Annular Piston Valve Actuation With Groove-Pin Guided Piston

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ring piston valves have complex actuating mechanisms that hinder a compact design and precise piston guidance.

Innovation Solution

A ring piston valve with a sleeve-shaped guide element and a groove-pin connection between the actuating element and drive shaft, allowing for a simplified and compact actuation mechanism with precise piston guidance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a crank drive with drive crank and connecting rod is used for actuating the shut-off piston, then the piston can be axially adjusted between closed and open positions, but the actuating mechanism becomes complex and the overall valve design becomes less compact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial adjustment of shut-off pistonVSAvoidactuating mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating mechanism is segmented into a drive shaft with an actuating element that has a U-shaped cross-section with two side cheeks. Each side cheek can independently guide the sleeve-shaped guide element via connecting pins, dividing the guidance function into separate modular components that reduce overall complexity while maintaining operational capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sleeve-shaped guide element is nested within the U-shaped actuating element, with the guide element's guide area positioned between the two side cheeks. This nesting arrangement allows the guide element to slide axially within the actuating element while being laterally constrained, achieving compact integration of multiple functions in a single nested structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Manufacturing precision

If traditional guidance methods are used for the shut-off piston, then the piston can be axially displaced, but precise guidance and tilt-proof operation are difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiston guidance precisionVSAvoidguidance structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating element provides differentiated local guidance qualities through its U-shaped cross-section with two side cheeks. The guide area between the side cheeks provides precise lateral positioning, while the plain bearings at the ends of the guide element provide axial guidance. This localized differentiation of guidance functions achieves high precision without requiring a uniformly complex structure throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sleeve-shaped guide element acts as an intermediary between the actuating element and the shut-off piston. It translates the rotational motion of the actuating element into precise axial displacement of the piston while maintaining tilt-proof guidance through its plain bearings, mediating the motion transmission with high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the guide element is secured against rotation, then precise axial guidance is achieved, but the connection between the actuating element and drive shaft becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial guidance accuracyVSAvoidrotationally secured connection
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating element has an asymmetric U-shaped cross-section with two side cheeks that are positioned to provide rotational securing. The groove-and-pin connection uses an asymmetric arrangement where pins engage in grooves or elongated holes that prevent rotation while allowing axial movement, achieving rotational constraint through asymmetric geometry rather than symmetric fastening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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

Enables a compact and robust design with precise piston guidance, reducing mechanical complexity and enhancing operational reliability.

Implementation Method 1

The sleeve-shaped guide element is preferably guided slidably on the central guide axis via a front and rear plain bearing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSliding friction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

the actuating device contains an actuating element secured against rotation to a drive shaft, which is connected to the sleeve-shaped guide element via a groove-and-pin connection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical motion conversion: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentEP4610527A1Annular piston valve
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 VAG ARMATUREN
  • EP4610527A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4610527A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4610527A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a ring piston valve with a housing (1), an annular channel (8) formed between an outer part (3) and an inner guide part (5) of the housing (1) for guiding a medium between an inlet opening (9) and an outlet opening (10) of the housing (1), a closing piston (15) guided axially displaceably within the inner guide part (5) of the housing (1), and an actuating device which can be actuated from the outside of the housing (1) by means of a drive shaft (7), via which actuating device the closing piston (15) can be moved axially between an open position and a closed position by rotating the drive shaft (7).According to the invention, the closing piston (15) is guided displaceably on a central guide axis (13) via a sleeve-shaped guide element (17) and the adjusting device contains an adjusting element which is connected to the drive shaft (7) in a rotationally secured manner and which is connected to the sleeve-shaped guide element (17) via a groove-pin connection (36, 37).