Valve Control Unit Self-Calibration via Actuator Stroke Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve control devices for vehicles, particularly agricultural vehicles, are complex in construction due to the need for identifying and configuring various valve types, making initial setup and maintenance cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A valve control device that uses a control unit to query an identification feature, determine the valve type, and select the appropriate control algorithm by measuring the characteristic travel of an electrically controllable actuator, such as a stepper motor, which is connected to the valve via a drive mechanism, allowing for unambiguous identification and simplified configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If RFID transponders and antennas are used to identify valve types, then valve identification capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification function from complex RFID hardware and implements it through a simple mechanical characteristic - the stroke length of the actuator. By measuring the physical travel distance of the actuator, the system identifies valve types without requiring antennas, transponders, or electronic communication infrastructure, thus eliminating the complexity while preserving identification capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electronic/Radio Frequency identification system with a mechanical measurement approach. Instead of using electromagnetic fields and digital communication to identify valves, the system uses the physical stroke length of the actuator - a mechanical parameter - to determine valve type. This substitution dramatically simplifies the hardware requirements
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valve types are supported with different control algorithms, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically identifies the valve type by measuring the actuator stroke length and autonomously selects the appropriate control algorithm from its memory. This self-configuration capability eliminates the need for manual setup or complex configuration interfaces, allowing the system to adapt to different valve types while keeping the user interface simple
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the stroke length parameter as a key to select different control algorithms. By storing multiple algorithms in memory and selecting based on the measured physical parameter, the system achieves multi-valve-type support without requiring complex real-time adaptation logic or multiple dedicated control circuits for each valve type
3Measurement precision
If manual configuration of valve parameters is required, then control precision is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-stores multiple control algorithms in memory, each optimized for specific valve types. During operation, the system automatically measures the actuator stroke length and retrieves the appropriate pre-configured algorithm, eliminating the need for manual parameter input while ensuring precise control parameters are applied
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs automatic self-configuration by measuring its own actuator characteristics and selecting the appropriate control parameters autonomously. This eliminates the need for manual intervention in the configuration process while maintaining accurate valve-specific control parameters through the stored algorithms
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a valve control device (10) for a vehicle, in particular an agricultural commercial vehicle, comprising a control unit (12) for controlling an electromagnetically actuatable valve (14). The control unit (12) requests an identifying feature that is assigned to the electromagnetically actuatable valve (14) when a self-calibrating mode is activated; a valve type that corresponds to the requested identifying feature is ascertained; and a control algorithm that is assigned to the ascertained valve type is selected in order to control the electromagnetically actuatable valve (14). According to the invention, the identifying feature is a characteristic actuating distance of an actuating unit (18) that is provided for electromagnetically actuating the valve (14).