Valve device
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing refrigerant valve devices face challenges in maintaining a consistent flow rate due to variations in the rotational position of the valve element caused by component tolerances and magnetization variations, limiting the degree of freedom in positioning the through hole and affecting the fluid flow rate.
Innovation Solution
A valve device with a concave part on the valve element that has a width in the movement direction smaller than in the orthogonal direction, allowing for a larger overlapping area with the valve seat surface, ensuring fluid flow at the desired rate even with positional variations, and featuring a long hole shape with a smaller width in the circumferential direction for increased positional freedom.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a perfect circular concave part around the through hole is formed in the valve element, then the fluid can flow at a consistent flow rate corresponding to the hole diameter even with positional variations, but the degree of freedom in position where the through hole is formed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The concave part is designed with an asymmetric shape where the width in the movement direction (first direction) is smaller than the width in the orthogonal direction (second direction). This asymmetric configuration allows the concave part to provide sufficient overlapping area with the valve seat surface in the movement direction while minimizing the space required in the orthogonal direction, thereby maintaining flow rate consistency without restricting the positioning freedom of the through hole
2Productivity
If the valve element is moved to allow communication between the through hole and opening part, then the fluid can flow through the system, but positional variations cause variations in flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The concave part is pre-formed on the abutment surface of the valve element, creating a preliminary structural feature that compensates for potential positional variations. This pre-designed concave structure ensures that when the valve element is moved to its operating position, the overlapping area between the concave part and the valve seat surface is sufficient to maintain consistent flow rate despite manufacturing tolerances or magnetization variations
Data Source
AI summary
A valve device is provided. In the valve device, a valve element is rotated about a support shaft, based on rotation of a valve element drive member to switch a through hole that communicates with an outlet formed in a valve seat to adjust a flow rate. The through hole opens in a bottom surface of a flow channel securing groove formed in the valve element. The flow channel securing groove has a long hole shape in which a width in a first direction being a moving direction of the valve element, is smaller than a width in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Thus, a region overlapping with the outlet is large as compared to a case where a perfect circular flow channel securing groove is formed.