Spring-Loaded Ball Valve Handle for Stable Open-Close Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Previous ball valves require operator intervention to maintain fully open or fully closed positions, leading to potential pressure spikes if not properly actuated, which can damage fluid system components.
Innovation Solution
A ball valve assembly with a spring mechanism that includes a continuous curved portion with variable thickness, ensuring the valve remains in the desired fully open or fully closed position through induced forces on pins, preventing unintended position changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring mechanism is added to force the valve to fully open or fully closed positions, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring uses a continuous curved portion with variable thickness that connects two couplers, forming a curved elastic structure. This curved geometry allows the spring to store and release mechanical energy, providing the necessary force to move the valve to fully open or fully closed positions while maintaining a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring's continuous curved portion has variable thickness, with the thickest portion positioned at a specific location along the curve. This variation in thickness parameter optimizes the spring's stiffness distribution, allowing it to provide sufficient force for valve actuation while controlling the overall complexity of the mechanism.
2Reliability
If the spring continuously forces the valve to closed position, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism dynamically responds to valve position changes, providing restoring force only when the valve is in transition between fully open and fully closed positions. When the valve reaches either extreme position, the spring's geometric configuration allows it to maintain the valve in that position without continuous active forcing, reducing the effort needed to hold the valve open or closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring exerts periodic forcing action during valve actuation, applying force to move the valve toward fully open or fully closed positions, then releasing when the valve reaches the desired position. This periodic engagement reduces the continuous operational effort required from the operator while maintaining reliable position control.
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 spring mechanism effectively locks the ball valve in the fully open or fully closed position, preventing pressure spikes and ensuring the valve remains in the intended state without operator intervention, thus protecting the fluid system.
Implementation Method 1
The continuous curved portion has a variable thickness... ensuring the valve remains in the desired fully open or fully closed position through induced forces on pins
Data Source
AI summary
A spring-loaded ball valve includes a spring, a first pin, a second pin, and a handle. The spring is configured to apply pressure to the first pin and second pin when the ball valve is in both the fully open and fully closed positions. The spring applies maximum torque when the ball valve is in the fully open or fully closed position to ensure the valve remains in the fully open or fully closed position.