Valve Device Pilot Actuation for High-Pressure Responsiveness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve devices under high-pressure conditions suffer from poor responsiveness due to the time required for the solenoid's attractive force to exceed the spring biasing force and pressure, making it difficult to reduce the size of the solenoid and improve responsiveness.
Innovation Solution
A valve device design featuring a housing with a primary and secondary passage, a sealing member in an annular groove, and a pilot valve element driven by differential pressure between pressure chambers, allowing instantaneous opening of the main valve element and reducing the size of the drive mechanism by utilizing a spiral ring sealing member and a pin coupling between the main and pilot valve elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the solenoid's attractive force is increased to overcome spring biasing force and pressure quickly, then responsiveness is improved, but the solenoid size increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve device is divided into a main valve element and a pilot valve element that operate independently but are coupled through pressure chambers. The pilot valve element handles the control function with a small solenoid, while the main valve element is actuated by differential pressure, separating the high-force requirement from the control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot valve element acts as an intermediary between the small solenoid and the main valve element. The solenoid controls the pilot valve, which in turn controls the pressure differential that actuates the main valve, allowing a small solenoid to control a larger valve.
2Speed
If the solenoid attractive force is increased to pull up the main valve element, then responsiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve device is divided into a main valve element and a pilot valve element that operate independently but are coupled through pressure chambers. The pilot valve element handles the control function with a small solenoid, while the main valve element is actuated by differential pressure, separating the high-force requirement from the control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic pressure differentials created by the pilot valve element to actuate the main valve element. The pressure chambers and fluid communication pathways enable the main valve to be opened by pressure differential rather than direct solenoid force, reducing manufacturing costs.
3Strength
If the pin is fitted without gap in the transverse hole of the pilot valve element, then coupling strength is improved, but the pilot valve element cannot be separated from the main valve element
Solution Approach 1:
The pin connection has different gap conditions at different locations: no gap in the transverse hole for strong coupling, but gaps at the support hole interfaces to allow separation. This local differentiation of gap presence achieves both strong coupling and separability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin connection transitions from a static fixed connection to a dynamic connection that allows separation when needed. The gaps at the support hole interfaces enable the pilot valve element to be separated from the main valve element while maintaining strong coupling during operation.
4Reliability
If a sealing member is provided to isolate pressure chambers, then seal performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged with the existing structural components. The pin serves both as a coupling element and a sealing surface, while the annular groove and sealing member integrate into the existing pressure chamber structure, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin and annular groove structure provides self-sealing functionality. The gap between the pin and support hole automatically creates a sealing interface that isolates the pressure chambers without requiring additional complex sealing mechanisms.
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 valve device achieves excellent responsiveness with reduced drive mechanism size and power requirements, maintaining the open state of the secondary passage and providing stable seal performance without strict gap management, thus lowering manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a drive mechanism configured to, when a current flows through the drive mechanism, drive the pilot valve element such that the pilot valve element opens the second pilot passage against biasing force of the biasing member
Implementation Method 2
when the second pilot passage is opened by the pilot valve element, and pressure of the second pressure chamber becomes lower than pressure of the first pressure chamber, the main valve element is driven so as to open the secondary passage by differential pressure between the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber
Implementation Method 3
the sealing member includes a spiral ring configured to slide on the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A valve device includes: a main valve element dividing a valve element space of a housing into first and second pressure chambers; a sealing member configured to isolate the first and second pressure chambers from each other; a first pilot passage including one end communicating with a primary passage, the other end communicating with the second pressure chamber, and a first restrictor; a second pilot passage including a second restrictor and formed at the main valve element; a pilot valve element configured to open and close the second pilot passage; a drive mechanism configured to, when a current flows through the drive mechanism, drive the pilot valve element such that the pilot valve element opens the second pilot passage against biasing force of a biasing member; and a pin coupling the main valve element and the pilot valve element to each other.