Rotary Valve Shaft Integration for Compact Cooling Water Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rotary-type valve devices for cooling water control in vehicles are bulky due to extended shafts and numerous components, complicating assembly and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A rotary-type valve device design featuring a tubular valve with a shaft molded integrally using resin, a housing with a recessed part to support one end of the shaft, and a coupling member with a support hole for the other end, reducing the number of components and size by integrating the shaft and using a bearing bush for support, while maintaining smooth rotation and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the shaft is formed to have a length extending from both ends of the valve and supported by bearings at both ends, then the shaft is able to turn smoothly, but the axial dimension of the housing increases and the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft and valve are integrated as a single unit, eliminating the need for separate shaft support structures at both ends. The shaft is supported at only one end by the housing, while the other end is freely suspended, reducing the axial dimension of the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing support structure is extracted from both ends of the shaft and retained only at one end. This selective retention of support structures reduces the overall axial dimension while maintaining sufficient rotational support.
2Ease of manufacture
If the valve, shaft, bearing, and other components are formed as independent components, then each component can be manufactured separately, but the number of components increases and the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The valve and shaft are merged into a single integrated component, reducing the total number of parts. This integration simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the functional independence of the valve and shaft through design features such as the shaft passing through the valve body.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated valve-shaft component serves multiple functions simultaneously: the valve body controls fluid flow, the shaft provides rotational movement, and the integrated structure reduces assembly steps. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A rotary-type valve device includes: a tubular valve (40) having an inner passage (Ip) and opening parts (43a1, 43b1) opened in an outer circumferential wall and rotating about a predetermined axial line; a shaft (41) rotating integrally with the valve, a housing (H) accommodating the valve, supporting the shaft to be able to turn, and defining a communication port (21) causing the inner passage to communicate with outside; a passage member (50) assembled in the housing such that that the passage member abuts on an outer circumferential wall of the valve and defining a radial-direction passage. The valve includes a recessed part (45) in the axial line direction and surrounding one end part (41a) of the shaft. The housing includes a tube part (12) inserted into the recessed part and supporting the one end part (41a) and a support hole (22) supporting the other end part (41b) of the shaft.