Bistable Metering Valve Assembly With Pressure-Balanced Activation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional valves require biasing devices for digital on and off control and have high activation energy dependence on inlet pressures, limiting their efficiency and simplicity.
Innovation Solution
A valve assembly with a metering seal and stem design featuring regions of different diameters and fluted sections, allowing for bistable on/off operation independent of inlet pressures through balanced fluidic pressure and frictional forces, eliminating the need for bias devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional valves use biasing devices for digital on and off control, then reliable switching function is achieved, but device complexity increases and activation energy becomes dependent on inlet pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes biasing devices from the valve system entirely. The stem operates without springs or other biasing mechanisms, achieving bistable operation through the interaction of fluid pressure forces and friction alone. This extraction eliminates the complexity associated with biasing devices while maintaining reliable switching functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system uses the fluid pressure itself to provide the switching force, eliminating the need for separate biasing devices. The fluid pressure acts directly on the stem to overcome friction and achieve position changes, making the system self-sufficient and reducing overall device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If conventional valves use biasing devices, then on/off control is achieved, but activation energy increases with inlet pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using fluid pressure acting on the stem to provide the force needed for switching. The fluid pressure, rather than mechanical biasing devices, becomes the active element that enables position changes. This approach makes activation energy independent of inlet pressures since the fluid pressure is the direct actuating force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical biasing devices with a fluid-based system. Instead of using mechanical springs or weights to provide switching force, the system uses fluid pressure acting on the stem, substituting a mechanical system with a fluid-based actuation mechanism that reduces activation energy dependence.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the stem diameter is reduced to lower friction, then activation energy is reduced, but sealing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different qualities to different parts of the stem. The stem has a reduced diameter along most of its length to minimize friction, but includes localized sealing sections with increased diameter or specific surface treatments at critical sealing positions. This local quality variation allows the stem to maintain both low friction for reduced activation energy and adequate sealing capability where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The stem is segmented into different functional zones: low-friction sections with reduced diameter for minimizing activation energy, and sealing sections with increased diameter or special surface characteristics for maintaining sealing capability. This segmentation allows each section to optimize its function independently.
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 high flow rates at low pressures with simplified mechanism, achieving bistable on/off conditions and low activation energy, independent of inlet pressures.
Implementation Method 1
The stem comprises a bistable state held in a position in the main channel by friction between one or more of the non-fluted sections and an internal surface of the main channel comprising the first diameter.
Implementation Method 2
at least one gap between the inner surface of metering seal and the outer surface of the stem, where the gap is configured and arranged to enable fluid to communicate from a lower chamber of an adjacent valve to an upper chamber of an adjacent valve to bring the pressure in the upper chamber up to the pressure in the lower chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments include a valve assembly with a metering seal including a main channel including regions with a first diameter and regions with a second diameter, where the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter. Some embodiments include a stem positioned in the metering seal extending from at least a first end of the metering seal to a second end of the metering seal. In some embodiments, the stem has a fluted section positioned between two non-fluted sections, where the diameter of stem in the fluted section is smaller than the diameter of the stem in the non-fluted sections. Some embodiments include a first and second flow channel extending across at least a partial width of the metering seal, where the first flow channel is positioned at the first end of the metering seal, and the second flow channel is positioned at the second end of the metering seal.