Rotatable Actuator Air Flow Regulator for Utility Vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air dryers for commercial vehicles are not adaptable to different vehicle types and require factory-setting adjustments, limiting their usability and flexibility in adjusting regeneration air volumes, which leads to inefficient energy use and potential misalignment of air flow settings.
Innovation Solution
An air volume regulator with a rotatable actuator having multiple air channels or sections that can be switched on or off to adjust the effective cross-section of the airway, allowing user-adjustable settings without the need for additional tools and providing secure positioning against unintentional changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an adjusting screw with a thread is used to change the effective cross-section of the airway, then the cross-sectional area can be adjusted, but the user cannot readjust the cross-section without a measuring device and the setting is fixed at the factory
Solution Approach 1:
The airway is divided into multiple discrete cross-sectional areas, each corresponding to a specific angular position of the actuator. Instead of continuous adjustment via thread rotation, the airway cross-section is segmented into distinct selectable options (first, second, third cross-sectional areas), allowing users to switch between predefined settings by rotating the actuator to different angular positions without requiring measuring devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual indicators (arrows and markings) to indicate the angular position of the actuator and correspondingly the effective cross-sectional area of the airway. This visual feedback system allows users to identify and select the desired cross-section setting without specialized measuring instruments, simply by observing the alignment of indicators with markings on the housing.
2Reliability
If the adjusting screw is sealed at the factory to prevent unintentional loosening, then operational reliability is improved, but the user cannot adjust the setting for different vehicle types
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is designed to be rotatable relative to the housing, allowing dynamic adjustment between different angular positions. The system transitions from a static, sealed screw setting to a dynamic, selectable mechanism where users can intentionally rotate the actuator to change cross-sectional areas. The design maintains reliability through positive engagement features while enabling adaptability through controlled rotational movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow regulator is designed to be universally applicable to different vehicle types by providing multiple selectable cross-sectional areas through actuator rotation. The same device can be installed in various vehicles, and users can select the appropriate cross-section setting based on the specific air consumption requirements of different vehicle types, eliminating the need for different pre-configured units.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple full rotations of the adjusting screw are required to change the cross-sectional area, then the range of adjustment is increased, but the complexity of operation and risk of unintentional changes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment range is segmented into discrete cross-sectional areas (first, second, third areas) rather than requiring continuous multi-rotation adjustment. Each segment corresponds to a specific angular position of the actuator, allowing the full range of adjustment to be achieved through limited rotational steps rather than multiple complete rotations, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an airflow regulator (R) comprising an inlet connection (I), an outlet connection (0), and a rotatable actuator (3) which protrudes into the air path between the inlet connection (I) and the outlet connection (0). In this manner, the effective cross-section of the air path can be set by rotating the actuator. According to the invention, the actuator (3) and/or the housing (1) of the actuator has multiple different air channels or air channel segments (4a, 4b, 4c), and the contributions of the channels or channel segments to the formation of the effective cross-section of the air path can be activated and/or deactivated by rotating the actuator into different angular positions (H, M, L). It has been determined that a unique correlation between the value of the air path cross-section and the angular position of the actuator can be produced by means of said feature. The relationship between a change in the angular position (H, M, L) of the actuator (3) and the resulting change in the air path cross-section is no longer rigidly specified by the pitch of a thread.