Valve Position Sensor Protection Against Environmental Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve designs for pressurized fluid bottles face issues with size, complexity, sealing difficulties, and reliability due to exposure to environmental factors like dust and humidity, affecting the accuracy and longevity of position sensors.
Innovation Solution
The valve incorporates a protective membrane to encase the detectable and measuring elements, which can be flexible or rigid, made from materials like plastic or rubber, to shield them from environmental influences, and includes an electronic system for data acquisition and processing to transmit signals representing the position and pressure of the regulating member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the position sensor is exposed to the environment for detection, then the detection function is achieved, but the reliability deteriorates due to dust, humidity, and wear
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible protective membrane made of elastomeric material encapsulates the detectable element and measuring element, protecting them from dust, humidity, and other environmental factors while allowing magnetic field penetration for continuous position detection without mechanical contact
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane acts as an intermediary barrier between the sensor elements and the external environment, enabling the sensor to function reliably in harsh conditions by blocking harmful substances while permitting magnetic field interaction
2Measurement precision
If a gear-based detection system is used, then the position detection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases with more parts and sealing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical gear-based detection systems with a magnetic field-based sensing system where a detectable element (magnet or conductive track) on the control member interacts with a measuring element through a non-contact magnetic field, eliminating gears, mechanical linkages, and associated sealing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane serves as an intermediary that enables non-contact magnetic field interaction between the detectable element on the moving control member and the measuring element, maintaining detection accuracy while eliminating mechanical complexity
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 solution enhances the reliability and longevity of the position sensor, maintaining detection accuracy even in harsh conditions and reducing the impact of external factors, while being compact and efficient.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of: the at least one detectable element, the at least one measuring element is covered or enclosed in a protective membrane
Implementation Method 2
the at least one measuring element comprises at least one device for measuring a magnetic field
Implementation Method 3
the at least one measuring element comprises at least one device for measuring an electrical resistance
Implementation Method 4
the at least one measuring element comprises at least one device for measuring an electrical voltage
Implementation Method 5
the at least one measuring element comprises at least one device for measuring a light signal
Implementation Method 6
the protective membrane is flexible or rigid, the membrane consists of at least one material from: plastic, in particular polyester, an organic material, rubber, a resin
Implementation Method 7
the valve comprises a member for acquiring, storing and processing data and in that the position sensor is connected to the latter to transmit a signal representative of the position the regulating member and/or the flow and/or or the fluid pressure
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
Valve comprising a body housing a withdrawal circuit (3) including a first upstream end (24) and a second downstream end (23) intended to be connected to a device using the withdrawn gas, the withdrawal circuit (3) including a device (4) for regulating the flow and/or pressure of the fluid, the valve (1) including a device (5) for manually controlling the regulating device (4), the controlling device (5) being movable relative to the body of the valve (1), the valve (1) including a position sensor (9) for the controlling device (5) configured to generate an electrical signal representative of the position of the latter or of the flow and/or pressure of the fluid imposed by the regulating device (4), the position sensor including at least one detectable element (19) located on the body of the valve (1) or, respectively, on the controlling device (5), and at least one measuring element (29) located on the controlling device (5) or, respectively,on the tap body (1), at least one of the following: at least one detectable element (19), at least one measuring element (29) being covered or enclosed in a protective membrane (16).