Hydraulic Door Closer Valve with Adjustable Throttle Contour

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydraulic door closer valves face challenges in precise adjustment of closing speed and are susceptible to dirt due to their design, particularly with the use of throttle cones and narrow annular gaps.

Innovation Solution

A valve with a valve member that can be axially displaced within a valve bore, featuring a throttle contour on the inner or outer circumference, allowing for precise adjustment of the closing speed and reduced dirt susceptibility through a larger flow cross-section and adaptable axial flow cross-section course.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a throttle cone with narrow annular gap is used to control closing speed, then the valve structure is simple, but the adjustment precision of closing speed deteriorates and susceptibility to dirt increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve structureVSAvoidclosing speed adjustment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The valve member is divided into multiple segments that can be axially displaced relative to each other, creating multiple adjustable throttling zones. This segmentation allows for more precise control of the closing speed by independently adjusting each segment's position, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and adjustment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The valve employs dynamically adjustable throttling openings where the cross-sectional area can be continuously varied through axial displacement of the valve member. This dynamic adjustment capability enables precise control of closing speed at different stages, transforming the static throttle cone into an adaptive flow control system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If a throttle cone with narrow annular gap is used, then the valve structure is simple, but susceptibility to dirt deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve structureVSAvoidsusceptibility to dirt
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a two-dimensional annular gap throttling mechanism to a three-dimensional adjustable flow channel system. By creating volumetric throttling zones through axial displacement of segmented valve members, the design increases the effective flow cross-section and reduces susceptibility to dirt accumulation while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If a larger flow cross-section is used to reduce dirt susceptibility, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesusceptibility to dirtVSAvoidvalve structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a sealing element, a throttling component, and an adjustable flow control mechanism. This multi-functionality allows the design to achieve larger effective flow cross-sections for reduced dirt susceptibility without proportionally increasing structural complexity, as the same component performs multiple roles.

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

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 enables precise control of closing speed and reduces dirt susceptibility by allowing for adjustable and adaptable throttle contours, eliminating the need for conical valves and minimizing the risk of contamination.

Implementation Method 1

a valve member (16) which can be displaced axially in a valve bore (14) and thus the valve can be adjusted, and an outflow channel (18), which is opened or closed depending on the axial displacement (22) of the valve member (16) relative to the valve bore (14) for an overflow of the hydraulic fluid (12)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic flow regulation:

Data Source

PatentEP3124730B1Valve for a door closer
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 GEZE GMBH
  • EP3124730B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3124730B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP3124730B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A valve (10) for a hydraulic door, gate or window drive, in particular for a hydraulic door closer, is arranged in a hydraulic channel through which the hydraulic fluid can flow and comprises a valve member (16) that can be displaced in a valve bore (14) and a throttle contour (20) provided on the inner circumference of the valve bore (14) or on the outer circumference of the valve member (16) and comprising at least one outflow channel (18) which, depending on the axial displacement of the valve member (16) relative to the valve bore (14), for an overflow of the hydraulic fluid is opened or closed and/or by means of which the flow of the overflowing hydraulic fluid can be regulated via an axial displacement of the valve member (16).