Flow Regulation Valve Compact Design via Extracted Seats
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow regulation valves for liquid conduction heating and cooling installations have a large installation length due to the valve insert being almost entirely flooded and requiring extensive sealing elements, which also necessitates an enlarged connection port.
Innovation Solution
The valve seats for both the first and second valve bodies are provided by the valve housing, reducing the installation length of the valve insert, and a flow-regulation spring and diaphragm configuration separate flooded and dry sections to minimize sealing elements, allowing for a shorter installation length and integrated handle operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve insert provides both valve seats for the first and second valve bodies, then the valve insert can be self-contained and functional, but the installation length of the valve insert increases and requires an enlarged connection port
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the valve seat function from the valve insert and relocates it to the valve body. Specifically, the first valve seat and second valve seat are both provided by the valve body instead of the valve insert, thereby reducing the installation length requirements of the valve insert while maintaining complete valve functionality.
2Reliability
If the valve insert is almost entirely flooded to ensure proper sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but the installation length increases due to required sealing elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the valve insert into two distinct sections: a flooded section containing the first valve body, stem, and second valve body; and a dry section containing the flow-regulation spring. This segmentation allows the spring to be positioned outside the flooded area, reducing the length of the flooded section and thereby reducing the overall installation length while maintaining sealing reliability through proper positioning of sealing elements only where necessary.
3Reliability
If the connection port is enlarged to accommodate a longer valve insert with valve seats, then the valve insert can be self-contained, but the valve housing complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the valve seat function from the valve insert and assigns it to the valve body, thereby reducing the minimum required length of the valve insert and allowing for a smaller connection port while maintaining complete valve functionality.
4Reliability
If extensive sealing elements are used to seal the flooded valve insert, then sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity and installation length increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the valve insert into flooded and dry sections, which reduces the volume of the flooded section and thereby reduces the number of sealing elements required while maintaining sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
By relocating the valve seats to the valve body, the patent reduces the length of the valve insert that requires sealing, thereby reducing the number of sealing elements needed while maintaining sealing reliability in the critical areas.
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 configuration results in a more compact valve insert with reduced sealing requirements, enabling efficient flow regulation and shut-off functions while maintaining pressure-independent flow control, thus optimizing space and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The valve insert has a flow-regulation spring acting on the second valve body, wherein a force provided by said flow-regulation spring and a force depending from the pressure being present downstream of the first valve body tend to move the second valve body in a first direction, whereas a force depending from the pressure being present upstream of the first valve body within the valve inlet tends to move the second valve body in a second, opposite direction
Implementation Method 2
The valve insert has a ring element, wherein a first portion of the diaphragm is connected to the second valve body, whereas a second portion of the diaphragm is connected the ring element. The diaphragm and/or the ring element separates a flooded section of the valve insert housing from a dry section of the valve insert housing
Implementation Method 3
a force depending from the pressure being present downstream of the first valve body tend to move the second valve body in a first direction, whereas a force depending from the pressure being present upstream of the first valve body within the valve inlet tends to move the second valve body in a second, opposite direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Flow regulation valve (10) for liquid conduction heating and cooling installations. The Flow regulation valve (10) comprises a valve housing (11) providing a valve inlet (12), a valve outlet (13) and a connection port (14) which is arranged between the valve inlet (12) and the valve outlet (13); and a valve insert (15) accommodated within the connection port (14) of the valve housing (11). The valve insert (15) comprises a valve insert housing (16); a first valve body (18) carried by a valve stem (19), wherein said first valve body (18) provides a shutoff function when the valve (10) is closed and a flow pre-setting function when the valve (10) is opened; a second valve body (21), wherein said second valve body (21) provides a pressure-independent flow-regulation function when the valve (10) is opened to keep the flow constant independent from the pressure being present upstream of the first valve body (18) and/or downstream of the first valve body (18); a diaphragm (24) connected to the second valve body (21), wherein the pressure being present upstream of the first valve body (18) is guided through a channel (25) of the stem (19) to a first side of the diaphragm (24), and wherein the pressure being present downstream of the first valve body (18) is guided through at least one opening (26) in the second valve body (21) to a second side of the diaphragm (24). A first valve seat (20) for the first valve body (18) and a second valve seat (22) for the second valve body (21) are both provided by the valve housing (11).