Pressure Balanced Solenoid Valve Segmented Passage Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solenoid operated valves face issues with contamination, such as moisture and dirt entering through central passageways, leading to valve sticking, reduced performance, and delayed operations due to the lack of effective pressure balancing in both open and closed positions.
Innovation Solution
A pressure balanced solenoid operated valve design that includes a solenoid portion with a coil and a valve member with a pressure equalizing passage, where pressurized fluid acts against both the armature and piston, maintaining a balanced condition in both positions and preventing contaminants from reaching the solenoid assembly by maintaining a continuous pressurized fluid presence in the pressure equalizing passage and biasing member chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a central passageway is provided through the valve member to equalize pressure, then the solenoid force required to move the valve member is reduced, but contaminants can move through the passageway to the solenoid assembly causing valve sticking and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure equalizing passage is segmented into multiple sections: a first section extending from the inlet port to a first location, and a second section extending from a second location to the discharge port. These sections are separated by a controllable communication path that only opens when the valve member is in the open position, preventing contaminants from traveling the full length of the passage to the solenoid assembly while still allowing pressure equalization to occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member itself acts as an intermediary element that controls the communication between the two sections of the pressure equalizing passage. When the valve member moves to the open position, it creates a controlled opening that allows pressure equalization while blocking the direct path that would allow contaminants to reach the solenoid assembly.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the pressure equalizing passage extends through the entire valve member, then pressure balancing is achieved in both open and closed positions, but contaminants can reach the solenoid components
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure equalizing passage is divided into two separate sections that are not continuously connected. The first section serves the closed position pressure balancing, while the second section serves the open position pressure balancing. The separation prevents contaminants from the discharge port from reaching the solenoid assembly while maintaining pressure balancing functionality in both valve states.
Solution Approach 2:
The design preemptively blocks the path that contaminants would take to reach the solenoid assembly by segmenting the pressure equalizing passage. This preliminary anti-action prevents the harmful effect of contamination before it can occur, while still allowing the beneficial pressure balancing effect to function through the segmented passages.
3Reliability
If the pressure equalizing passage is blocked from extending through the armature, then contaminants are prevented from entering the coil, but the passage complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure equalizing passage is segmented into distinct sections with controlled communication paths. The first section extends from the inlet port to a first location that does not extend through the armature, while the second section extends from a second location to the discharge port. This segmentation protects the solenoid components from contaminants while maintaining pressure balancing functionality.
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
The design effectively prevents contaminants from entering the solenoid components, maintaining valve cleanliness and preventing sticking issues, allowing for reliable operation by ensuring balanced pressure forces in both valve closed and open positions, reducing the solenoid force required and enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A valve member is slidably disposed in the body. The valve member includes an armature defining a first end of the valve member... and a piston defining a second end of the valve member... the armature when the coil is energized being magnetically drawn toward the coil retainer to move the valve member between a valve closed and a valve open position
Implementation Method 2
A pressure equalizing passage open at the piston and extending internally within the valve member opens proximate the shoulder. A pressurized fluid transferred via the pressure equalizing passage acts against the piston and equally and oppositely against both the shoulder and the armature providing a pressure balanced condition in both the valve closed and valve open positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure balanced solenoid operated valve includes a solenoid portion having a coil in a coil retainer. A valve member portion defines a body connected to the solenoid portion. A slidable valve member in the body has opposed first and second ends and a shoulder between the ends. The first end with the coil energized is magnetically drawn toward the coil retainer moving the valve member between a valve closed and a valve open position. A pressure equalizing passage extends in the valve member from the second end. An inlet passage communicates a pressurized fluid at a valve inlet port to the pressure equalizing passage. A connecting passage communicates between the pressure equalizing passage and the shoulder. The pressurized fluid in the pressure equalizing passage acts against the second end and equally and oppositely against both the shoulder and the first end in both the open and closed positions.