Gas Valve Check and Relief Venting Against Diaphragm Collapse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intermittent pilot ignition systems face negative pressure buildup in fuel lines during nonuse, leading to air ingress and spark failure, necessitating service calls due to lockout mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A gas valve with check and relief valves to prevent diaphragm opening under negative pressure, maintaining fuel priming and ensuring ignition readiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional gas valve with diaphragms is used, then the valve can control gas flow, but negative pressure can cause the diaphragms to collapse and become stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into separate chambers (first chamber and second chamber) that are isolated from each other by the diaphragm. This segmentation prevents negative pressure in one chamber from affecting the diaphragm's operation, as each chamber operates independently with its own pressure zone.
Solution Approach 2:
A second diaphragm is introduced as an intermediary element between the two chambers. This second diaphragm acts as a barrier that prevents negative pressure transmission from the second chamber to the first chamber, protecting the primary diaphragm from collapse while still allowing the system to respond to control signals.
2Volume of moving object
If the valve is designed to be compact, then installation space is reduced, but access for servicing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is designed with separable components including removable end caps and modular chambers that can be accessed independently. This segmentation allows technicians to service specific components (such as replacing diaphragms or cleaning chambers) without disassembling the entire valve, maintaining compactness while improving serviceability.
Solution Approach 2:
The end caps are designed to be removable from the valve body, allowing easy access to the internal chambers and diaphragms. This extraction capability enables maintenance and servicing of critical components without removing the valve from its installation location, solving the accessibility problem while keeping the valve compact during normal operation.
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
Prevents negative pressure-induced air ingress, maintaining system functionality and avoiding lockouts, thus reducing service calls.
Implementation Method 1
A pressure sensitive first diaphragm responds to a pressure change in a first chamber
Implementation Method 2
A pressure resistant second diaphragm isolates the first chamber from negative pressure in a second chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are embodiments of a gas valve for an intermittent pilot ignition system. The gas valve includes features designed to address the buildup of negative pressure in a fuel line connected to the gas valve that could cause internal valve diaphragms to open, drawing fuel from the gas valve. In embodiments, the gas valve includes a system of check valves designed to seal off the gas valve when a negative pressure develops. In other embodiments, the gas valve includes a relief valve having a relief port so that air is able to enter the valve proximate to the inlet port so as to avoid building a negative pressure sufficient to open the diaphragms. In both cases, the valve remains primed with fuel for subsequent ignition. The gas valve is envisioned to be useful for a variety of pilot operated systems.