Differential Pressure Shut-Off Valve With Integrated Butterfly Regulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Complex valve designs in the aviation industry, such as those used in jet engine systems, are plagued by increased weight, size, and reliability issues due to additional components like servo controllers and reference regulators, which are common failure points in air-actuated valves.

Innovation Solution

A valve assembly system that operates solely on differential pressure control between the upstream and downstream sides of the valve, utilizing a butterfly plate and dual-sided pistons with a spring for biasing and rotation, eliminating the need for additional components and feedback loop control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional components like servo controllers and reference regulators are added to control differential pressure, then control precision is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifferential pressure control precisionVSAvoidvalve assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the reference regulator and control valve into a single integrated valve assembly. The reference regulator portion directly integrates the differential pressure control function with the main valve body, eliminating the need for separate servo controllers and standalone reference regulators. This merging maintains precise differential pressure control while significantly reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve assembly is designed to perform multiple functions within a single integrated structure. The reference regulator portion simultaneously serves as both a pressure control mechanism and part of the main flow path, while the control valve portion handles both isolation and differential pressure regulation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If additional components like servo controllers and reference regulators are added to control differential pressure, then control precision is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifferential pressure control precisionVSAvoidvalve assembly weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the reference regulator and control valve into a single integrated valve assembly. The reference regulator portion directly integrates the differential pressure control function with the main valve body, eliminating the need for separate servo controllers and standalone reference regulators. This merging maintains precise differential pressure control while significantly reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve assembly is designed to perform multiple functions within a single integrated structure. The reference regulator portion simultaneously serves as both a pressure control mechanism and part of the main flow path, while the control valve portion handles both isolation and differential pressure regulation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If additional components like servo controllers and reference regulators are added to control differential pressure, then control precision is improved, but reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifferential pressure control precisionVSAvoidvalve assembly reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the reference regulator and control valve into a single integrated valve assembly. The reference regulator portion directly integrates the differential pressure control function with the main valve body, eliminating the need for separate servo controllers and standalone reference regulators. This merging maintains precise differential pressure control while significantly reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the servo controller from the system by designing a purely mechanical differential pressure control mechanism. The spring-loaded piston and diaphragm assembly provide automatic differential pressure regulation without requiring electronic control components, thereby removing a major source of potential failure points while maintaining control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Measurement precision

If complex valve designs with additional components are used, then differential pressure control is achieved, but maintenance difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifferential pressure controlVSAvoidvalve assembly maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The valve assembly is segmented into distinct functional portions: a reference regulator portion and a control valve portion, each with specific maintenance requirements. The reference regulator portion contains the differential pressure control mechanism with accessible adjustment features, while the control valve portion handles flow regulation. This segmentation allows targeted maintenance of specific portions without requiring disassembly of the entire valve assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the reference regulator and control valve into a single integrated valve assembly. The reference regulator portion directly integrates the differential pressure control function with the main valve body, eliminating the need for separate servo controllers and standalone reference regulators. This merging maintains precise differential pressure control while significantly reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This solution enhances reliability, reduces weight and size by leveraging the full differential pressure, and improves system efficiency by removing common failure points, thereby enhancing the overall performance of air-actuated valves in applications like jet engine anti-icing systems.

Implementation Method 1

a spring controlled for biasing against at least one of the dual-sided pistons based on the differential pressure, and to rotate the butterfly plate to regulate the differential pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

differential pressure between the upstream and downstream pressure sides of a valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDifferential pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

A pair of dual-sided pistons receive differential pressure at an input side and an output side of the valve assembly system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure force: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3485338B1Differential pressure regulating shut-off valve
Publication Date: 2022.04.20 GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LLC
  • EP3485338B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3485338B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3485338B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a valve assembly system including a flowbody including a channel formed at an inner surface thereof, a butterfly plate disposed within the channel and rotatably mounted within the flowbody. The system also includes a pair of dual-sided pistons that receive differential pressure at an input side and an output side of the valve assembly system. A spring is controlled for biasing against at least one of the dual-sided pistons based on the differential pressure, and to rotate the butterfly plate to regulate the differential pressure and the valve assembly system to a predetermined output pressure.