Diaphragm Valve Mounting Unit for Adjustable Pivot Axis Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manufacturing of diaphragm valves requires tight tolerances to ensure precise operation, leading to high costs and complex quality assurance measures due to the need for precise alignment of the pivot axis and valve channels.

Innovation Solution

The mounting unit is designed to be immovably fastened to the valve housing using material-fit connections, allowing for adjustable positioning of the pivot axis without the need for wall openings, enabling precise adjustment of the pivot angle and manufacturing without stringent tolerances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the mounting unit is fixed on the valve housing with tight tolerances to ensure precise alignment of the pivot axis and valve channels, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity of quality assurance measures increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precision of pivot axis and valve channelsVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and quality assurance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting unit is designed to be adjustable in the height direction before fastening, allowing dynamic positioning of the pivot axis to achieve precise alignment with valve channels. After adjustment, the mounting unit is immovably fastened to fix the position, combining adjustability with final precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting unit is equipped with fastening measures that are applied after the mounting unit has been positioned in the desired operating position. This preliminary positioning allows for adjustment before final fixation, ensuring precise alignment without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances from the start.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If wall openings are provided in the valve housing for mounting the switching rocker, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the risk of contamination of the drive chamber increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly easeVSAvoidcontamination risk of drive chamber

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting unit is designed to be received entirely within the drive chamber, eliminating the need for wall openings in the valve housing. The mounting unit protrudes into the drive chamber from the base wall side, allowing mounting without creating openings that could lead to contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting unit is nested within the drive chamber space, with the switching rocker mounted on the mounting unit. This nested arrangement allows all mounting components to be contained within the existing drive chamber volume without requiring additional wall openings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11326705B2Diaphragm valve and a method for manufacturing a diaphragm valve

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 FESTO AG & CO KG

AI summary

A diaphragm valve includes a valve housing in which a switching rocker, which is pivotable about a pivot axis and which interacts with a control diaphragm for opening and closing at least one valve channel, is arranged. The pivot axis is defined by a mounting web, on which the switching rocker bears in a pivotably movable manner. The mounting web is an integral constituent of a mounting unit, said mounting unit being fastened to the valve housing in a drive chamber by way of fastening measures. Without the fastening measures, the mounting unit can be displaced in order to adjust a desired height distance of the mounting web.