Fluid Flow Control Device with Balanced Pressure Leak Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid flow control devices, such as volume boosters, face challenges with restricted exhaust flow rates due to small exhaust passage sizes, leading to slow reaction times and increased complexity and cost when attempting to address this with separate external conduits, which can be cumbersome and space-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A fluid flow control device with balanced pressure leak paths between supply and exhaust valves, allowing for compact design and rapid fluid venting, featuring a housing with an inlet, outlet, and exhaust port, and reciprocal actuating members that move supply and exhaust valves between open and closed positions, ensuring balanced pressure across each valve for reduced force requirements and smaller component sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a separate exhaust flow capacity is provided to match the main operating air flow, then the exhaust flow rate is improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the supply valve chamber and exhaust valve chamber into a single shared housing space. The supply valve (148) and exhaust valve (149) are positioned adjacent to each other within the same housing (28), allowing both valves to share the available internal volume. This integration enables the exhaust passage to be sufficiently large to match the main flow capacity without requiring a separate external conduit, thus improving exhaust flow rate while maintaining compact device size.
2Productivity
If the exhaust passage is made larger to increase exhaust flow rate, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity and external conduit requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the supply and exhaust valve functions within a single integrated housing structure. By positioning the supply valve chamber and exhaust valve chamber adjacent to each other inside the housing, the design eliminates the need for external conduits to provide adequate exhaust flow capacity. The exhaust passage is defined directly within the housing, creating a simpler, self-contained system that achieves high exhaust flow rates without increasing overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If the exhaust passage size is increased, then the exhaust flow rate is improved, but the reaction time is worsened due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the spatial arrangement of the valve chambers within the housing by positioning them adjacently in three-dimensional space. This dimensional optimization allows the exhaust passage to be sufficiently large for high flow rates while maintaining a compact overall footprint. The adjacent positioning of supply and exhaust valve chambers enables efficient fluid pathways that reduce travel distance and improve reaction time, overcoming the limitations of conventional linear or sequential arrangements.
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 quick fluid venting and equivalent exhaust flow rates to main operating air flow, reducing component size and complexity while maintaining high flow rates, thus improving reaction times and compactness without the need for external conduits.
Implementation Method 1
movable in response to a difference between the pilot signal and the outlet fluid pressure
Implementation Method 2
a first fluid leak path defined by the supply valve for allowing fluid to leak through the supply valve chamber when the supply valve is open
Implementation Method 3
a second fluid leak path defined by exhaust valve for allowing fluid to leak through the exhaust valve chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid flow control device such as a volume booster has an inlet, an outlet and an exhaust port all for an operating fluid. A pilot inlet receives a pilot pressure signal which operates a valve stem actuator via a diaphragm assembly. The valve stem is operable to open a supply valve between the inlet and outlet and, separately and independently, to open an exhaust valve disposed between the outlet and the exhaust. In a further position both the valves are closed. Movement of the stem in a reciprocal manner by the diaphragm assembly causes a respective annular shoulder to engage a respective valve and lift it off a valve seat against the force of a biasing spring. A first fluid leak path is provided between the valve stem and the supply valve for allowing fluid to leak through the supply valve chamber when the supply valve is open and a second fluid leak path is defined by the exhaust valve for allowing fluid to leak through the exhaust valve chamber. The leak paths provide for a force balancing arrangement that allows the valve stem to move easily and the diaphragm assembly to be reduced in size. The arrangement allows the exhaust port to be positioned on the same side of the diaphragm assembly as the inlet and outlet so that fluid can be vented through the exhaust at flow volume comparative to the operating fluid flow in the inlet and outlet.