Fire Valve Actuator with Integrated Triggering and Current Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire damper actuators have complex structures and reduced reliability due to the large number of parts involved in transmitting control movements from various sources, making them expensive and difficult to ensure reliable operation, especially since fire dampers work rarely during safety tests.
Innovation Solution
A fire damper actuator with a simple and robust structure featuring a carriage guided by a toothed wheel/rack connection, a cocking stop, and a control circuit that uses a current detector to manage the arming means, allowing independent triggering by external events and ensuring reliable operation through a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex structure with multiple parts is used for transmitting control movement from different sources, then the actuator can receive tripping orders from various events, but the reliability is reduced and the structure becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple trigger members (thermal trigger, electrical trigger, manual trigger) into a single integrated actuator mechanism. All triggers act on the same drive shaft and shutter assembly, merging multiple control paths into one unified structure. This reduces the number of separate transmission components while maintaining the ability to respond to different event types, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive shaft and shutter assembly serve multiple functions: they are the common transmission element for all trigger types (thermal, electrical, manual). This universal mechanism handles all tripping orders through a single reliable path, eliminating the need for separate transmission systems for each trigger type, thus improving reliability while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple parts are used for transmitting control movement, then various triggering events can be handled, but the device complexity increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple trigger mechanisms into a single actuator assembly where all triggers converge on the same drive shaft and shutter. This consolidation reduces the total number of parts and transmission components while maintaining the capability to handle thermal, electrical, and manual triggering events, thereby reducing device complexity without sacrificing versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a complex transmission system is used, then control from multiple sources is achieved, but the actuator becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
By combining all trigger mechanisms into a single actuator assembly with a common drive shaft and shutter, the patent reduces the total part count and simplifies manufacturing. This unified structure is more cost-effective to produce than multiple separate transmission systems while maintaining full multi-source control capability.
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 provides a reliable and safe operation with a compact structure, allowing the actuator to function effectively in harsh conditions and enabling easy integration and replacement, while ensuring the valve can be triggered independently by various events without relying on external energy for rearming.
Implementation Method 1
a carriage guided in translation, integral in movement with the drive shaft by a toothed wheel/rack connection
Implementation Method 2
a return spring charged by the rotation movement of the shaft in the armed position and recalling the shutter in the active position
Implementation Method 3
a control circuit comprising a current detector and a threshold operating circuit, the current detecting the operating current of the arming means to compare it with a threshold and thus detect the end position of the arming means
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
The actuator has a carriage (6) with an arming stop (9), and an arming unit (10) connected to the carriage when the carriage is in arming position. An indexing lever (16) is carried by a case (1) and cooperated with the stop to retain the carriage in the arming position. A cross bar (15) is mounted in the case and cooperated with the lever to neutralize the lever and release the carriage. A control circuit has a detector detecting a course end position of the unit and carriage to control inverse movement of the unit and disintegrate the unit from the carriage. An independent claim is also included for a method of controlling a fire valve actuator.