Guillotine Valve Shutter Drive With High-Pitch Screw Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Knife gate valves used in rainwater or waste water networks require excessive time to close the shutter during emergency situations due to the slow operation of trapezoidal rods with a screw pitch of around 5 mm, which is incompatible with emergency pollution criteria.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a threaded rod with a screw pitch of between 40 and 200 mm, made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel, and locking means to prevent shutter movement by weight or vibration, allowing for quicker shutter operation and comprising a removable assembly with a nut and blocking mechanism using steel balls or spring plungers for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a trapezoidal rod with a screw pitch of around 5 mm is used, then the valve structure is simple and reliable, but the shutter closing time is excessively long (over 15 minutes)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the screw pitch parameter from the conventional 5 mm to a range of 40-200 mm, which directly increases the shutter movement speed per rotation while maintaining the mechanical advantage of the threaded rod mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a locking mechanism that dynamically engages at specific positions during shutter movement, allowing the system to transition between free movement and locked positioning states to achieve both speed and precision
2Loss of time
If a larger screw pitch is used to increase shutter movement speed, then the closing time is reduced, but the shutter may move unintentionally due to weight or vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is pre-configured to engage automatically at specific shutter positions, preventing unintentional movement before it can occur due to weight or vibration forces
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism acts as an intermediary between the threaded rod and the shutter, providing controlled engagement points that stabilize the shutter position during the rapid movement enabled by the larger pitch
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
Enables rapid closure of the valve shutter, reducing the time required from over 15 minutes to a few seconds, ensuring compliance with emergency criteria while maintaining resistance to corrosion and wear.
Implementation Method 1
a threaded rod mounted for rotation in the direction of movement of the obturator and a nut associated with the obturator capable of cooperating with the threaded rod, in which the threaded rod comprises several threads and a screw pitch between 40 and 200 mm
Implementation Method 2
locking means configured to hold the shutter in position
Implementation Method 3
locking means comprising steel balls arranged on a friction cage on said upper crossbar
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A device for moving a valve (5) obturator (1) comprising a threaded rod (2) mounted for rotation in the direction of movement of the obturator (5) and a nut (3) suitable for being associated with the obturator (5) and suitable for cooperating with the threaded rod (2), the threaded rod (2) having several threads and a thread pitch between 40 and 200 mm, said device comprising means for locking (6) the rod (2) against rotation in the direction of closing and opening the obturator (5).