Solenoid Valve Guide Member Layout for Resin Molding Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solenoid valves face challenges in maintaining dimensional accuracy and appropriate positional accuracy and attitude of resin molded guide members, which are crucial for smooth operation and pressure management within the valve chamber.
Innovation Solution
The solenoid valve design incorporates a resin-molded guide member with a support portion and an attachment portion, featuring an intermediate joint portion and an injection-molding gate mark on the attachment portion, allowing molten resin to flow uniformly into the support portion and ensuring proper positioning and attitude with respect to the housing, while the gate mark is strategically placed to avoid obstructing assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a resin molded guide member is used to support the valve element, then manufacturing cost is reduced and production efficiency is improved, but dimensional accuracy and positional accuracy of the guide member deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by strategically positioning the injection-molding gate mark on the attachment portion rather than the support portion. This localized placement ensures that the gate mark and any associated burrs are confined to a specific area that does not affect the critical sliding interface between the valve element and support portion, thereby maintaining dimensional accuracy where it matters most while still using cost-effective resin molding
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of gate marks and burrs into a benign condition by placing them on the attachment portion, which is not involved in the sliding function. The gate mark location is specifically chosen so that even if burrs are generated, they will not interfere with the valve element's sliding motion, thus transforming a manufacturing defect into an acceptable feature
2Ease of manufacture
If the injection-molding gate mark is placed on the attachment portion, then assembly is facilitated and faulty assembly due to gate burrs is prevented, but the gate mark may obstruct assembly if positioned improperly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by strategically positioning the injection-molding gate mark on the attachment portion rather than the support portion. This localized placement ensures that the gate mark and any associated burrs are confined to a specific area that does not affect the critical sliding interface between the valve element and support portion, thereby maintaining dimensional accuracy where it matters most
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of gate marks and burrs into a benign condition by placing them on the attachment portion, which is not involved in the sliding function. The gate mark location is specifically chosen so that even if burrs are generated, they will not interfere with the valve element's sliding motion
Data Source
AI summary
A solenoid valve includes a housing, a valve element provided in the housing to open and close a valve port, and a resin-molded guide member that includes a support portion supporting the valve element to be slidable in an axial direction, and an attachment portion attached to and in contact with an inner side of the housing. The guide member further includes an intermediate joint portion connecting the attachment portion and the support portion. The attachment portion is larger in shape in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction than the intermediate joint portion. The support portion extends in the axial direction from the intermediate joint portion. The guide member has an injection-molding gate mark on an outer face of the attachment portion.