Multipurpose Flow Control Arrangement With Spool Body Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow control technologies for fire protection systems, such as valves in sprinkler, water mist, and foam systems, face issues with complexity, inflexibility, and maintenance difficulties due to large and complex valve bodies, sealing challenges, and susceptibility to corrosion, leading to inefficiencies and increased production costs.
Innovation Solution
A multiple-purpose flow control arrangement featuring a spool body that forms a seal within a pipe cavity, with a housing having openings for inlet and outlet ports, where the spool body's larger cross-section area allows it to rest on a recess, sealing against the pipe cavity wall, and optional features like compressed springs and standard pipe fittings for reduced pressure loss and easier maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional valves (clapper style, butterfly, gate, ball, globe) are used for flow control, then flow control function is achieved, but the valve bodies become large and complex requiring casting molds and introducing production errors
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into modular components: a spool body with sealing elements that can be manufactured separately and assembled into the valve housing. This segmentation allows the spool body to be produced using standard machining processes rather than complex casting, improving manufacturing flexibility and reducing production errors while maintaining the complete flow control function.
2Ease of operation
If traditional valves are used for flow control, then flow control is achieved, but the valves require manual activation or complex motor controlled activation
Solution Approach 1:
The complex mechanical activation mechanisms (manual handles, motor controls) are replaced with a hydraulic actuation system. Agent pressure differential automatically actuates the spool body through hydraulic forces, eliminating the need for manual or motorized activation mechanisms while simplifying the overall device structure.
3Reliability
If ball valves are used for flow control, then flow control is achieved, but corrosion and debris cause the ball to be difficult to turn over time
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical ball rotation mechanism is replaced with a spool body that moves linearly along the axis. This linear motion is actuated hydraulically by agent pressure differential, eliminating the rotational friction and corrosion issues that plague ball valves. The spool body's linear movement is less susceptible to corrosion and debris accumulation, maintaining reliability and ease of operation over time.
4Ease of manufacture
If globe valves are used for flow control, then flow control is achieved, but the valves become physically large and heavy constructions
Solution Approach 1:
The valve design segments the flow control function into a compact spool body assembly that fits within a smaller housing. The spool body with its integrated sealing elements replaces the large globe valve disc and housing structure, significantly reducing the overall valve weight and simplifying the housing construction while maintaining effective flow 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
This solution enables efficient, flexible, and reliable control of agent flows with reduced pressure losses and easier maintenance, utilizing standard components to minimize production complexities and enhance system reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the agent pressure differential actuates the spool body to control the flow from the inlet port to the outlet port
Implementation Method 2
A compressed spring may be located inside the pipe cavity between the spool body and the closed end of the pipe cavity to apply a force on the spool body
Data Source
AI summary
A device for controlling flow of a flow agent in a pipe system, the device comprising: a pipe housing (1) comprising a pipe cavity (2) with one or multiple openings in a pipe cavity wall of the pipe cavity, the one or multiple openings defining an outlet port (3) of the device, and the pipe cavity having an open end defining an inlet port (6) of the device, and a closed end (7), wherein the closed end is closed by a dismountable end body (15); the pipe cavity comprising a first portion having a first cross sectional area and a second portion having a reduced cross sectional area (4), smaller than the first cross-sectional area, the second portion being located between the open end and the one or multiple openings in the pipe cavity wall.