Electric Three-Way Valve Layout for Torque and Smooth Core Sliding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional electric three-way valves for refrigerant circulation systems face challenges with increased size and volume due to thickened non-magnetic housing materials, which degrade magnetic characteristics and torque, leading to inefficient space occupation and sliding issues of the valve core.
Innovation Solution
The electric three-way valve design separates the motor unit from the cylindrical casing, allowing the motor unit to be attached externally, with a gear unit inside the casing driving the valve core, maintaining a parallel state and ensuring smooth sliding on the valve seat, thus preventing size increase and optimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the housing is thickened with non-magnetic material to accommodate the motor unit, then the structural strength is improved, but the magnetic characteristics of the step motor are degraded and the torque decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into an upper housing and a lower housing that are separated by a predetermined distance, creating a magnetic circuit path through the refrigerant passage rather than requiring direct contact between the motor and the thick non-magnetic housing wall. This segmentation allows the motor to operate effectively while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant passage acts as an intermediary magnetic circuit path between the step motor and the external environment. By routing the magnetic flux through the refrigerant passage instead of requiring direct transmission through the thick non-magnetic housing, the motor maintains its torque while the housing provides necessary structural support.
2Power
If the output of the step motor is increased to compensate for torque loss, then the motor torque is improved, but the electric three-way valve increases in size and the occupied space increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the housing into upper and lower parts separated by a predetermined distance, the motor unit can be positioned to utilize the refrigerant passage as a magnetic circuit, maintaining adequate torque without requiring an oversized motor that would increase the overall valve volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic circuit parameters are changed by routing the flux through the refrigerant passage rather than through the housing material. This parameter change allows the motor to achieve required torque output without increasing in size, as the magnetic path is optimized through the fluid passage rather than requiring larger motor components.
3Ease of operation
If the valve core is designed for easy sliding on the valve seat, then the ease of operation is improved, but the parallel state of the valve core may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The valve core is designed with a cylindrical shape that rotates in a sliding manner within the valve seat. This curved geometric design allows the valve core to maintain parallelism with the valve seat while rotating, ensuring both smooth operation and stable parallel state during the switching action.
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 reduces the occupied volume, maintains accurate and stable operation of the valve core, and ensures long-term precise control of output ports without size increments, enhancing the valve's operational efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the valve core is driven by a gear unit which transmits the driving force of the motor unit
Data Source
AI summary
An electric three-way valve comprises: an input port, a plurality of output ports and a valve core which rotates in a sliding manner in the valve seat by a driving force of a motor unit, wherein the valve core selectively opens or closes the plurality of output ports, the motor unit is attached as a separated constituent to an outside of an upper end surface of a cylindrical casing introducing refrigerant, the valve core is driven by a gear unit which transmits the driving force of the motor unit and is disposed inside the cylindrical casing, the cylindrical casing includes one opening portion and a side wall with an apex portion, a housing which is fixed to a cylindrical wall portion of the apex portion and is equipped with the motor unit is uprightly formed in the other opening portion, and the housing is attached to the cylindrical casing.