Angle Valve Handwheel Securing Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing corner valves with handwheels suffer from unintentional separation from the valve housing, especially in tight spaces, leading to difficulties in removal or reinstallation, as the handwheel can be accidentally pushed away during valve plunger movement.

Innovation Solution

A valve design featuring a securing element that can be moved from a release position to a securing position, preventing unintentional separation by engaging with the valve housing, ensuring conscious manipulation is required for separation, and incorporating a groove and stop mechanism to secure the actuator element, allowing only rotational movement while preventing longitudinal displacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the handwheel is mounted on the valve housing without a securing element, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the handwheel can be accidentally separated from the valve housing during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidhandwheel attachment reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The securing element is designed as a separate, movable component that can be independently actuated. This segmentation allows the securing function to be added without complicating the overall structure, as the securing element operates independently from the handwheel and valve body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The securing element acts as an intermediary component between the handwheel and the valve housing. It provides a controlled connection mechanism that prevents accidental separation while allowing intentional removal, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a securing element is added to prevent handwheel separation, then the handwheel attachment reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandwheel attachment reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The securing element is designed to be self-securing through its movable nature. When engaged, it automatically secures the handwheel without requiring additional fastening operations or complex locking mechanisms, thus improving reliability with minimal added complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The securing element changes the state of connection between the handwheel and valve housing from permanently fixed to controllably secured. By changing the parameter of connection stability from static to dynamically controllable, reliability is improved while keeping the structural addition minimal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the handwheel is securely fixed to the valve housing, then the handwheel attachment reliability is improved, but the ease of operation for removal and reinstallation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandwheel attachment reliabilityVSAvoidremoval and reinstallation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The securing element transforms the static connection between handwheel and valve housing into a dynamic, controllable connection. The movable securing element allows the connection state to be changed from secured to released on demand, making removal and reinstallation easy while maintaining security during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The securing element is designed to be预先 positioned and easily actuated. Before removal is needed, the securing element is already in place to prevent accidental separation. When removal is intended, the preliminary positioning of the securing element allows for quick and easy disengagement without requiring complex removal procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3001081B1Angle valve with handwheel
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 GEBERIT INT AG
  • EP3001081B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3001081B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3001081B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A valve (1), in particular an angle valve, comprises a valve housing (2) which defines a flow channel (3) extending from a valve inlet (4) to a valve outlet (5), a valve seat (6) arranged in the flow channel (3), a valve plunger (7) cooperating with the valve seat (6), and an actuator element (8) connectable to the valve housing (2) for actuating the valve plunger (7), wherein the valve plunger (7) comprises a sealing section (9) cooperating with the valve seat (6), a bearing section (10), and an actuating section (11) with which the actuator element (8) cooperates, and wherein the valve housing (2) further comprises a receptacle (12) in which the valve plunger (7) is slidably mounted with the bearing section (10) in the valve housing (2) along a longitudinal axis (L) or about and along the longitudinal axis (L).Furthermore, the actuator element (8) comprises a locking element (13) which can be moved relative to the actuator element (8) from a release position to a locking position, with which the actuator element (8) can be locked to the valve housing (2).