Butterfly Valve Crank Stop for Modular Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional air butterfly valve designs are custom, single bore configurations, requiring larger valve bodies for increased airflow and necessitating custom valves for each application, which complicates design and alignment, especially when scaling or changing applications.
Innovation Solution
A modular valve system featuring a first valve with a cylindrical flow path and connecting flanges for interconnection with additional valves, allowing for flexible configuration and reversible operation to accommodate various airflow demands and applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If custom single bore valve configurations are used, then each application can be precisely tailored, but design complexity and manufacturing costs increase for each new application
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is designed with universal features including multiple bore options, interchangeable seals, and standardized mounting interfaces that allow a single valve body design to serve multiple applications. The valve can be configured for different flow rates and pressure ratings without requiring custom tooling or redesign, thereby reducing design complexity while maintaining application-specific adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The valve is divided into modular components including the valve body, disc, seal, and actuator as separate interchangeable parts. This segmentation allows different combinations of components to be assembled for different applications using the same base valve body, reducing the need for custom designs while maintaining versatility
2Quantity of substance
If larger valve bodies are used to increase airflow volume, then airflow capacity improves, but valve size and associated alignment challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve design transitions from traditional large-diameter single-bore configurations to multi-bore arrangements that utilize the valve body's dimensional space more efficiently. By creating multiple smaller flow paths within the same valve body envelope, the design achieves equivalent or superior total airflow capacity without increasing the external dimensions of the valve, thereby simplifying alignment and installation
3Reliability
If pressure loaded shaft designs are used, then valve operation is reliable, but thrust management challenges and alignment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft design incorporates thrust bearings and support structures that distribute and counterbalance the pressure loads acting on the valve disc. By strategically positioning support points and using bearing surfaces that counteract the directional forces, the design maintains reliable valve operation while reducing the complexity of thrust management compared to traditional pressure-loaded shaft designs
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 2A
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A limiting system for defining a rotational limit of a valve disc (122) of a butterfly valve includes a crank (130) configured to be disposed on a terminal end of a valve shaft (124) and configured to connect to a drive linkage to drive the crank (130) and rotation of the valve disc (122). The crank (130) includes a crank arm (132) extending radially outward from the shaft; and a crank stop (134) configured to contact a portion of a second connecting flange (116) of the first valve to physically limit rotation of the crank (130) and the valve disc (122) within a predefined rotational quadrant. A valve system comprising a first valve which has a first disc (122) mounted to a first shaft (124); a crank (130) disposed on a second end (128) of the first shaft and including a crank arm (132) configured to connect to a drive linkage; and a crank stop (134) configured to limit rotation of the crank to a predefined quadrant of the first valve disc.