Thermostatic Valve Direct Actuation for Early Flow Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wax capsule thermostats in thermostatic valves are limited by their reactivity to a single threshold temperature, requiring additional heating for earlier opening, which is not sufficient for optimal engine operation, and electric plug valve systems are costly and bulky, making them unsuitable for all applications.
Innovation Solution
A thermostatic valve design featuring a hollow body with a thermostatic actuator using an expansion material and a sealing O-ring system, allowing independent fluid circulation control and improved sealing, with optional features like electric actuators and bayonet connections for reduced size and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an electric heater is added to warm the wax capsule, then the valve can open at temperatures lower than the wax phase change temperature, but the opening time becomes long and the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal heating system (electric heater) with a mechanical direct-actuation system. The electric actuator directly moves the plug without needing to heat the wax capsule, eliminating the time delay associated with thermal heating while maintaining the ability to open the valve at various temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the heating function from the actuation system. Instead of using thermal energy to open the valve, the system uses direct mechanical actuation, removing the intermediate heating step that caused time delays.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electric plug valve systems are used to control fluid circulation under all conditions, then the valve can open and close independently of temperature thresholds, but the device becomes bulky and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both wax capsule thermostats (simplicity, compactness) and electric plug valves (independent temperature control). The compact electric actuator directly moves a simple plug structure, combining the small size of wax capsule valves with the versatile control capability of electric plug valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies electric actuation only where needed (at the plug location) rather than using a bulky distributed system. The local application of the electric actuator to directly move the plug achieves versatile control without increasing overall valve size.
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
Enables precise control of fluid flow independent of fluid temperature, maintaining a compact size equivalent to conventional wax capsule valves while ensuring better sealing and reduced costs, suitable for various engine applications.
Implementation Method 1
A wax capsule consists of a cylinder filled with temperature-sensitive wax. The wax pushes back a rod under the effect of a significant volume change accompanying a solid/liquid phase change, occurring at a threshold temperature.
Implementation Method 2
the expansion material whose volume increases beyond a threshold temperature
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a thermostatic valve (10) comprising a hollow body (1), a first opening (2) and a second opening (3) opening into the body (1) and being hydraulically connected by a pass section (5), and a shut-off means arranged at least partially in the pass section (5) and comprising a thermostatic actuator (4), a return means (6), a valve (8) capable of opening the first opening (2) when actuated by the thermostatic actuator (4) and of closing the first opening (2) when returned by the return means (6), wherein the thermostatic actuator (4) comprises a cylinder (41) containing an expansion material, the volume of which increases beyond a threshold temperature, and a stem (42) defining an axial direction (D), a relative movement between the cylinder (41) and the stem (42) along the axial direction (D) being able to occur under the action of the expansion material, characterized in that the stem (42) bears at one of its ends (421) against an abutment element (13), said abutment element (13) being movable under the action of movement means (14, 18) in the direction of the cylinder (41) so as to allow the opening of the first opening (2) when the temperature of the expansion material is below the threshold temperature, said movement means (14, 18) being arranged at least in part inside the pass section (5).