Electric Throttle Valve Layout for Unobstructed Laser Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid control valves with connectors projecting outward obstruct laser welding of the cover and body, leading to incomplete sealing and increased dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A fluid control valve design where the connector is positioned adjacent to the electric motor's drive shaft and beside the second intermediate gear, allowing for parallel alignment of motor and valve shafts, and laser welding of the valve body and cover to seal the housing space, reducing the overall dimensions and preventing connector obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the connector is disposed to be directed to a side of the body outside the cover, then the entire dimension of the electric throttle valve in the drive shaft direction is reduced, but the connector projects further outward than the outer circumferential portion of the body, causing obstruction during laser welding
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is repositioned from a lateral orientation to an axial orientation along the drive shaft, changing its spatial dimension. This allows the connector to be disposed at the end portion of the drive shaft in the axial direction, away from the laser welding path, while still achieving compact overall dimensions through optimized spatial arrangement within the housing space.
2Ease of operation
If the connector projects further outward than the outer circumferential portion of the body, then the connector can be easily connected to wiring, but it becomes an obstruction and creates a part where the cover and edge portion of the opening portion cannot be welded
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is extracted from the cover structure and repositioned to be disposed at the end portion of the drive shaft, separate from the cover's outer circumferential portion. This separation removes the connector from the laser welding path, allowing complete welding of the cover to the body edge portion while maintaining connector accessibility for wiring connection.
3Reliability
If laser welding is performed to seal the housing space, then sealability is improved and weight is reduced, but the connector obstruction prevents complete welding
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is pre-positioned at the end portion of the drive shaft in the axial direction before the laser welding process. This preliminary arrangement ensures the connector does not interfere with the subsequent welding operation, allowing seamless welding of the cover to the body without requiring complex welding process modifications or additional steps to accommodate the connector.
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
The design enables compact configuration, prevents connector obstruction during laser welding, and enhances sealing, reducing the valve's outer dimensions and weight while maintaining effective operation.
Implementation Method 1
a technique of welding a body and a cover of a fluid control valve, such as the aforementioned electric throttle valve in Patent Document 1, with a laser beam
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electric throttle valve incorporating a deceleration mechanism in a housing space between a cover including a connector and a valve body with the valve body and the cover laser-welded to seal the housing space, in which the deceleration mechanism includes an intermediate shaft disposed to be parallel to a motor shaft and a valve shaft, a first intermediate gear engaged with a motor gear secured to an end portion of the motor shaft, and a second intermediate gear engaged with a valve gear secured to the valve shaft, the first intermediate gear and the second intermediate gear are disposed to be aligned in an axial direction of the intermediate shaft and are integrally configured, the first intermediate gear is disposed to be closer to the electric motor than the second intermediate gear, and the connector is disposed above the motor shaft and on a side of the second intermediate gear.