Solenoid Valve Inversion for Compact Engine Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional engine cooling apparatuses require large solenoid valves with high drive force and power consumption to maintain the valve open state, leading to potential enlargement and increased electric power usage.
Innovation Solution
A solenoid valve design where the valve body is maintained in contact with the valve seat using a small solenoid with low drive force and power consumption, utilizing fluid pressure to open the valve when not energized, and a controller initiates power supply before engine start-up to ensure reliable closure, reducing power consumption and enabling compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional solenoid valve is used that requires moving the valve body against the urging force of the urging member to open the valve, then the valve can be opened for cooling liquid circulation, but a large solenoid valve with large drive force is needed leading to enlargement of the apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional valve operation logic: instead of using the solenoid to open the valve against spring force, the valve opens automatically when the solenoid is not energized (due to fluid pressure overcoming the spring), and closes when the solenoid is energized. This inversion allows using a small solenoid with low drive force, eliminating the need for a large solenoid valve and reducing apparatus size while maintaining reliable valve control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the fluid pressure of the cooling liquid itself to actuate the valve opening. When the solenoid is not energized, the fluid pressure overcomes the urging force of the urging member and automatically opens the valve body from the valve seat. This hydraulic actuation eliminates the need for a large mechanical solenoid, reducing apparatus size while ensuring reliable valve operation.
2Productivity
If a conventional solenoid valve is used that requires maintaining the valve body in the open position against the urging force of the urging member, then the valve can remain open for cooling liquid circulation, but continuous power supply is needed leading to increased electric power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional solenoid valve operation where continuous power is needed to maintain the open state. In this invention, the valve opens automatically when power is not supplied (due to fluid pressure), and closes when power is supplied. This allows the valve to remain open without continuous power consumption, eliminating the energy waste associated with maintaining the open position against spring force.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system uses the fluid pressure of the cooling liquid itself to maintain the open position without external power input. When the solenoid is not energized, the fluid pressure automatically keeps the valve body away from the valve seat, enabling self-sustained open position without continuous power consumption, thus improving energy efficiency.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the solenoid valve is configured to open automatically when not energized, then a small solenoid with low power consumption can be used, but the valve body requires large drive force to switch from open to closed state when the engine starts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by initiating power supply to the solenoid before engine start-up. This pre-energization ensures the valve body is in the closed position before the engine starts and cooling liquid circulation begins, eliminating the need for large drive force during engine startup. The controller proactively closes the valve before the high-pressure cooling liquid flow occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller monitors engine operation status and provides feedback control to the solenoid valve. When the engine is detected to be operating, the controller energizes the solenoid to close the valve, preventing cooling liquid circulation during engine warm-up. This feedback-based control ensures the valve is in the correct position based on actual engine conditions, avoiding the need for oversized solenoid drive force.
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 configuration allows for a compact engine cooling apparatus with reduced electric power consumption and improved fuel efficiency by maintaining the solenoid valve in a closed state without circulation, enabling efficient engine warm-up and minimizing unnecessary solenoid energization.
Implementation Method 1
a solenoid capable of maintaining the contact between the valve body and the valve seat in response to supply of power thereto
Implementation Method 2
When the pump is driving with the solenoid being under non-energized state, the valve body is removed from the valve seat by the fluid pressure of the cooling liquid
Data Source
Figure 1~2(b)
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Provided is an engine cooling apparatus that can be readily formed compact and that does not easily invite increase of power consumption. An engine cooling apparatus includes an engine for vehicle traveling, a pump driven by the engine, a heat exchanger, a circulation passage for circulating cooling liquid between the engine and the heat exchanger by driving of the pump, a solenoid valve capable of opening/closing the circulation passage, and a controller for controlling operations of the engine. The solenoid valve includes a valve body movable between a position away from a valve seat and a position contacting the valve seat and held to contact the valve seat and a solenoid capable of maintaining the contact between the valve body and the valve seat in response to supply of power thereto. At the time of driving of the pump under a non-energized state of the solenoid, the valve body is movable to the position away from the valve seat by the fluid pressure of the cooling liquid. The controller is configured to be controllable such that power supply to the solenoid is initiated before start-up of the engine.