Vehicle Valve Assembly Layout for Sealing and Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing need for a unified valve assembly that can accommodate various fuel cell vehicles requires a structure that can be manufactured in different sizes, while ensuring efficient fluid flow control and prevention of leakage.
Innovation Solution
A valve assembly design where the valve holder and nozzle holder are manufactured separately, with the valve holder incorporating a cutoff valve and a flow rate control valve, and sealed by multiple sealing members to prevent fluid leakage, allowing for modular adaptation to different vehicle designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve holder and nozzle holder are manufactured as a single integrated component, then manufacturing precision and sealing reliability are improved, but adaptability to various fuel cell vehicle sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is divided into separate valve holder and nozzle holder components that can be manufactured independently and then assembled together. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining reliable sealing through dedicated sealing members at the interface between components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the valve holder and nozzle holder are manufactured separately, then adaptability to various fuel cell vehicle sizes is improved, but sealing reliability and manufacturing precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A first sealing member is introduced as an intermediary element between the valve holder and nozzle holder to ensure reliable sealing at their interface. This sealing member compensates for potential dimensional variations and ensures consistent sealing performance across different assembled configurations.
3Device complexity
If multiple valves are arranged in series in the supply passage, then device complexity is reduced, but fluid flow control efficiency and response time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cutoff valve and flow rate control valve are arranged in perpendicular directions rather than in series along the same axis. This spatial reconfiguration allows both valves to control fluid flow simultaneously or near-simultaneously, reducing the sequential control time while maintaining a simple two-valve system.
4Ease of manufacture
If the supply passage volume between valves is increased, then ease of manufacture is improved, but fluid flow control precision and system response deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The supply passage volume between the cutoff valve and flow rate control valve is optimized to be 20 mL or less. This parameter control ensures rapid fluid response to valve actuation while the passage geometry is designed to facilitate manufacturing through standard processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve module for a vehicle includes a valve holder including a supply passage, through which fluid flows from an inlet, into which the fluid is supplied, a cutoff valve coupled to the valve holder, and that prevents or allow flow of the fluid through the supply passage, and a flow rate control valve coupled to the valve holder, and that controls a flow rate of the fluid that flows through the supply passage.