Compact Gas Cylinder Valve with Nested Residual Pressure Piston
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas cylinder valves have a bulky design due to the offset placement of the residual pressure device, leading to increased material costs and reduced side impact resistance, while also being inefficient in accommodating various outlet connections and having limited mass flow capacity.
Innovation Solution
A gas cylinder valve design with a shut-off device and residual pressure device where the transversal axis of the piston crosses or is close to the longitudinal axis of the shutter, featuring a recessed shutter and piston configuration that reduces the valve body's volume and material usage, enhancing stiffness and compactness, and allowing for internal cone sealing and face gasket compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the residual pressure device is placed offset from the longitudinal axis to house the device, then the device can accommodate the residual pressure mechanism, but the valve body becomes bulky and requires significant additional material
Solution Approach 1:
The piston of the residual pressure device is nested within the shutter assembly, with the piston rod passing through the shutter and the piston head positioned inside the shutter's cavity. This nesting arrangement allows the residual pressure device to be housed within the existing shutter volume rather than requiring separate offset housing, thereby eliminating the bulky portion in the valve body while maintaining full functionality of both the shut-off device and residual pressure device
2Adaptability or versatility
If the residual pressure device is placed offset from the longitudinal axis, then the device can be housed, but the machining complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The machining operations for the shut-off device and residual pressure device are merged into a single unified process. The piston rod is machined as a continuous element passing through the shutter, and the bore housing the piston is aligned with the longitudinal axis rather than being an offset transversal bore. This consolidation eliminates the need for complex multi-step machining operations including offset bore creation, intersecting bore machining, and extensive deburring, thereby significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost
3Volume of stationary object
If the residual pressure device is placed below the seat of the shut-off device, then the bulky portion size is reduced, but the height of the valve body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The design transitions from a vertical stacking arrangement (below the seat) to a horizontal integration approach where the piston operates transversally within the shutter assembly. The piston rod extends through the shutter along a transversal axis, and the piston head moves within the shutter's lateral cavity rather than requiring vertical space below the seat. This dimensional reconfiguration maintains compact overall dimensions while accommodating the residual pressure mechanism
4Ease of operation
If the piston is moved along a transversal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, then the residual pressure device can be located at the side, but this creates a bulky portion in the body
Solution Approach 1:
The piston assembly is nested within the shutter structure, with the piston rod passing through the shutter and the piston head positioned inside the shutter's internal cavity. The transversal movement of the piston occurs within the confines of the shutter assembly rather than requiring external lateral space. This nesting eliminates the need for bulky offset housing in the valve body while maintaining the transversal operation necessary for residual pressure function
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 results in a more cost-effective, compact, and impact-resistant valve with reduced material usage, improved machining efficiency, and enhanced compatibility with different sealing concepts, addressing the limitations of prior art by minimizing the bulky portion and optimizing the valve body's geometry.
Implementation Method 1
The piston is urged by a spring towards said seat so as to close the passage
Implementation Method 2
gas pressure builds up around the main portion of the piston and exerts a force thereon resulting from the cross-section difference between the gasket of the front portion resting on the seat and the gasket of the main portion slidingly cooperating with a bore in the body
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a gas cylinder valve (2) comprising a body (4) with an inlet (18), an outlet (40) and a passage (20) fluidly interconnecting said inlet and outlet; a shut-off device (22) with a seat (26) formed in the passage (20) and a shutter (24) movable along a longitudinal axis (7) for cooperating with said seat; a spindle (12) rotatably mounted on the body (4) along the longitudinal axis (7) and cooperating with the shutter (24) such as to move said shutter upon rotation of said spindle; a residual pressure device (28) fluidly downstream of the shut-off device (22), with a seat (32) formed in the passage (20) and a piston (30) movable along a transversal axis (38. At least one of the shutter (24) and the piston (30) shows a recess or opening (24.4) accommodating the other of said shutter and piston.