Annular Piston Valve With Curved Guide Ribs for Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing needle valves experience noise and cavitation due to jet contraction at the valve outlet caused by parallel guide ribs leading to uncontrolled flow convergence.

Innovation Solution

Implementing blade-shaped guide ribs with a curved profile and turbulators to induce swirling motion and turbulence, providing kinetic energy and improving flow deflection, reducing noise generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If parallel guide ribs are used to achieve directed flow, then flow direction control is improved, but noise and cavitation increase due to jet contraction at the outlet

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow direction controlVSAvoidnoise and cavitation
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide ribs are designed with a curved profile instead of straight parallel lines. This curvature guides the fluid flow smoothly through the annular channel, preventing abrupt convergence at the outlet that causes jet contraction. The curved geometry maintains directed flow control while eliminating the harmful jet effect that generates noise and cavitation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of manufacture

If the annular channel geometry is simplified, then manufacturing is easier, but flow guidance and kinetic energy distribution are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing geometryVSAvoidkinetic energy distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The curved profile of the guide ribs can be manufactured using standard casting or molding techniques, maintaining ease of production. The curvature itself provides the necessary flow guidance and kinetic energy distribution, eliminating the need for complex internal geometries while achieving superior flow control and energy utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Speed

If blade-shaped guide ribs with curved profile are implemented, then flow guidance and kinetic energy are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow guidance and kinetic energyVSAvoidguide rib geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade-shaped guide ribs with curved profiles are integrated directly into the housing structure as a single geometric feature rather than separate components. This curvature-based design achieves superior flow guidance and kinetic energy distribution while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, thus not increasing overall device complexity despite the enhanced geometric sophistication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

The solution effectively reduces noise and cavitation by enhancing flow guidance and kinetic energy distribution, improving flow control and reducing noise generation.

Implementation Method 1

The at least one guide rib is blade-shaped and has a curved profile in the longitudinal direction of the housing. One or more blade-shaped guide ribs can impart a swirling motion to the medium flowing through the annular channel, thereby supplying kinetic energy to the flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSwirling motion: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

The turbulators, which are intentionally created surface modifications, can improve the flow profile. The turbulators generate vortices that add kinetic energy to the flow and reduce flow separation at the valve seat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVortices: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 3

Furthermore, the turbulators generate a wake that facilitates the redirection of the medium from the housing to the pipe and reduces noise generation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWake: Turbulence

Implementation Method 4

The flow deflection and the supply of kinetic energy also generate turbulence, which can reduce noise generation in the annular piston valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP4614034A1Annular piston valve
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 VAG ARMATUREN
  • EP4614034A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4614034A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4614034A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a ring piston valve with a housing (1) which contains an outer part (3), an inner guide part (5) connected to the outer part (3) via at least one guide rib (4), and an annular channel formed between the outer part (3) and the inner guide part (5) for guiding a medium between an inlet opening (9) and an outlet opening (10) of the housing (1), wherein a closing piston for controlling the passage through the annular channel is arranged axially displaceably within the inner guide part (5) of the housing (1) and can be moved between an open position and a closed position by an actuating mechanism. According to the invention, the at least one guide rib (4) is blade-shaped and has a curved profile in the longitudinal direction of the housing (1).