Tap for Storage Container with Manual and Electric Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressurized gas storage containers, particularly those holding gaseous hydrogen at high pressures, require valves that can reliably control gas withdrawal operations while ensuring safety and adaptability to different uses, as existing solutions lack comprehensive control mechanisms for manual and automatic operation.
Innovation Solution
A valve with a displacement control circuit that allows for manual and electrical control of the isolation valve, enabling three secure operating modes, and includes a pressure relief mechanism and a proportional actuator to regulate outlet pressure, ensuring safe and precise gas withdrawal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a valve with only manual control is used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different uses is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The valve integrates multiple control modes (manual and electrical) into a single device, allowing it to perform both manual operation and automated electrically-controlled operation. The body (3) contains both a manual control member (18) and an electric actuator (11) with a control circuit (10), enabling the valve to adapt to different usage scenarios without requiring separate valve systems.
2Ease of operation
If a valve with separate manual and remote control systems is used, then the control flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines manual control and electrical control into a single integrated valve system. The control circuit (10) is integrated into the valve body (3), and the electric actuator (11) shares the same valve mechanism as the manual control member (18). This merging approach provides control flexibility while avoiding the complexity of having completely separate valve systems.
3Measurement precision
If proportional control of the isolation valve is implemented, then the pressure regulation precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical pressure regulation mechanisms with an electrically-controlled proportional actuator (11). The actuator receives electrical control signals and proportionally adjusts the isolation valve (8) position, enabling precise outlet pressure regulation through electrical control rather than complex mechanical linkages.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a tap including a body (3), which is provided with a gas inlet (22) that is to be connected to the storage space of a container (2), a bleed-off circuit (5), and including a downstream end (25, 22) that is to be selectively fluidly connected to a bleed-off member (6), the bleed-off circuit (5) including an isolation valve (8) and a pressure-release member, the tap (1) also including a member (18) for manually controlling the movement of the selectively movable isolation valve into a first position and into a second position, wherein, in the first position thereof, the control member (18) places the isolation valve (8) in a position for opening the bleed-off circuit (5) and, in the second position thereof, the control member (18) places the isolation valve (8) in a position for closing the bleed-off circuit (5), characterized in that the tap (1) further includes a circuit (10) for selectively controlling the movement of the isolation valve (8) into the first position thereof for opening the bleed-off circuit (5), the control circuit (10) including a first end connected to the valve (8), and a second end (100) that can be selectively coupled to an actuator (11) of a gas bleed-off member (6), in order to selectively electrically control the movement of the valve (8) into the position for opening the bleed-off circuit (5).