Epicyclic Valve Handwheel With Parameter Indication and Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve adjustment mechanisms, particularly for quarter-turn valves, lack precision and stability in adjusting opening movements, and fail to accurately measure fluid-dynamic parameters like flowrate, with existing flowrate measurement systems being costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An epicyclic handwheel with a control knob and epicyclic mechanism that transmits rotational movement to the valve shaft, featuring a sun gear, planet carrier, and crown wheel, allowing precise torque transmission while indicating operating parameters like opening angle and hydraulic conductivity through a graduated annular plate, and incorporating a locking mechanism to prevent accidental operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple handwheel is used for valve operation, then the device complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision and stability of valve opening adjustment are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The handwheel is segmented into multiple functional components: control knob, sun gear, planet carrier, crown wheel, and planet gears. Each component performs a specific function, allowing the system to achieve precise adjustment through the coordinated action of these segments while keeping each individual component relatively simple in design.
Solution Approach 2:
The epicyclic gear mechanism acts as an intermediary between the control knob and the valve shaft. This intermediary mechanism transforms the rotational movement of the control knob into precise angular adjustments of the valve opening, providing both precision and stability without requiring the control knob itself to be complex.
2Measurement precision
If a flowrate measurement system is added to the valve, then the measurement precision of fluid parameters improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The handwheel mechanism serves multiple functions: it not only controls the valve opening but also provides indication of operating parameters through the graduated annular plate. This self-service approach allows the existing mechanical components to provide measurement and indication functions without requiring separate complex electronic measurement systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides measurement information through changes in the mechanical parameter of angular position. The graduated annular plate displays flowrate and other parameter information based on the angular position of the planet carrier, converting physical flowrate changes into readable mechanical indications without requiring additional sensors or electronic systems.
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent accidental operation, then the reliability of valve positioning improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is merged with the existing epicyclic gear components. The planet carrier's engagement with the crown wheel teeth provides both the gear function and the locking function simultaneously. When the planet carrier engages with the crown wheel, it naturally locks the valve position without requiring a separate locking mechanism, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
4Power
If an epicyclic mechanism is used for torque transmission, then the power transmission capability improves, but the device complexity and dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The epicyclic gear mechanism employs a nested arrangement where planet gears are mounted on the planet carrier and rotate within the annular space between the sun gear and crown wheel. This nesting allows multiple gears to occupy a compact radial space, achieving high torque transmission in a compact configuration that does not significantly increase overall device dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The epicyclic mechanism utilizes the radial dimension efficiently by arranging gears in concentric circles around the central axis. The planet gears rotate on axes parallel to but offset from the sun gear axis, creating a three-dimensional gear arrangement that maximizes torque transmission capability within a compact axial footprint, avoiding significant increases in device dimensions.
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
Enables precise and stable adjustment of valve opening, allows easy measurement and monitoring of fluid parameters, and prevents accidental operation, while being compact, cost-effective, and adaptable to various valve types and sizes.
Implementation Method 1
an epicyclic mechanism for transmission of a rotational movement, comprising: a sun gear extending along the longitudinal axis and rotationally integral with the control knob; a planet carrier configured to be rotationally locked to a shaft of the valve; a crown wheel configured to be rotationally locked to a body of the valve and provided with an internal annular toothing coaxial with the sun gear; and a plurality of planet gears mounted on the planet carrier and arranged to rotate about a respective axis parallel to the axis of the sun gear and mesh with the said sun gear and with the internal annular toothing of the crown wheel
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5~7
AI summary
Epicyclic handwheel for a valve, comprising a control knob (100) with an inner surface (110b) and an outer surface (110a) situated opposite each other with respect to a longitudinal axis (X-X), the control knob (100) being able to be rotationally operated about the longitudinal axis; an epicyclic mechanism for transmission of a rotational movement, comprising: a sun gear (111); a planet carrier (200) configured to be rotationally locked to a shaft of the valve; a crown wheel (400) configured to be rotationally locked to a body of the valve and provided with an internal annular toothing (410) coaxial with the sun gear (111); a plurality of planet gears (310) arranged to rotate about a respective axis parallel to the axis of the sun gear (111) and mesh with said sun gear (111) and with the internal annular toothing of the crown wheel; so that by rotationally operating the control knob (100) the rotational movement of the sun gear (111) is transmitted to the planet carrier (200) and therefore to the valve shaft; and further comprising an annular plate (221) arranged between the planet gears (310) and the control knob (100) and rotationally integral with the planet carrier (200), the annular plate (221) having on its front surface (221a), adjacent to the inner surface (110b) of the control knob (100), an indication of the value of at least one operating parameter (α; Kv) of the valve; and wherein the control knob has at least one window (130; 132) on its front surface (110a) which allows viewing of the operating parameter (α; Kv) indicated on the annular plate (221).