Cross-domain tolerance design for directional control valves

Abstract

The task of tolerance analysis usually addresses the question of the mechanical mountability of an assembly. We extend this viewpoint when talking about directional control valves in a cross-domain tolerance analysis; an analysis whose task is to determine the possible variation in the key product characteristics such as response dynamics, or flow gain, induced by a specific tolerance concept. On the other hand, tolerance synthesis aims at the determination of an optimal tolerance concept resulting in the compliance of the demanded tolerances for key product characteristics. Both issues require a way to identify the noise factors to be toleranced, a mathematical representation of the tolerances and a method to propagate their impact on the key product characteristics.