Conical Drive Shaft Valve Fitting for Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shut-off and control valves in pipelines suffer from heavy wear and play issues due to high stress and vibration, leading to unreliable operation and increased maintenance costs, especially in water and gas supply systems.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical tensioning device with a conical drive shaft and elastic spring element provides a compressive force to maintain a secure, non-rotatable connection between the drive shaft and valve disc, reducing play and enhancing operational safety by allowing reversible movement and compensating for manufacturing tolerances and environmental factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shaft-hub connection is used to connect the drive shaft and valve disc, then the valve can be operated, but heavy wear and play occur due to high stress and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between drive shaft and valve disc is designed to be dynamically adjustable through the conical profile element that can be moved axially. This allows the connection to adapt to changing operational conditions, maintaining optimal contact and reducing wear over time, thereby resolving the contradiction between operational reliability and service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The conical profile element allows for parameter changes in the connection geometry. By adjusting the axial position of the conical element, the contact parameters between drive shaft and valve disc can be optimized, reducing wear and play while maintaining reliable operation throughout the service life.
2Manufacturing precision
If a rigid connection between drive shaft and valve disc is used, then positioning is precise, but the connection is sensitive to vibrations and temperature differences
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system incorporates dynamic elements through the movable conical profile element that can adjust to vibrations and temperature changes. This dynamic adjustment capability maintains precise positioning while accommodating harmful environmental factors, resolving the contradiction between connection precision and vibration sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conical profile element acts as an intermediary between the drive shaft and valve disc. It provides a compliant interface that maintains precise power transmission while absorbing the effects of vibrations and thermal expansion, thereby resolving the contradiction between precision and sensitivity to harmful factors.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the drive shaft is permanently pressed against the closure element by a spring, then connection stability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The conical profile element combines multiple functions: it provides the pressing force through its conical geometry, transmits torque through its polygonal cross-section, and allows axial movement for adjustment. This merging of functions achieves connection stability without requiring separate spring mechanisms, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and structural complexity.
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 solution ensures reliable, long-term operation with reduced wear and maintenance, improved vibration resistance, and simplified assembly, while maintaining high torsional and bending moment transmission without notches, thus enhancing the operational safety and efficiency of the valve.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic spring element, the drive shaft being displaceable in its longitudinal direction relative to the profile element, and wherein the elastic spring element is arranged on the ends of the profile element and the drive shaft facing away from the closure element and is supported between the closure element and the drive shaft in such a way that the elastic spring element exerts a compressive force on the drive shaft in the direction of the closure element
Implementation Method 2
the form-fitting and non-rotatable connection has a mechanical tensioning device, which allows the drive shaft to move relative to the closure element against a tensioning force exerted by the tensioning device and rotates the conical longitudinal section of the drive shaft into the corresponding longitudinal section of the closure element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The fitting (1) has a drive shaft (6) including an elongated section, which is designed in conical shape. A mechanical clamping device e.g. elastic spring element (15) such as disk spring, allows the drive shaft to be moved relative to a flap disk (3) against clamping force exerted by the clamping device. The clamping device presses the conical elongated section in a corresponding elongated section of the flap disk. The flap disk is movable between a position, in which a through-opening of housing (2) is opened, and a position, in which the through-opening is closed, by the shaft.