Valve Position Sensor Using Magnetic Field Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valve designs for pressurized fluid bottles are cumbersome, have a large number of parts, and face challenges in sealing and managing clearances, making them difficult to maintain and prone to issues with dust and sand ingress.

Innovation Solution

A valve with a position sensor using a conductive circuit and a slider that changes the shape and surface area, allowing for precise electrical measurement of the control member's position, eliminating the need for complex mechanical components and improving sealing through a flexible conductive zone and spacer arrangement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional position sensor using a potentiometer and meshing mechanism is used, then the position detection is reliable, but the device size increases and the number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition detection reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical potentiometer with a magnetic field-based detection system. A magnet is attached to the control member, and a magnetic sensor on the circuit board detects its position without any mechanical meshing or sliding contacts, thereby reducing the number of parts while maintaining detection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the detection function from the mechanical control member and places it on a separate circuit board with a magnetic sensor. This separation allows the sensor to be independently positioned and calibrated, simplifying the overall structure and reducing the number of moving parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a traditional position sensor with meshing mechanism is used, then the position detection is reliable, but sealing becomes difficult and dust ingress occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition detection reliabilityVSAvoiddust and sand ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates mechanical meshing and sliding contacts by using a magnetic field-based detection system. The magnet on the control member interacts with the magnetic sensor through non-contact detection, removing the sealing problems associated with traditional mechanical sensors that require clearances and moving parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If a traditional position sensor with clearances is used, then the position detection is reliable, but axial and radial clearance management becomes delicate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition detection reliabilityVSAvoidclearance management

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical clearance-based detection with a magnetic field-based system. The magnet on the control member creates a magnetic field that is detected by the magnetic sensor on the circuit board, eliminating the need for precise axial and radial clearance management while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Device complexity

If a conductive circuit with slider is used, then the device size is reduced, but the conductive circuit width and thickness must be precisely controlled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidconductive circuit dimensions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conductive circuit with printed circuit traces with a magnetic field-based detection system. This eliminates the need for precise control of conductive circuit width and thickness, as the magnetic sensor detects the position of the magnet without requiring precise dimensional tolerances in the conductive elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 provides reliable detection of the control member's position without increasing the valve's size or part count, enhancing sealing and reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining precision in fluid flow and pressure control.

Implementation Method 1

the slider resting on the flexible conductive zone and locally elastically deforms this conductive zone to form a localized electrical contact between the conductive zone and the conductive circuit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3502541B1Valve and cylinder for pressurised fluid

Publication Date: 2020.12.30 LAIR LIQUIDE SA POUR LETUDE & LEXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE

Figure 1~3
Figure 4~9
Figure 7~10

AI summary

A valve for a pressurized fluid cylinder comprising a position sensor (9) for the control element (5) configured to generate an electrical signal representative of the position or flow rate and/or fluid pressure imposed by a flow/pressure control element (4), the position sensor (9) for the control element (5) comprising a conductive circuit (19) having a determined electrical resistance, a measuring element (11) for an electrical quantity of the conductive circuit (19), and a slider (29), the conductive circuit (19) and the slider (29) being movable relative to each other during the movement of the control element (5) relative to the valve body (1) in distinct configurations in which the slider (29) modifies the shape and/or surface of the conductive circuit (19) measured by the measuring element (11).