Solenoid Valve Breathing Path Layout for Contaminant Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional solenoid valve devices face contamination issues due to contaminants penetrating through breathing holes, which impede the movement of the plunger and reduce responsiveness.

Innovation Solution

The solenoid valve device incorporates an annular breathing path with a first breathing hole and a second breathing hole positioned at different circumferential distances, allowing contaminants with higher specific gravity to settle and preventing their entry into the accommodation portion, while maintaining responsiveness through fluid flow optimization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a breathing hole is formed in the sleeve to allow fluid communication between the accommodation portion and outside, then the responsiveness of the solenoid valve main body is improved, but contaminants easily penetrate into the accommodation portion through the linear flow path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponsiveness of solenoid valve main bodyVSAvoidcontaminant penetration into accommodation portion
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the first and second breathing holes at different circumferential locations around the sleeve, creating an asymmetric flow path configuration. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that contaminants with higher specific gravity settle away from the second breathing hole entrance, preventing them from entering the accommodation portion while still allowing rapid fluid communication for responsive valve operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a simple linear breathing hole (one-dimensional flow path) to an annular flow path configuration involving two breathing holes at different circumferential positions (adding a circumferential dimension). This dimensional change creates a longer, more complex flow path that allows contaminants to settle due to gravity while maintaining fluid communication speed for responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Speed

If the plunger moves rapidly for responsive valve operation, then the responsiveness is improved, but fluid resistance during plunger movement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplunger movement speedVSAvoidfluid resistance to plunger movement
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing breathing holes that allow fluid to enter and exit the accommodation portion before and during plunger movement. This pre-positioned fluid communication path reduces pressure buildup and fluid resistance before the plunger needs to move, enabling faster acceleration and improved responsiveness without excessive force requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design effectively reduces contaminant penetration into the solenoid valve's accommodation portion and enhances responsiveness by managing fluid flow and contaminant accumulation, ensuring efficient operation.

Implementation Method 1

contaminants which exist around outside the solenoid valve main body easily penetrate into the accommodation portion... contaminants having heavy specific gravity and contained in the fluid traveling the long distance can effectively fall to a lower side of the space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

a first breathing hole which allows an outside of the solenoid valve main body to communicate with the space and a second breathing hole which allows the space to communicate with the accommodation portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3715686B1Solenoid valve device
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 EAGLE INDS
  • EP3715686B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3715686B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3715686B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a solenoid valve device capable of reducing the possibility of contaminants penetrating into an accommodation portion while improving the responsiveness of a solenoid valve main body. In a solenoid valve main body (3) where at least a part of a plunger (34) is disposed in an accommodation portion (30) defined by a stator (33) and a molded solenoid body (12). The solenoid valve main body 83) is provided with a space (S4) with an annular shape continually formed in a circumferential direction between a sleeve (6) and the stator (33), a first breathing hole (6h) which allows an outside of the solenoid valve main body (3) to communicate with the space (S4) and a second breathing hole (33g) which allows the space (S4) to communicate with the accommodation portion (30). The first breathing hole (6h) and the second breathing hole (33g) are positioned such that a clockwise distance and an anticlockwise distance in the circumferential direction from the first breathing hole (6h) to the second breathing hole (33g) are different from each other.