Solenoid Valve Size Reduction via Pressure Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cooling systems with solenoid valves require a large size to maintain the closed state due to high fluid pressures, leading to increased valve dimensions.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle cooling system incorporates a valve body accommodating section with a connection flow path section that offsets fluid forces, allowing the solenoid valve to switch between open and closed states with reduced output, thereby minimizing the valve's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a solenoid valve is used to close a water circuit with relatively large flow rate, then the cooling system can effectively control refrigerant flow, but the solenoid valve requires relatively large force to maintain closed state which increases the valve size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the counterweight principle by introducing a pressure equalization chamber that balances the refrigerant pressure acting on the valve body. The chamber allows high pressure refrigerant to act on both sides of the valve body simultaneously, creating opposing forces that cancel each other out. This enables the solenoid valve to maintain closed state against high flow rates without requiring excessive solenoid force, thereby reducing valve size while preserving flow control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure equalization chamber serves as an intermediary mechanism between the high-pressure refrigerant source and the valve body. Instead of directly exposing the valve body to unbalanced high pressure on one side, the chamber mediates by distributing pressure evenly across both sides of the valve body, reducing the net force requirement for valve closure
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 reduces the size of the solenoid valve while maintaining the closed state effectively, allowing for a more compact vehicle cooling system with reduced refrigerant loss and stable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a solenoid valve (40A) that has a valve body (42), and can switch between an open state in which the first flow path section (11) and the second flow path section (12) are connected and a closed state in which the first flow path section (11) and the second flow path section (12) are blocked by causing the valve body (42) to move in a predetermined direction
Implementation Method 2
a pump section (50) configured to cause the refrigerant (W) to circulate in the circulation flow path section (10)
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle cooling system includes a circulation flow path section which has a first flow path section and a second flow path section, and a solenoid valve which can switch between an open state in which the first flow path section and the second flow path section are connected and a closed state in which the first flow path section and the second flow path section are blocked. The circulation flow path section includes a valve body accommodating section configured to include a first accommodating section and a second accommodating section which connects the first flow path section and the second flow path section in the open state, and a connection flow path section whose one end is connected to the first flow path section. The other end of the connection flow path section opens to the first accommodating section.