Aviation Shut-Off Valve with Guided Opening and Status Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shut-off valves for compressed gases face issues such as rapid gas flow leading to particle impact ignition, increased temperature due to adiabatic compression, and time-consuming closure, particularly with highly oxidized gases, which increases the risk of ignition and operational inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A shut-off valve design featuring a pin element with a guiding means for controlled gas flow and a restrictor for slow opening and quick closing, along with a biasing element and a hand wheel with status indicators, allowing for reduced pressure variations and minimized rotation for operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the shut-off valve is opened quickly to improve response time, then productivity is improved, but particle impact ignition risk increases due to high gas speed
Solution Approach 1:
The pin element acts as an intermediary flow guide between the gas inlet and outlet channels. It controls and directs the gas flow in a controlled manner, preventing direct high-speed rush while maintaining efficient opening response. The pin element mediates the gas flow to avoid particle impact ignition.
2Productivity
If the valve opening is accelerated to reduce operation time, then productivity is improved, but adiabatic compression temperature increase occurs leading to ignition risk
Solution Approach 1:
The pin element serves as a flow mediator that distributes gas flow gradually through its guiding means. This intermediate flow path reduces sudden adiabatic compression by controlling the expansion rate, thereby limiting temperature increase during valve opening while maintaining operational efficiency.
3Device complexity
If conventional valve design is used to ensure simple structure, then device complexity is low, but closing operation requires several hand wheel turns consuming time
Solution Approach 1:
The pin element is arranged radially in the passage, creating a new dimensional approach to flow control. This radial arrangement with guiding means extending in the longitudinal direction allows for more efficient flow management and faster valve operation without complicating the overall structure.
4Device complexity
If conventional valve design is used to maintain simplicity, then device complexity is low, but user cannot easily determine valve open/closed status
Solution Approach 1:
The hand wheel incorporates visual indicators (such as color changes or positional markings) that allow users to easily determine the valve status. When the pin element is in different positions (open/closed), the hand wheel displays corresponding visual cues, enabling quick status detection without adding mechanical 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
The design ensures controlled gas flow, reduces the risk of ignition, and improves valve component longevity by minimizing adiabatic compression and requiring less rotational effort for operation, thus enhancing safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing element (8) for biasing a first end (9) of the sealing element (6) such that a second end (10) of the sealing element (6) is in contact with the sealing pin element (7)
Implementation Method 2
the pin element (7) comprises a guide or guiding means (12) for guiding a gas flow between the gas inlet channel (4) and the gas outlet channel (5) when the sealing element (6) is in the second position, and in that the guiding means (12) extends in the longitudinal direction of the pin element (7) and being arranged to allow gas to leave the passage in a radial direction of the pin element (7)
Implementation Method 3
Another problem which may arise is that adiabatic compression caused by the opening of the shut-off valve and gas entering non-pressurised areas may lead to increase in temperature of the gas for a moment
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a shut-off valve for controlling flow of a pressurised gas. The shut-off valve comprises a body defining a passage extending between a gas inlet channel and a gas outlet channel, and a sealing element arranged to, in a first position, close the passage, and in a second position, open the passage to allow gas to flow between the gas inlet channel and the gas outlet channel through the passage. The invention also relates to a method for controlling flow of a pressurised gas by means of a shut-off valve.