Bi-Directional Metering Orifice for Slow-Open Fast-Close Gas Valves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas valves often struggle to achieve both slow opening and fast closing characteristics, with floating disk orifices requiring close tolerances and behaving inconsistently.

Innovation Solution

The use of bi-directional metering orifices with different discharge coefficients for opposite directions of gas flow, allowing for slow opening and fast closing in the same orifice, providing a controlled and gradual opening time and a quick closing time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If floating disk orifices are used to achieve different opening and closing characteristics, then some differentiation is possible, but close tolerances are required and behavior is inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of opening/closing behaviorVSAvoidtolerance requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different sections of the valve system have different orifice configurations tailored to their specific functions. The metering orifices are strategically positioned and sized to provide localized flow control characteristics that ensure consistent slow opening and fast closing behavior without requiring tight tolerances across the entire valve assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The design changes the flow parameters by using multiple orifices with different diameters and configurations rather than relying on a single floating disk orifice. This approach allows for more forgiving tolerance ranges while maintaining consistent and reliable differential opening/closing characteristics through the combined effect of multiple flow paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This solution ensures reliable and consistent slow opening and fast closing of gas valves, improving performance by maintaining flow rates and reducing inconsistencies compared to conventional designs.

Implementation Method 1

at least one bi-directional metering orifice configured to discharge gas from the inlet in a first direction in the gas valve to provide a slow opening of the gas valve, and to discharge gas in a second direction in the gas valve to provide a fast closing of the gas valve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow discharge through orifice: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS10006664B2Slow opening and fast closing gas valves and related methods

Publication Date: 2018.06.26 COPELAND COMFORT CONTROL LP

AI summary

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of apparatus and methods for slow-opening and fast-closing of a gas valve. In an exemplary embodiment, a gas valve generally includes an inlet, and at least one bi-directional metering orifice configured to discharge gas from the inlet in a first direction in the gas valve to provide a slow opening of the gas valve, and to discharge gas in a second direction in the gas valve to provide a fast closing of the gas valve.