Hydrant Main Valve Grooved Rigid Internal Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Main valves in hydrants often fail to seal properly due to deformation caused by mechanical forces, especially when made from flexible materials like rubber, and face challenges in centering and maintaining an internal rigid structure during manufacturing, leading to corrosion and inconsistent performance.
Innovation Solution
A main valve design featuring an internal rigid structure with a locating feature and an outer shell that encloses it, providing rigidity and support to prevent deformation, while allowing for easier manufacturing and improved sealing through beveled surfaces and a reversible design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an internal rigid structure is incorporated in a valve, then the performance and durability of the valve are improved, but the difficulty in centering and holding the structure in place during manufacturing increases
Solution Approach 1:
A locating feature acts as an intermediary element between the internal rigid structure and the outer shell, providing a mechanism to center and hold the rigid structure in place during manufacturing. This locating feature transfers and distributes the positioning forces, making the assembly process easier while maintaining the structural integrity and performance benefits of the rigid internal structure.
2Reliability
If an internal rigid structure is incorporated in a valve, then the performance and durability of the valve are improved, but the difficulty in maintaining a consistent shell thickness around the structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locating feature serves as a mediator that establishes precise geometric relationships between the internal rigid structure and the outer shell. By providing fixed reference points and surfaces, it enables the manufacturing process to maintain consistent shell thickness around the rigid structure, overcoming the challenge of achieving uniform dimensions despite the presence of the internal structure.
3Force
If a valve is made from flexible material like rubber, then the valve can withstand mechanical forces during operation, but the valve deforms and fails to seal properly over time
Solution Approach 1:
The valve employs a composite structure combining flexible material (outer shell) with rigid material (internal rigid structure). The flexible outer shell provides the necessary elasticity to withstand and absorb mechanical forces during operation, while the rigid internal structure maintains the valve's shape and dimensional stability. This composite approach prevents deformation and ensures proper sealing performance over time, resolving the contradiction between force resistance and sealing reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing a main valve of a hydrant includes: forming an internal rigid structure including a top surface, a bottom surface, a side surface, and a locating feature, the locating feature defined in a one of the top surface and the bottom surface; positioning the internal rigid structure in a mold by contacting the locating feature with the mold; and forming an outer shell around the internal rigid structure.