Flow Restrictor With Breaking Zone For Bore Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flow restrictors face challenges in easy installation and secure positioning across a wide range of pressure differences between high pressure in a bore and external pressure.

Innovation Solution

A flow restrictor comprising a sleeve-shaped base body and an expander element with a splaying body and a tensioning pin, featuring a breaking zone between them. The splaying body has a central blindhole that extends beyond the breaking zone, creating a predetermined restricted flow element after the expander element breaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional flow restrictors are used, then flow restriction is achieved, but installation is difficult and positioning is not secure across wide pressure differences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning securityVSAvoidinstallation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flow restrictor is divided into separate components: a base body and an expander element that can be inserted and activated independently. This allows for easier installation as the components can be assembled in sequence rather than requiring complete assembly beforehand.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The expander element is pre-positioned within the base body during manufacturing, but the actual expansion and securing action is performed in-situ during installation. This preliminary positioning ensures correct alignment while allowing the securing mechanism to be activated only when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the expander element is designed to secure firmly in the bore, then positioning security is improved, but the installation process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning securityVSAvoidinstallation process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The expander element automatically expands and secures itself within the bore through a simple insertion and rotation motion. The breaking zone mechanism self-activates when the expander element is pulled, eliminating the need for separate securing operations or complex adjustment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The expander element transitions from a compact inserted state to an expanded secured state through controlled deformation. The breaking zone changes from intact to broken, triggering the expansion of the splaying body against the bore wall, thereby changing the mechanical parameters of the device during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a breaking zone is introduced to enable secure positioning, then positioning reliability is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning reliabilityVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The breaking zone is pre-designed and pre-positioned within the tensioning pin during manufacturing. This preliminary structuring ensures that the breaking occurs at the correct location and time, simplifying the overall device design by eliminating the need for complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The tensioning pin with the breaking zone is extracted as a separate, simple component from the overall device structure. This allows the breaking mechanism to be implemented with minimal additional complexity, as it is essentially a pre-weakened structural element rather than an active mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 easy installation and secure positioning of the flow restrictor in a bore, providing a reliable and reproducible method to manage fluid flow across varying pressure differences.

Implementation Method 1

further pulling, optionally with a rotating movement part of the tensioning pin will break the tensioning pin at the breaking zone from the splaying body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFracture: Fracture Mechanics

Implementation Method 2

the splaying body which is initially not positioned in the sleeve-shaped base body is pulled into the reception cavity of the sleeve-shaped base body until the splaying body is pressing the surrounding wall of the sleeve-shaped base body against the inside walls of the bore

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadial expansion: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP4345356B1Flow restrictor and method
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 SFC KOENIG AG
  • EP4345356B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4345356B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4345356B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A restrictor element (100) comprises a sleeve-shaped base body (2) and an expander element (40). The expander element (40) comprises a splaying body (15) and a tensioning pin (1) with a breaking zone (16) between them. The splaying body (15) has a central blindhole (4) starting at the head surface (12) of the spaying body (15) and extending beyond the breaking zone (16) into the tensioning pin (1) to create after breaking the expander element (40) at the breaking zone (16) a predetermined restricted flow element.