Motorized Valve Shaft Position Sensing With Supercapacitor Backup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motorized valves in critical applications like aircraft require a position sensing mechanism that functions without constant power, as microswitches are prone to mechanical wear and imprecise, while traditional sensors cannot provide position feedback during power failures.
Innovation Solution
A valve assembly with a shaft and optical sensors, including diodes and corresponding sensors, powered by a supercapacitor that allows position sensing even during power outages, enabling the valve to move to a safe position and maintain functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If microswitches are used for position sensing, then the valve can indicate position without constant power, but the microswitches are prone to mechanical wear and provide imprecise measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical microswitches with an optical sensing system consisting of emitters, sensors, and sight through-holes in the shaft. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact and wear while providing precise optical detection of shaft position, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If traditional sensors are used for position feedback, then continuous position monitoring is possible, but they require constant power and cannot provide feedback during power failures
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensors are activated periodically or on-demand rather than continuously, powered by a supercapacitor that can sustain operation during power failures. This allows position feedback to be available when needed without requiring constant power supply, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and energy consumption.
3Measurement precision
If optical sensors are used for position sensing, then precise and vibration-tolerant sensing is achieved, but the system requires power supply to function
Solution Approach 1:
A supercapacitor is integrated into the system to store energy in advance, enabling the optical sensors to continue operating during power failures. This preliminary energy storage ensures that precise position sensing remains reliable even when the main power supply fails, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and operational reliability.
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 precise, vibration-tolerant, and long-lasting position sensing independent of the main power source, ensuring the valve's operational status is maintained during power failures, with the supercapacitor enabling operation for several hours without external power.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one emitter and the at least one corresponding sensor are positioned such that, when the shaft is in the first position, the sensor can sense the emitter through the sight through-hole of the shaft
Implementation Method 2
a supercapacitor, the supercapacitor being configured to power at least the at least one emitter and the at least one sensor
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A
AI summary
A valve assembly is provided, the valve assembly comprising a shaft (10), the shaft comprising a sight through-hole (12); and a flow through-hole (13). The valve assembly further comprises a shaft position mechanism (20), the shaft position mechanism comprising a driving means (21) configured to provide movement to the shaft, and at least one diode (23, 25) and at least one corresponding sensor (22, 24). The valve assembly further comprises at least one flow path from at least one fluid inlet (41) to at least one fluid outlet (42, 43), wherein the shaft (10) is configured to move across the at least one flow path so as to allow flow therethrough in a first position, and to block the at least one flow path in a second position. The at least one diode (23, 25) and the at least one corresponding sensor (22, 24) are positioned such that, when the shaft is in the first position, the sensor (22, 24) can sense the diode (23, 25) through the sight through-hole (12) of the shaft (10), and when the shaft is in the second position, the sensor (22, 24) is blocked from the diode (23, 25) by the shaft (10).