Electromagnetic Valve Slide Support Without a Guide Tube

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electromagnetically actuated valves used in extracorporeal circuits for patient treatment, such as dialysis, face issues with increased wear and magnetic losses due to frictional forces and non-magnetic guide tubes, which compromise the valve's performance and longevity.

Innovation Solution

The valve slide is aligned radially with a spring element and features a guide pin protruding from the magnet armature, allowing axial movement without a guide tube, reducing friction and magnetic losses. This configuration includes a spring element that provides both spring force and friction-free mounting, eliminating the need for a non-magnetic guide tube and simplifying the design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a non-magnetic guide tube is used to support and guide the magnet armature, then the magnet armature can be guided without contact, but frictional forces increase wear and magnetic losses occur in the iron circuit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice life of valveVSAvoidmagnetic losses and friction losses
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The guide tube is completely removed from the valve structure. Instead of using a guide tube to support and guide the magnet armature, the invention uses a guide pin mounted on the valve slide that protrudes from the magnet armature in the axial direction, eliminating the source of frictional contact and magnetic losses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical support function previously performed by the guide tube is replaced by a spring element that radially aligns and supports the valve slide with respect to the magnet armature, while the guide pin provides axial guidance without contact friction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a guide tube is used to support the magnet armature, then alignment is provided, but frictional forces have to be overcome by magnetic force increasing wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment of magnet armatureVSAvoidwear of magnet armature
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The guide tube is completely removed from the valve structure. Instead of using a guide tube to support and guide the magnet armature, the invention uses a guide pin mounted on the valve slide that protrudes from the magnet armature in the axial direction, eliminating the source of frictional contact and magnetic losses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A spring element is introduced as an intermediary component that radially aligns and supports the valve slide with respect to the magnet armature, providing stable alignment without creating frictional contact between the magnet armature and guide surfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 reduces wear and magnetic losses, enhancing the valve's service life and maintaining fluid-tight separation of the drive from the fluid channel, while also simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

the spring element serves to support and align the valve slide (4, 9) with respect to the magnet armature (2) in the radial direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The valve also has a valve slide with a magnet armature, which can be displaced in the axial direction against a spring force by energizing a coil of the valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3129689B1Electromagnetically actuated valve
Publication Date: 2021.07.14 FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP3129689B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3129689B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to an electromagnetically actuated valve (1) comprising a valve slide (2, 3, 4) having a magnet armature (2), which valve slide is designed to close a sealing seat (10) in a fluid channel (11) of the valve (1) by means of a first axial end (9) in a closing position, and a sealing element (5) having a bellows (6), which sealing element is arranged between the sealing seat (10) and the first axial end (9) of the valve slide (2, 3, 4) and separates the valve slide (2, 3, 4) from the fluid channel (11) in a fluid-tight manner. The magnet armature (2) is supported in the valve (1) substantially without contact in that the valve slide (2, 3, 4) has, at a second axial end (8) opposite the first axial end (9), a guide pin (3) protruding from the magnet armature (2) in an axial direction, which guide pin is supported in such a way that the guide pin can slide in the axial direction, and in that the valve slide (2, 3, 4) is oriented in a radial direction and supported in such a way that the valve slide is movable in the axial direction on a side of the magnet armature (2) facing the first axial end (9) of the valve slide (2, 3, 4) by means of at least one spring element (7).