Bodyless Hydraulic Valve With Deformable Plug for Low Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing servo-actuated hydraulic valves are heavy, bulky, require two workers for installation, experience significant pressure drop when open, and suffer from cavitation due to a tortuous fluid path.
Innovation Solution
A servo-actuated hydraulic valve design that eliminates the valve body, using an annular interposition element and a deformable plug that seals directly against pipe walls, with multiple actuating ducts for fluid control, allowing a less tortuous fluid path and reduced weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a traditional valve body design is used, then the valve can effectively control fluid flow, but the valve becomes heavy and bulky requiring two workers for installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional valve body entirely from the design. The valve functionality is achieved through a membrane plug that seals directly against the pipe wall, eliminating the heavy valve body structure while maintaining fluid control capability. This extraction of the unnecessary component resolves the contradiction between weight and effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a membrane plug made of flexible material that can deform to seal against the pipe wall. This thin film structure replaces the rigid, heavy valve body, achieving both weight reduction and effective fluid control through the membrane's ability to conform and seal.
2Length of stationary object
If a traditional valve body with flanged connections is used, then the valve can be securely mounted, but the valve becomes bulky and difficult to install
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the valve body and traditional flanged mounting structure. The membrane plug itself serves as the mounting element, inserting directly into the pipe without requiring separate mounting components. This reduces the overall length and simplifies installation to a single insertion operation.
3Ease of operation
If the valve is designed with a compact structure, then installation is easier, but the fluid path becomes tortuous causing cavitation and pressure drop
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane plug creates a straight fluid path by sealing against the pipe wall, allowing fluid to flow directly from upstream to downstream without tortuous paths. The flexible membrane configuration ensures smooth flow while maintaining compact installation, eliminating cavitation and pressure drop issues.
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 achieves lower pressure drop, reduced cavitation, lighter weight, and easier installation by a single operator, while maintaining effective fluid control.
Implementation Method 1
the valve comprises a deformable plug adapted to change its shape in response to a pressure differential between an upstream side and a downstream side
Implementation Method 2
Said elastic element may be, for example, a spring or stiffening ribs or simply a preform that naturally causes the membrane to assume a closed configuration at rest
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
Servo-actuated hydraulic valve adapted to be interposed between an upstream pipe (25) and a downstream pipe (26) of a conduit in which a fluid to be intercepted flows, said valve comprising an annular interposition element (1) and a plug (3) which is constrained to said annular interposition element (1), said plug (3) comprising an inner volume and being adapted to change its volume between a dilated configuration and a contracted configuration, said annular interposition element (1) being adapted to be interposed transversely and tightened between said upstream pipe (25) and said downstream pipe (26) of said conduit, so that said plug (3) is introduced at least partially into at least one of said upstream pipe (25) and said downstream pipe (26).