Heating Valve Actuator Spring Layout for Water-Safe Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjusting devices for heating circuit valves are complex, expensive, and prone to water ingress, leading to maintenance issues and unreliable operation, with complicated structures and numerous parts that require costly manufacturing and assembly, and lack effective monitoring of the operating state without additional electrical devices.
Innovation Solution
A simplified actuating device with a one-part or multi-part housing featuring a return spring directly connected to the actuator housing, allowing for 'currentless closed' and 'normally open' operating modes without additional parts, and using a conical spiral spring for compact design and easy assembly, with integrated display elements for monitoring the actuator and valve piston status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing ring is used to prevent water ingress, then water protection is improved, but the sealing ring wears out during operation requiring maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the sealing ring component entirely by designing a system where the actuator housing is filled with liquid and uses a membrane seal that remains stationary relative to the housing. This eliminates the wear-prone sealing ring that moves with the actuating part while maintaining effective water protection through the stationary membrane and liquid-filled chamber design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the actuator housing is displaced axially during operation, then 'currentless closed' mode is achieved, but supply line connections may come loose after long operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid-filled chamber as an intermediary medium between the actuator housing and the external environment. The liquid transmits pressure changes from actuator displacement to the membrane seal and valve mechanism, enabling the 'currentless closed' operating mode while the housing itself remains stationary, thus preventing supply line connections from loosening.
3Reliability
If multiple device parts are used to achieve reliable operation, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the actuator housing itself: it serves as the structural housing, contains the liquid-filled pressure transmission chamber, provides the mounting surface for the membrane seal, and houses the valve mechanism. This integration reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining operational reliability through the unified design.
4Reliability
If the adjusting device is mounted horizontally or vertically to prevent water ingress, then water protection is improved, but mounting flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible membrane seal that can deflect in response to pressure changes from either direction. This membrane, combined with the liquid-filled chamber, allows the device to be mounted in any orientation (vertical, horizontal, or angled) while maintaining water protection, as the membrane adapts to pressure from whichever direction water might approach.
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 reduces manufacturing costs, eliminates wear parts, allows for flexible mounting orientations without water ingress, and provides clear monitoring of the actuator and valve states, enhancing reliability and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
an expansion material is provided in a thermoelectric actuator, which expands relatively strongly when heated and pushes the actuator ram outwards. To heat the actuator or the expansion material contained therein, the actuator is coupled to a heating element
Implementation Method 2
the actuator is coupled to a heating element, e.g. a PTC resistor, to which energy can be supplied via electrical lines
Implementation Method 3
By interrupting the power supply to the heating element and cooling down the actuator, the actuator plunger can be pushed back into the actuator by the force of the piston spring
Implementation Method 4
the actuator plunger is held stationary, while the actuator housing is displaced axially when power is supplied, which is why the return spring is pushed back and the control element and valve piston can extend and the heating circuit valve is opened
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The actuating device (1), which serves to actuate heating circuit valves, has a one- or multi-part device housing (11, 12) in which a return spring (22), an actuating element (6), and an actuator (4) connected to a first and a second electrical supply line (51; 52) are provided, the actuator having an actuator housing (41) and an extendable actuator plunger (42). According to the invention, the return spring (22) is supported on one side by the device housing (11) and on the other side directly by the actuator housing (41), wherein the actuator housing (41) bears against the actuating element (6) and the actuator plunger (42) bears against the device housing (12), or the actuator housing (41) bears against the device housing (12) and the actuator plunger (42) bears against the actuating element (6).