Flow Channel Switching Valve Assembly Without Pressing Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow channel switching valves require additional components like pressing plates and screws to prevent slippage and fixation, increasing the number of components and weight.
Innovation Solution
A flow channel switching valve design featuring a valve body with a valve chamber, a rotatable valve element, a seat member, an elastic member for sealing, and a rotary drive portion with a valve shaft that is inserted through a vertical through-hole and a fit-insertion hole, where the drive gear is fixed to the valve shaft to provide rotational support, eliminating the need for additional fixation members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressing plate and screws are used to fix the valve shaft to the valve body, then the valve shaft is securely fixed and slippage is prevented, but the number of components and the weight of the valve increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing plate is merged with the valve body by forming it as an integral part through injection molding. The valve shaft is directly inserted into a recess formed in the pressing plate, eliminating the need for separate screws and pressing plates. This integration maintains secure fixation while reducing the number of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing plate serves multiple functions: it acts as both a fixing structure for the valve shaft and a structural component of the valve body assembly. The recess formed in the pressing plate provides both positioning and fixation functions, combining multiple roles into a single component.
2Reliability
If a pressing plate and screws are used to fix the valve shaft to the valve body, then the valve shaft is securely fixed and slippage is prevented, but the weight of the valve increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing plate is merged with the valve body by forming it as an integral part through injection molding. The valve shaft is directly inserted into a recess formed in the pressing plate, eliminating the need for separate screws and pressing plates. This integration maintains secure fixation while reducing the number of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a lightweight plastic pressing plate formed by injection molding instead of heavy metal pressing plates and screws. The plastic material provides sufficient fixation strength while significantly reducing the overall weight of the valve assembly.
3Reliability
If multiple fixation members are used to secure the valve shaft, then the valve shaft is firmly fixed, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing plate is merged with the valve body by forming it as an integral part through injection molding. The valve shaft is directly inserted into a recess formed in the pressing plate, eliminating the need for separate screws and pressing plates. This integration maintains secure fixation while reducing the number of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess formed in the pressing plate automatically positions and secures the valve shaft through its geometric shape, eliminating the need for additional fixation members. The structure self-secures the valve shaft through the interference fit and geometric constraints provided by the recess shape.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention provides a flow channel switching valve with a reduced number of components as well as a reduced weight, and a method for assembling the same. A valve shaft 28 adapted to be coupled to a valve element 20 so as to transmit torque of a rotary drive portion 5 to the valve element 20 is inserted through a vertical through-hole 21, which penetrates through the valve element 20 in the direction of the rotation axis O (i.e., vertical direction), and through a fit-insertion hole 13 provided in a valve body 10. Then, a drive gear 9 that forms the rotary drive portion 5 is fixed to the upper coupling portion 28c of the valve shaft 28 protruding from the fit-insertion hole 13 so that the valve shaft 28 is rotatably supported with respect to the valve body 10.