Cage Valve Seat Fastening Ring to Prevent Screw Loosening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cage valve screw connections are unreliable under vibration and temperature fluctuations, leading to potential loosening and loss of screws.

Innovation Solution

The use of non-round or angular screw means with a securing element that forms a ring-like structure, resting on the head contour of screws connecting the valve seat to the housing, prevents twisting and loosening, utilizing a hexagonal or multi-edged contour for secure rotation-proof locking, and a Z-shaped design with preload force to prevent screw head detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional round screw means are used to fasten the valve seat to the valve housing, then the assembly is simple and easy to manufacture, but the screw connection becomes unreliable under vibration and temperature fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrew connection reliabilityVSAvoidscrew means complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The screw means are designed with a non-round, angular outer contour (preferably hexagonal) instead of a conventional round shape. This asymmetric geometry prevents rotational movement of the screws under vibration and temperature fluctuations, thereby preventing loosening while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

A securing element in the form of a ring structure is introduced as an intermediary component. This ring element rests on the head contour of all screw means and provides additional mechanical constraint against twisting forces, enhancing the reliability of the screw connection without significantly increasing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the valve seat is screwed to the valve housing using conventional screws, then the fastening process is simple, but the screws may loosen and be lost under vibration conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-loosening protectionVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The angular outer contour of the screw means (hexagonal or multi-edged) inherently prevents rotation and loosening, eliminating the need for additional anti-loosening mechanisms while maintaining ease of assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The securing element ring acts as a mediator that distributes and counteracts twisting forces across all screw heads, providing collective protection against loosening and potential loss under vibration conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4022203B1Cage valve
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 SAMSON AG
  • EP4022203B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4022203B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cage valve (10), comprising a valve housing (14), a valve cage (30), a valve seat (20) and a valve element (12), which cooperates with the valve seat (20) and with the valve cage (30) in order to set the flow cross-section between a valve inlet and a valve outlet, the valve seat (20) having fastening holes (24), through which the valve seat (20) is screwed to the valve housing (14) by means of screwing elements (26). The invention is characterized in that the screwing elements (26) have a non-round or angular outer contour, a securing element (40) being provided, which is designed in such a way that the securing element forms a ring element, which ring element lies at least partly against the head contour of all screwing elements (26) that connect the valve seat (20) to the valve housing (14) and thus prevents rotation of the screwing elements (26).