Valve Control Device Foreign Object Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve control devices for cooling water circuits, which serve both internal-combustion engines and other apparatus, face challenges in detecting foreign objects without increasing device size, as they require additional components like over-current detectors and torque detection parts.
Innovation Solution
A valve control device with a valve unit and control part that includes an electric motor, a rotor, and a detector, where the control part calculates a duty ratio based on the rotation angle to detect foreign objects, allowing for detection without over-current and torque detection parts, thereby restricting the device's physical size increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If over-current detector and torque detection part are added to detect foreign objects, then foreign object detection capability is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control part utilizes existing detection data (rotation angle from detector) and its own calculation capabilities to detect foreign objects, without requiring additional dedicated detection components. The system serves itself by using its control functions to perform both control and detection tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The control part is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the electric motor's operation and simultaneously detects foreign objects by calculating duty ratio from rotation angle data. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate detection components, resolving the contradiction between detection capability and device size
2Adaptability or versatility
If valve unit controls both internal-combustion engine cooling and other apparatus circulation, then system versatility is improved, but impact of foreign object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control part continuously monitors the rotation angle of the rotor through the detector and uses this feedback information to calculate duty ratio. By analyzing the duty ratio trends, the system can detect foreign objects and take corrective actions, thereby mitigating the harmful effects of foreign objects on the multi-functional valve unit
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 the detection of foreign objects in the valve unit while maintaining a compact design, ensuring the circulation of cooling water to both internal-combustion engines and other apparatus remains stable, and allows for easy removal of foreign objects by reversing the electric motor.
Implementation Method 1
The valve unit has an electric motor 20, a driven component 21... The electric motor 20 is controlled by the control part 11 in an application of a voltage to increase or decrease the output
Implementation Method 2
The detector 22 detects a rotation angle of the rotor 201
Data Source
AI summary
A valve control device includes a valve unit disposed in a cooling water circuit, and a control part which controls operation of the valve unit. The control part has a rotation angle instruction part, a duty ratio calculator and a determiner. The rotation angle instruction part calculates an instruction value of a rotation angle in response to an operational status of an internal-combustion engine. The duty ratio calculator calculates a duty ratio representing a ratio of ON period to OFF period regarding a voltage applied to an electric motor based on a difference between a detection value of the rotation angle detected by a detector and the instruction value of the rotation angle, and regulates the duty ratio to be lower than or equal to a predetermined upper limit. The determiner determines whether the duty ratio continues to be the upper limit during a predetermined period.