Valve Actuator Piston Holding with Permanent Magnets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve adjustment units for motor vehicle coolant circuits require a large amount of energy for actuation and maintaining valve positions, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The adjustment unit employs a piston connected to a driver piece, held in place by permanent magnets at end positions, allowing the coil to only require energy to move the piston between positions, reducing energy consumption and using magnetic forces to maintain stability during vehicle vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electromagnet is used to hold the valve in end positions, then the valve can be actuated and held in position, but a large amount of energy is required for actuation and holding the valve position
Solution Approach 1:
The coil is energized only periodically during the switching transition to move the piston between end positions, and then de-energized. The permanent magnets provide continuous holding force without energy consumption. This periodic actuation instead of continuous energization significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining reliable valve positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional electromagnet holding mechanism with a permanent magnet-based holding system. The permanent magnets create magnetic circuits that mechanically hold the piston at end positions without requiring continuous electrical energy, thus substituting an energy-consuming electromagnetic system with a passive magnetic mechanical system.
2Reliability
If the piston is held by electrically generated magnetic forces, then the valve position can be maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The permanent magnets serve themselves by providing the holding force through their inherent magnetic properties without requiring external energy supply. The magnetic circuits are designed so that the permanent magnets automatically maintain the piston at end positions through magnetic attraction, making the system self-sufficient for position maintenance without continuous energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the energy-consuming electromagnetic holding system with a permanent magnet-based mechanical holding system. The permanent magnets create stable magnetic circuits that mechanically constrain the piston at defined positions without requiring electrical energy, thereby eliminating continuous power consumption for position maintenance.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the piston is held with weak magnetic forces, then energy consumption is reduced, but the valve position becomes unstable during vehicle vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different magnetic properties to different parts of the system: permanent magnets with specific remanence values are used at the holding positions to provide strong localized holding forces, while the coil provides localized actuating force during switching. This local differentiation of magnetic strength ensures strong holding at end positions without requiring high energy consumption during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic circuit design creates curved magnetic flux paths through the piston and housing, optimizing the magnetic field distribution. The magnetic circuits are configured to concentrate magnetic flux at the end positions, providing enhanced holding stability during vibrations while maintaining low energy consumption through efficient flux utilization.
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
This design significantly reduces energy consumption and ensures stable valve positioning even under high accelerations, such as in off-road vehicles, by using permanent magnets to hold the piston in place and the coil to move it, thus optimizing energy usage and maintaining valve position.
Implementation Method 1
at least one permanent magnet is provided by which the piston is held when the piston is in one of the end positions
Implementation Method 2
a coil is also provided and the piston can be moved away from an end position by energizing the coil
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an adjusting unit for a valve (1) for a motor vehicle, in particular for a coolant circuit in a motor vehicle, wherein the valve (1) has a housing (2) with a cavity (3) into which an inlet (4) and an outlet (5) open, wherein the inlet (4) is connected to the outlet (5) in an open state of the valve (1) by a flow path (6) extending through the cavity (3), wherein the valve (1) has a valve opening (7) arranged between the inlet (4) and the outlet (5) along the flow path (6) in the cavity (3) and a closure (8), which closure (8) is movable relative to the housing (2) of the valve (1) from a first position to a second position, wherein the closure (8) closes the valve opening (7) to a lesser degree in the first position than in the second position.wherein the adjusting unit is designed to move the closure (8) by means of a drive element (9). In order to achieve particularly efficient actuation, the invention provides that the adjusting unit has a piston (10) connected to the drive element (9), which is movable between a first end position and a second end position along an adjustment path (11), wherein at least one permanent magnet (12) is provided by which the piston (10) is held when the piston (10) is in one of the end positions, wherein furthermore a coil is provided and the piston (10) can be moved away from an end position by energizing the coil in order to at least partially open or close the valve (1).