Torque Motor Armature Spring for High-Temperature Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Torque motor valve actuators face challenges in high-temperature and high-vibration environments, leading to increased power demands and complexity due to remote mounting, and require an increased winding volume to reduce coil resistance and power requirements.
Innovation Solution
A high-temperature and high-vibration capable armature assembly with a variable cross-section torsion bar armature spring that couples with the armature, optimizing mass balance, flux carrying capacity, and resonance frequencies to reduce vibration-induced stresses, allowing for direct mounting and increased winding volume, which decreases coil resistance and power requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the torque motor valve actuator is remotely mounted to avoid high temperatures, then the actuator can operate away from heat sources, but the overall system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters of the armature spring by introducing a rigid central portion with different structural characteristics than the flexible end portions. This parameter change enables the spring to maintain structural integrity at high temperatures while retaining flexibility for vibration damping, allowing direct mounting near engine components without requiring remote installation
2Temperature
If the torque motor valve actuator is remotely mounted to avoid high temperatures, then the actuator can operate away from heat sources, but the system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the structural parameters of the armature spring to create a hybrid design with rigid and flexible portions. This parameter change enables high-temperature operation near engine components, eliminating the need for expensive remote mounting arrangements and associated installation complexity
3Loss of energy
If the winding volume is increased to reduce coil resistance, then larger diameter wire can be employed, but the actuator size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the armature inside the bore of the armature spring, and positioning the coil within the space defined by the spring's outer diameter. This nested arrangement maximizes the winding volume available for the coil without increasing the overall actuator envelope dimensions, enabling larger diameter wire to be used for reduced resistance
4Loss of energy
If the armature diameter is reduced to increase winding volume, then larger diameter wire can be used, but the flux carrying capacity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions of different rigidity within the armature spring - a rigid central portion for structural stability and flux carrying, and flexible end portions for vibration damping. This local differentiation allows the maintainment of flux carrying capacity in the central region while enabling reduced overall armature dimensions for increased winding volume
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 solution enables the torque motor valve actuator to operate effectively at high temperatures and withstand high vibrations while reducing power requirements and increasing efficiency by using a larger diameter wire, achieving a 57% reduction in armature diameter and 25-37% decrease in power needed for the same number of turns.
Implementation Method 1
a variable cross-section torsion bar armature spring that couples with the armature, optimizing mass balance, flux carrying capacity, and resonance frequencies to reduce vibration-induced stresses
Implementation Method 2
The coils are controllably energized to control the rotational position of the armature
Implementation Method 3
the rigid central portion defines a bore that extends along a first axis
Data Source
AI summary
A torque motor valve actuator for use with a valve assembly is provided. The torque motor valve actuator includes an armature spring having a first end portion, a second end portion and a rigid central portion. The first end portion and the second end portion are coupled to the rigid central portion by a respective flexible portion, and the rigid central portion defines a bore that extends along a first axis. The torque motor valve actuator includes an armature having a first end and a second end. The armature extends along a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the first axis of the bore, and the armature is coupled to the bore of the armature spring between the first end and the second end.