Circumferential Spool Transfer Valve for Compact Low-Leakage Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transfer valves are either heavy and complex due to multiple plumbing lines or introduce additional leakage paths, failing to efficiently manage fluid communication between multiple pressure ports.
Innovation Solution
A transfer valve design featuring a spool with axial and circumferential flow channels, anti-rotation slots, and seals to allow axial movement and prevent rotation, reducing size and weight by consolidating ports in the same axial position, and incorporating seals to minimize leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional valves with multiple plumbing lines are used, then fluid communication between multiple pressure ports can be achieved, but the housing becomes heavy and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented into a spool component and a housing, with the spool containing internal flow channels that eliminate the need for external plumbing lines. This segmentation allows the spool to act as both a sealing element and a flow distribution component, reducing housing complexity while maintaining fluid communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spool is nested within the housing, with the spool's circumferential flow channels positioned concentrically within the housing bore. This nested arrangement allows multiple flow paths to be contained within a single compact structure, eliminating the need for separate plumbing lines and reducing overall device complexity.
2Device complexity
If center flow valves are used, then plumbing complexity is reduced, but additional leakage paths are introduced and the valve becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The spool features localized sealing surfaces and circumferential flow channels positioned at specific locations to control fluid flow precisely. The sealing lands are strategically placed at the interface between the spool and housing, creating localized high-reliability sealing zones that prevent leakage while maintaining a compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow distribution function and sealing function are merged into a single spool component. The circumferential flow channels are integrated directly into the spool body, eliminating separate flow passages and potential leakage paths that would exist in conventional center flow valve designs.
3Reliability
If conventional transfer valves are used, then fluid redirection can be achieved, but the axial length and weight are excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The flow channels are arranged circumferentially around the spool axis rather than axially along it. This circumferential arrangement allows multiple pressure ports to be accessed at the same axial position, effectively utilizing the radial dimension to reduce the overall axial length of the valve while maintaining full fluid redirection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spool serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a sealing element, a flow distributor, and a positioning component. The single spool component controls fluid communication between multiple pressure ports through its circumferential channels, eliminating the need for multiple separate valve components and reducing overall axial length.
4Reliability
If conventional transfer valves are used, then fluid communication can be maintained, but weight is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple valve functions are merged into a single spool-housing assembly. The spool contains all necessary flow channels and sealing surfaces, eliminating the need for separate plumbing lines and multiple valve components. This consolidation significantly reduces the total weight while maintaining continuous fluid communication between all pressure ports.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
A transfer valve (100) includes a spool (101) comprising a first circumferential flow channel (103) at a first axial position of the spool (101) and a second circumferential flow channel (105) at a second axial position of the spool (101). The first circumferential flow channel (103) and the second circumferential flow channel (105) have different circumferential positions and are defined only partially circumferentially, and a sleeve (107) disposed over the spool (101). The sleeve (107) includes at least three flow windows (109) defined through the sleeve (107) at an axial position of the sleeve (107), each flow window (109) having different circumferential positions on the sleeve (107). The spool (101) is configured to translate within the sleeve (107) between a first position and a second position. The first circumferential flow channel (103) of the spool (101) is configured to fluidly connect a first plurality of the at least three windows (109) in the first position, and the second circumferential flow channel (105) is configured to connect a second plurality of the at least three windows (109) in the second position, wherein the first plurality of windows (109) is different by at least one window from the second plurality of windows (109).