Gas Control Valve Component Unit Assembly Guide

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing gas control valve assembly process is difficult due to the need for precise assembly in a small space, leading to instability and risk of damage to the intimate contact face, resulting in gas leakage and increased rework costs.

Innovation Solution

A component group including a rotational disk, a fixed disk, and a spring is assembled separately as a unit with an axial-center guide for positioning and a power transmission member, allowing for easier assembly and reducing the risk of damage during assembly by separating the assembly process from the main body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the spring and open-close plate are assembled in a small space in the accommodation portion, then the gas control valve can be compact, but the assembling operation becomes difficult and the open-close plate becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation portion spaceVSAvoidassembling operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the assembly into two separate units: the component unit (containing spring, open-close plate, and intimate contact face) and the main body (containing accommodation portion and gas passage plate). This segmentation allows the component unit to be assembled in a larger, more accessible space before being installed into the compact accommodation portion, resolving the contradiction between compactness and assembly ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the open-close plate is supported by the spring in a protruding state before compression, then the assembly can be simplified, but the open-close plate becomes unstable and damage to the intimate contact face occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly structureVSAvoidintimate contact face integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements preliminary action by providing guide portions on the spring and corresponding guide grooves on the open-close plate that align before compression. This preliminary alignment ensures stable positioning during the compression process, preventing the open-close plate from becoming unstable and protecting the intimate contact face from damage while maintaining simple assembly structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the gas passage plate is pressed in from the upper side during assembly, then the components can be assembled in sequence, but damage to the intimate contact face occurs due to misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidintimate contact face alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces guide portions and guide grooves as intermediary alignment features between the spring, open-close plate, and gas passage plate. These guide features act as mediators that ensure precise alignment during the compression process, maintaining manufacturing precision while allowing sequential assembly for high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If the intimate contact face is damaged during assembly, then the gas control valve can be manufactured quickly, but gas leakage occurs and rework is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly speedVSAvoidgas tightness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements beforehand cushioning by designing guide portions and guide grooves that prevent misalignment before the compression force is applied. This preventive measure protects the intimate contact face from damage during assembly, ensuring gas tightness without requiring rework, thus maintaining both productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 approach simplifies the assembly process, stabilizes the components, reduces the risk of damage to the intimate contact face, and minimizes rework by allowing for separate inspection and reassembly of the component unit, thereby reducing assembly losses.

Implementation Method 1

a spring (26) that urges the rotational disk (22) toward the fixed disk (21)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2908052B1Gas control valve
Publication Date: 2019.06.19 MIKUNI CORP
  • EP2908052B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2908052B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2908052B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5(b)

AI summary

Provided is a gas control valve to control a supply amount of fuel gas to a gas burner by allowing the gas to flow in a state that a rotation-side communication hole (24) of a rotational disk (22) is made to face a fixed-side communication hole (23) of a fixed disk (21), the gas control valve including a component unit (20) being a component group that includes the fixed disk (21), the rotational disk (22), and a spring (26) as being arranged separately from a main body (10), thereby enabling to easily perform assembling of the component unit (20) to the main body (10).