Compact Thermostatic Valve Head With Direct Pin Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermostatic valve control heads are limited by the size of the compensation mechanism, which restricts the minimum axial dimensions and makes it difficult to incorporate additional functionality or infer the valve position, especially in compact designs.
Innovation Solution
A control head design with a housing that allows axial rotation, featuring a sensing element with an abutting pin and a spring retained within the housing, minimizing axial dimensions and using a compound helical spring and elastic housing to reduce size, along with a heat shield and pin retention mechanism for improved thermal isolation and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a compensation mechanism is provided within the housing to connect the sensing element to the operating pin, then the valve operates safely and reliably, but the axial dimensions of the control head increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the compensation mechanism from the control head housing, removing it as a separate component. The sensing element is connected directly to the operating pin without an intermediate compensation mechanism, thereby eliminating the space it would occupy and reducing the overall axial dimension of the control head while maintaining reliable valve operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of the sensing element and its connection to the operating pin into a direct, integrated arrangement. By eliminating the separate compensation mechanism and its associated components (carrier, spring retaining casing, biasing spring), the sensing element's function is directly combined with the operating pin connection, reducing complexity and axial dimension.
2Reliability
If a compensation mechanism is provided within the housing, then the sensing element is protected from overloading, but the space for additional devices is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compensation mechanism is extracted and removed from the control head housing. This elimination of the carrier, spring retaining casing, and biasing spring components frees up significant internal space within the housing, allowing for the integration of additional devices or functionality while the sensing element maintains direct connection to the operating pin for reliable operation.
3Reliability
If a compensation mechanism is provided within the housing, then the system operates safely in the event of excessive expansion, but it is difficult to infer the present valve position from the expansion of the sensing element
Solution Approach 1:
The compensation mechanism is removed from the system, eliminating the carrier and spring retaining casing that obscured the direct relationship between sensing element expansion and valve position. With the sensing element connected directly to the operating pin, the valve position can be easily inferred by observing the expansion of the sensing element, while safety is maintained through the direct mechanical connection.
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 a more compact control head that can fit in smaller spaces, allows for additional components, and provides effective thermal isolation and easy monitoring of the temperature set point, enhancing the operational reliability and user control.
Implementation Method 1
a sensing element provided within the housing and operable to expand or contract axially as its temperature increases or decreases
Implementation Method 2
a spring retained within the housing and biasing the sensing element towards the operating pin of the flow valve by engagement with the housing
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A control head 200 for a flow valve comprises: a housing 230 mounted within the head 200 such that by rotation of the housing 230 its axial position relative to a flow valve can be varied; a sensing element 240 operable to expand or contract axially in response to temperature variations, the sensing element 240 provided within the housing 230 and having an abutting pin 244 projecting axially of the housing 230 to contact an operating pin of the flow valve; and a spring 260 retained within the housing 230 and biasing the sensing element 240 towards the operating pin of the flow valve by engagement with the housing 230.