell for Low-Force Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve assemblies for motorized vehicle cooling systems require high actuating forces to achieve high impermeability, which is inefficient and increases wear due to the axial pre-tensioning mechanism.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a guide shell that surrounds the valve body, allowing for separate pre-tensioning force paths to reduce the actuating force required, with the guide shell being precision-made from high-strength materials like thermoplastic synthetic filled with glass fibers, and the main housing body made from materials with high tensile and bending strength, enabling efficient loading and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If axial pre-tensioning is increased to improve impermeability, then sealing performance improves, but actuating force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is segmented into functionally independent components: the valve body for flow control, the guide shell for precision guidance, and the housing for structural support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the valve body to achieve high impermeability through precise rotational positioning rather than excessive pre-tensioning force.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide shell acts as an intermediary between the housing and the valve body, providing precision guidance and support. This intermediary component ensures that the valve body maintains accurate positioning and concentricity during rotation, achieving reliable sealing without requiring excessive actuating force to overcome misalignment or instability.
2Ease of operation
If precision manufacturing is applied to reduce actuating force, then manufacturing cost increases, but operational efficiency improves
Solution Approach 1:
High manufacturing precision is applied locally only where critically needed - specifically in the guide shell's internal surface that contacts the valve body and in the valve body's sealing surfaces. Other components like the housing can use standard manufacturing tolerances. This localized approach to precision manufacturing minimizes overall cost while achieving the required reduction in actuating force through improved alignment and guidance.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve assembly for influencing operating fluid flows in a motorized vehicle, where the valve assembly includes:A valve housing with a main housing body and a housing lid,A fluid line arrangement with at least two fluid lines,A valve body configured as tapering along an actuating axis which is accommodated rotatably about the actuating axis between at least two fluid lines of the fluid line arrangement in such a way that through rotation of the valve body about the actuating axis, a flow-connection state of the at least two fluid lines proceeding in different spatial regions with each other is modifiable, andA pre-tensioning means arranged between the housing lid and the valve body which loads the valve body along the actuating axis,wherein it is provided that between the valve body and the main housing body there is arranged a guide shell surrounding the valve body, where the valve body is loaded through the pre-tensioning means towards the guide shell along a first pre-tensioning force path, where the guide shell is loaded through the housing lid towards the main housing body along a second pre-tensioning force path.