Electronic Water Valve Locking Structure for Rigid One-Step Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic water valves have complex combination structures that reduce productivity and increase manufacturing costs due to multiple assembly processes and components, and the assembly tolerance leads to a non-rigid combined state, resulting in reliability issues and potential product breakdowns.
Innovation Solution
A simplified combination structure for electronic water valves featuring a locking long hole, an elastic pressing rod, and a protrusion locking rod that securely fasten the electromagnetic unit to the valve body, allowing for a single-process assembly and preventing separation, along with a burr blocking mechanism to prevent welding burrs from exposing externally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional rotary combination structure with male hook and female combining portion is used, then the electromagnetic unit can be combined with the valve body, but the assembly process becomes complex requiring multiple steps (rotation and fastening pin insertion) which reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electromagnetic unit directly with the valve body through a simplified structure where the electromagnetic unit is mounted on the upper surface of the valve body without requiring separate rotation and fastening operations. The coil body is positioned directly on the upper surface and connected to the yoke, eliminating the complex male hook-female combining portion mechanism while maintaining structural integrity.
2Reliability
If a conventional rotary combination structure with fastening pin is used, then the male hook can be prevented from separating, but the number of components increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the unnecessary fastening pin component from the assembly. The electromagnetic unit is directly mounted on the valve body upper surface with the coil body positioned on the upper surface and connected to the yoke, eliminating the need for separate fastening pins while maintaining secure attachment and preventing separation.
3Ease of manufacture
If assembly tolerance in conventional rotary combination structure is present, then the electromagnetic unit can be assembled, but the combined state becomes non-rigid leading to reliability issues and frequent breakdowns
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complex rotary mechanism with multiple tolerance accumulation points (male hook insertion, rotation alignment, fastening pin insertion), the patent inverts the approach by using a direct mounting structure where the electromagnetic unit is positioned and fixed on the valve body upper surface. This reduces the number of tolerance accumulation points and ensures a rigid combined state while maintaining ease of assembly.
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 productivity by simplifying the assembly process, reduces manufacturing costs, ensures the electromagnetic unit is rigidly combined, and prevents welding burrs from being exposed, thereby improving the reliability and durability of the electronic water valve.
Implementation Method 1
an upper portion of the elastic pressing rod presses an inner surface of the protrusion locking rod with an elastic restoring force
Implementation Method 2
the magnetic force generated from the coil body of the electromagnetic unit that is driven by an electrical signal
Implementation Method 3
a yoke which is formed in a channel-shaped steel beam and which is positioned at a circumference of the coil body, the yoke being a support structure which includes a bottom surface, a connection rod, and a support surface and which forms a magnetic field circuit
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a combination structure of an electronic water valve including an electromagnetic unit including a coil body and a yoke having an upper support plate and a lower support plate and which includes a valve body including an upper member and a lower member. The combination structure includes a locking long hole formed in each of opposite sides of the lower support plate, an elastic pressing rod that protrudes, a protrusion locking rod formed on each of opposite sides of an upper portion of the upper member, and a burr blocking member which is formed on an outer circumference of the upper member and which prevents a welding burr from being exposed to an outside of an outer circumference of the valve body through a gap of a friction welding portion, the welding burr being generated when friction welding of the upper member and the lower member is performed.