Actuator Spring Load Reduction Safety Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing process devices, such as actuators in industrial and marine settings, pose safety risks during maintenance and repair due to the need for strict protocols and access to loaded spring-return mechanisms, which can be hazardous for technicians.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a safety device that prevents access to the spring-return mechanism under load by obstructing the fastening device, allowing the load to discharge before technician intervention, thus ensuring a safe condition for maintenance and repair tasks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the spring-return mechanism is kept accessible for maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but safety hazards increase due to the loaded spring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of spring-return mechanismVSAvoidsafety hazards from loaded spring

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The safety device automatically discharges the spring load before maintenance begins by detecting when the actuator housing is opened and automatically releasing the stored energy in the spring mechanism, eliminating the hazard before the technician can be exposed to it

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A safety device acts as an intermediary between the loaded spring mechanism and the technician, mediating the energy release process automatically when maintenance access is required, thereby protecting the technician without requiring manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If strict safety protocols are implemented for accessing the spring-return mechanism, then safety hazards are reduced, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety hazards from loaded springVSAvoidsafety protocols and procedures

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The safety device is self-actuating and automatically discharges the spring load when the actuator housing is opened, eliminating the need for technicians to follow complex manual procedures or protocols to safely access the spring mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the fastening device is always accessible, then ease of operation is improved, but safety hazards increase during maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of fastening deviceVSAvoidsafety hazards during maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The safety device dynamically changes the accessibility of the fastening device based on the operational state - during normal operation the fastening device remains accessible for operation, but during maintenance when the housing is opened, the safety device automatically intervenes to discharge the spring load before maintenance can proceed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 safety by ensuring the actuator is in a safe condition, reducing the risk of accidents and eliminating the need for strict protocols, allowing technicians to perform maintenance without risking exposure to the loaded mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

Some embodiments may include a spring-return mechanism to actuate an output shaft. This mechanism applies a load to the output shaft to shutoff or shutdown the process device in an emergency.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

These embodiments incorporate a safety device that prevents access to the spring-return mechanism under this load. This feature allows the technician to safely address problems on the device.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical obstruction: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS10197045B2Reducing spring load prior to maintenance on an actuator

Publication Date: 2019.02.05 NATURAL GAS SOLUTIONS NORTH AMERICA LLC

AI summary

A safety device that is useful to release load on a spring found in an actuator. In one embodiment, the actuator can have a housing comprising a pair of housing members and a fastening device coupling the pair of housing members to one another. The embodiment can also have an output shaft extending longitudinally in the housing, the output shaft having an end configured to couple with a process device. The embodiment may also have a spring coupled with the output shaft. The embodiment can further have a safety device coupled to the spring and configured to operate to reduce loading of the spring from a first load to a second load. In one example, the safety device is in position to prevent access to the fastening device at the first load and to allow access to the fastening device at the second load so that the pair of housing members can separate to allow access to the spring in the housing.