Self-Centering Rotary Valve Interface for Precise Port Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current Electronic Rotary Valve (ERV) designs face inefficiencies and operational challenges due to lateral stresses during the mating process with manifolds, leading to performance issues, complexity, and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

The Centering Electronic Rotary Valve (CERV) features a unique conical design with an adapter structure, stator structure, and rotor structure, which reduces the need for vertical pressure and minimizes material wear, while ensuring precise port alignment and fluid handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current ERV designs are used with traditional mating interfaces, then the valve can handle fluid flow, but lateral stresses during mating cause performance issues and increased material wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance stabilityVSAvoidlateral stress

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by replacing the traditional flat mating interface with an arcuate-shaped interface. The adapter top includes an arcuate shaped adapter top interface portion and the adapter bottom defines an arcuate shaped adapter bottom interface cavity, which mate together to center the rotor-stator assembly. This curved geometry transforms the stress distribution from lateral shear forces to vertical compressive forces, eliminating the harmful lateral stresses that cause performance issues and material wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If current ERV designs are used, then fluid handling is achieved, but the mating process requires excessive vertical pressure causing material wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational lifeVSAvoidvertical pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The arcuate-shaped interface portions and cavities create a self-centering mechanism that reduces the vertical pressure required for mating. The curved surfaces guide the adapter into proper alignment with the stator, distributing the mating force more evenly and reducing peak pressures that lead to material wear and shortened operational life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Manufacturing precision

If current ERV designs are used, then port alignment is achieved, but the structure is overly complicated and harder to control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveport alignment precisionVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The arcuate-shaped interface portions and cavities provide passive geometric centering that simplifies the overall structure. Instead of requiring complex active centering mechanisms, the curved geometry inherently guides the adapter into proper alignment with the stator, achieving precise port alignment through shape complementarity rather than complex mechanical or electronic systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The self-centering arcuate interface allows the valve assembly to center itself during the mating process without external intervention. The geometry of the adapter top and bottom interface portions automatically positions the rotor-stator assembly correctly as the components are brought together, eliminating the need for complex external centering mechanisms and reducing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If current ERV designs are used, then fluid flow control is achieved, but the valve is more expensive to operate and maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid handling efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The arcuate-shaped interface portions and cavities reduce maintenance costs by eliminating the lateral stress-related performance issues and material wear that plague traditional designs. The self-centering geometry ensures consistent, repeatable mating that prevents misalignment and reduces the frequency of maintenance interventions, making the valve more economical to operate over time while maintaining fluid handling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS12320441B1Centering electronic rotary valve

Publication Date: 2025.06.03 SCHIVO MEDICAL LTD

AI summary

A Centering Electronic Rotary Valve (CERV) includes an adapter structure having an arcuate shaped adapter top interface portion and an arcuate shaped adapter bottom interface cavity, wherein the adapter structure defines an adapter input channel and at least one adapter output channel. The CERV includes a stator structure having an arcuate shaped stator top interface portion and an arcuate shaped stator bottom interface cavity, wherein the stator structure defines a stator input channel and at least one stator output channel, wherein the stator input channel is aligned with the adapter input channel and the stator output channel is aligned with the adapter output channel. The CERV includes a rotor rotatably associated with the stator and having a rotor channel that communicates the stator input channel with the stator output channel.