Automatic Fill Valve Assembly With Hall Sensor Backflow Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve assemblies for connecting a water supply network to a primary circuit, such as heating systems, lack automatic filling capabilities and fail to prevent backflow effectively, requiring manual operation and potential service visits.
Innovation Solution
A compact, autonomous valve assembly with a fill pressure regulating device and control system that uses a magnetic element and Hall effect sensor to automatically open and close the water passage based on detected pressure, ensuring efficient filling and preventing backflow, and includes a battery-powered electromagnetic safety valve for autonomous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operation is used for valve assemblies, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to required service visits and manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly performs automatic filling operations without requiring manual intervention. The system monitors its own state through sensors and autonomously activates the electromagnetic valve to restore water pressure and volume in the primary circuit, eliminating the need for service visits and manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated control system that uses electronic sensors to detect water pressure and an electromagnetic valve to control water flow. This substitution of mechanical manual operation with automated electromechanical systems resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and productivity.
2Reliability
If non-return valves are used to prevent backflow, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated valve assembly unit. The non-return valve, electromagnetic valve, pressure sensor, and control circuitry are merged into one compact device that performs both backflow prevention and automatic filling operations, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly is designed as a multi-functional unit that simultaneously performs backflow prevention through non-return valves and automatic filling through the electromagnetic valve controlled by the pressure sensor. This universal design consolidates multiple protective and operational functions into a single device, improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Productivity
If automatic filling is implemented with sensors and control systems, then productivity increases by eliminating service visits, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors water pressure in the primary circuit and automatically activates the electromagnetic valve when pressure drops below a threshold level. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external intervention or service visits, significantly improving productivity despite the added complexity of the control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor provides continuous feedback to the control circuit about the water pressure state in the primary circuit. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically detect when filling is needed and control the electromagnetic valve accordingly, achieving productive automatic operation through a relatively simple closed-loop control structure.
4Measurement precision
If magnetic element and Hall effect sensor are used for pressure detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a magnetic element coupled to the pressure-regulating movable member and detects its position using a Hall effect sensor. This replaces complex mechanical position sensing mechanisms with a compact electromagnetic sensing system that provides precise measurement of the movable member's position and thus accurate pressure detection with minimal added complexity.
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 automatic and efficient filling of the primary circuit while preventing water from returning to the supply network, reducing the need for manual intervention and minimizing maintenance, and can replace conventional valve assemblies in existing installations.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor arranged outside the filling pressure regulating device in such a way that, in a normal working position of the valve assembly, a magnetic field generated by the magnetic element is measured by the sensor
Implementation Method 2
battery-powered electromagnetic safety valve for autonomous operation
Data Source
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AI summary
Valve assembly for automatically connecting a water network to a primary circuit, comprising a first body with an inlet conduit, a second body with an outlet conduit, opening/closing means for opening/closing the passage of water towards the second body, and non-return means preventing the passage of water to the primary circuit. The assembly comprises a filling pressure regulating device (50) through which the maximum pressure in the primary circuit is defined, the regulating device (50) comprising a movable member comprising a magnetic element. The assembly further comprises a control device with a sensor cooperating with the magnetic element to detect a predetermined minimum pressure in the primary circuit, controlling the opening of the opening/closing means when the minimum pressure is detected.