Gas Valve Tilt Mechanism for Stable Low-Opening Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas valves have a limited stable modulation range, leading to oscillations and potential bouncing against the valve seat at low opening levels, causing wear and noise.
Innovation Solution
The novel gas valve design features a valve spring acting directly on the valve body with a tilt element allowing tilting around a defined axis and an anti-rotation element preventing rotation, ensuring a stable contact with the valve seat across various opening levels, thus preventing bouncing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve body is pressed against the valve seat to close the gas valve, then the gas flow is stopped, but the valve body may oscillate at low opening levels causing wear and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tilt element that enables the valve body to tilt around a defined tilt axis relative to the valve stem. This adds a rotational degree of freedom (another dimension) to the valve body movement, allowing it to tilt partially away from the valve seat at low opening levels. This dimensional change prevents oscillation and bouncing by providing a stable tilting mechanism instead of random vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The tilt element acts as an intermediary mechanism between the valve stem and the valve body. It mediates the force transmission from the valve stem to the valve body, controlling the valve body's movement and preventing direct oscillation against the valve seat. The tilt element provides a controlled interface that eliminates harmful vibrations.
2Productivity
If the valve body is lifted up from the valve seat to open the gas valve, then gas flow is enabled, but the stable modulation range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing the tilt element that allows the valve body to tilt around a tilt axis, the patent extends the modulation range. The valve body can now achieve partial opening positions through tilting, in addition to full lifting. This creates a wider stable modulation range with multiple stable positions (fully closed, partially open with tilting, and fully open), improving productivity while maintaining stability.
3Ease of operation
If the valve spring element acts on the valve stem to provide spring dependent force, then the valve opens and closes, but the valve body may bounce at low opening levels
Solution Approach 1:
The tilt element serves as an intermediary between the valve spring element and the valve body. Instead of the spring force acting directly on the valve stem which then transmits it to the valve body (causing bouncing), the tilt element mediates this force transmission. The tilt element provides a controlled interface that converts the linear spring force into controlled tilting motion, preventing direct bouncing of the valve body against the valve seat.
Solution Approach 2:
The tilt element transforms the linear force transmission from the valve spring into rotational tilting motion. By changing the dimension of force application from linear (along the valve stem axis) to rotational (around the tilt axis), the system eliminates bouncing while maintaining ease of operation. The valve body tilts smoothly instead of bouncing.
4Reliability
If the valve body is pressed completely against the valve seat to ensure closure, then gas flow is stopped, but wear increases due to oscillation
Solution Approach 1:
The tilt element provides an alternative mechanism for achieving reliable gas flow sealing. Instead of relying solely on complete linear compression of the valve body against the valve seat (which causes wear from oscillation), the tilted valve body can achieve sealing through its tilted contact with the valve seat. This dimensional change reduces wear while maintaining sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of valve body oscillation into benefit by using controlled tilting. The tilt element transforms random oscillations into controlled, stable tilting positions. At low opening levels, the valve body tilts partially away from the valve seat in a controlled manner, preventing harmful bouncing while maintaining reliable sealing when closed.
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 design provides a wider stable modulation range with a well-defined, partial, and stable contact at low opening levels, eliminating the risk of valve body bouncing and reducing wear and noise.
Implementation Method 1
The valve spring element provides a spring dependent force acting on the valve stem
Implementation Method 2
A first pressure is present on a first side of the valve diaphragm and a second pressure is present on a second side of the valve diaphragm, wherein the pressure difference between said first pressure and said second pressure provides a pressure dependent force acting on the valve stem
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
Gas valve (10) comprising a valve seat (11), a valve stem (12), a valve body (13), a valve diaphragm plate (14), a valve diaphragm (15) and a valve spring element (16). The valve stem is attached with a first end (12a) to a first side (13a) of valve body. The valve body (12) acts together with the valve seat (11). The valve diaphragm plate (14) mounted to a second end (12b) of the valve stem (12). The valve diaphragm (15) is mounted to the valve diaphragm plate (14). A first pressure is present on a first side of the valve diaphragm (15) and a second pressure is present on a second side of the valve diaphragm (15), wherein the pressure difference between said pressures provides a pressure dependent force acting on the valve stem (12). The valve spring element (16) provides a spring dependent force a acting on the valve stem (12). The gas valve opens and closes as a function of the pressure dependent force and spring dependent force. The valve spring (16) is acting on a second side (13b) of the valve body (13). The first end (12a) of the valve stem (12) and/or the first side (13a) of the valve body (13) provides a tilt element (17) allowing the valve body (13) to tilt around a defined tilt axis (20) relative to the valve stem (12). The second end (12b) of the valve stem (12) and/or the valve diaphragm plate (14) provides an anti-rotation element (24) preventing the valve stem (12) to rotate around a valve stem axis (25).