Detachable Regulation Unit for Compact Pressure Balancing Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure balancing valves with adjustable biasing are difficult to install through confined openings due to their large height, which poses installation challenges in certain applications.
Innovation Solution
The valve is designed as two compact parts: a valve part with a housing, valve seat, and membrane, and a regulation part with a biasing member and setting housing, where the regulation part is detachable and attachable to the valve part, allowing for easy installation and maintaining settings when detached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve is designed as a single integrated unit with regulation part and valve part, then the valve provides complete pressure balancing functionality, but the valve height becomes too large for installation through confined openings
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into two separate parts: a valve part containing the valve body, valve seat, and membrane, and a regulation part containing the biasing member and setting mechanism. These parts can be installed separately through confined openings and then connected together, solving the installation space problem while maintaining complete functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The regulation part can be inserted into or connected with the valve part in a nested arrangement, allowing compact installation through confined openings while maintaining the complete pressure balancing functionality when assembled together.
2Ease of operation
If the regulation part is made detachable from the valve part, then the valve becomes easier to install through confined openings, but the sealing between parts becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is segmented into detachable valve part and regulation part, each with integrated sealing elements. The sealing interfaces are designed at the connection points between parts, allowing easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining reliable sealing through dedicated sealing structures at the junction.
3Ease of operation
If the regulation part is detached for installation, then installation through confined openings is enabled, but maintaining the biasing settings upon reassembly becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing settings are predetermined and locked within the regulation part before detachment. The regulation part maintains its internal configuration and settings independently, so when reattached to the valve part, the biasing settings are automatically preserved without requiring adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The regulation part contains a self-contained copy of the biasing mechanism and settings that remains unchanged during detachment and reassembly. This independent copy ensures that the pressure balancing characteristics are maintained regardless of the separation and reconnection of the parts.
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 compact design facilitates easy installation and maintenance of pressure balancing settings, ensuring the valve operates effectively with unchanged settings upon reassembly.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane adapted to deflect under the influence of a differential pressure across said membrane
Implementation Method 2
The regulation part may comprise a biasing member and setting housing
Data Source
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AI summary
A valve comprising a valve part and a regulation part, where the valve part comprises a valve housing with a flow communication from a fluid inlet to a flow outlet and a valve seat positioned within said flow communication, a valve cone adapted to change position to change the valve opening defined as the opening between the valve seat and valve cone, a membrane adapted to deflect under the influence of a differential pressure across said membrane and means to communicate pressures to the opposing sides of the membrane. The regulation part comprises a biasing member and setting housing, where the valve part and regulation part is sealed from each other, where the regulation part is attachable and detachable to said valve housing where it maintains all settings when detached.