Thermostatic Valve Sealing Plug Overpressure Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermostatic valves in cooling circuits of heat engines face issues with overpressure peaks that can damage the sealing plug and thermostatic element, leading to potential failure of the fastening between the piston and housing, especially when the return spring's load is exceeded.
Innovation Solution
The thermostatic valve design includes a movable sealing plug that remains stationary under the action of a return spring at normal pressure but moves axially along the body when overpressure exceeds a threshold, preventing stress on the piston and housing, and utilizing a toroidal sealing gasket for enhanced sealing and vibration damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing plug is fixedly secured to the body of the thermostatic element, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the risk of damage from overpressure peaks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the sealing function from the structural connection function. The sealing plug is made movable relative to the body, allowing it to independently respond to pressure variations without transmitting forces to the piston-housing fastening. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable sealing through friction contact while protecting the fastening from overpressure damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a friction-based intermediate connection between the sealing plug and the body. This intermediate mechanism allows the plug to remain positioned for sealing while absorbing pressure fluctuations, thereby protecting the piston-housing fastening from direct force transmission during overpressure events.
2Force
If the return spring load is increased to withstand overpressure, then the resistance to overpressure is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a static spring-loaded sealing mechanism to a dynamic friction-based connection. The sealing plug can move axially relative to the body, allowing it to adapt to pressure variations without requiring an oversized return spring. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining sealing effectiveness while avoiding the need for complex high-load spring mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the piston is securely fixed to the housing, then the structural stability is improved, but the risk of damage from overpressure peaks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the force transmission path by making the sealing plug movable relative to the body. This allows the piston to remain securely fixed to the housing for structural stability, while the movable plug absorbs pressure fluctuations before they can be transmitted to the piston-housing fastening, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and overpressure protection.
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 design effectively mitigates the risk of damage from overpressure peaks by allowing the plug to slide without moving the thermostatic element's body, maintaining secure fastening and preventing fluid leakage, while maintaining a simple and cost-effective structure similar to prior art valves.
Implementation Method 1
a body, containing a thermodilatable material, and a piston, which piston is thermally conductive, extends lengthwise along an axis, includes a first terminal part that is fixedly secured to the housing, and also includes a second terminal part that is axially opposite the first terminal part and that is submerged in the thermodilatable material, such that the body and the piston are movable relative to one another along the axis, moving away from one another under the action of an expansion of the thermodilatable material
Implementation Method 2
a return spring that is suitable for bringing the body and the piston of the thermostatic element closer to one another during a contraction of the thermodilatable material
Implementation Method 3
a heating electric resistance, which is arranged inside the second terminal part of the piston of the thermostatic element
Implementation Method 4
utilizing a toroidal sealing gasket for enhanced sealing and vibration damping
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein is a valve with a housing, a thermostatic element of which a first end part of a piston, which axially opposes the end submerged in a thermodilatable material contained in the body of the thermostatic element, is secured to the housing; a return spring; an electrical heating resistance arranged inside the second end part of the piston; electrical connection for feeding the resistance from outside the housing; and a check mechanism for controlling a flow of fluid circulating through the housing, in a direction leading from the first end part towards the second end part of the piston, and connected to the body of the thermostatic element such that the relative movements between the body and the piston, resulting from the dilation and contraction of the thermodilatable material, move the check mechanism in relation to the housing, between closed and open positions affecting the flow of fluid.