Insulating Valve Cover Split Body Segmentation Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insulating material protective covers for valve units have low stiffness, leading to thermal notches, water penetration, and decreased assembly accuracy, resulting in reduced thermal insulation performance and shorter plumbing system lifetimes.
Innovation Solution
A protective cover system comprising three split bodies with curved and flat surfaces, featuring U-like and L-like cross-section coupling portions, serrated protrusions, and semi-circular grooves, assembled using clamps or hinges to enhance stiffness and coupling strength, and improve assembly accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If protecting covers are made with plates having curved surfaces and assembled by clamps, then the protective cover can cover the plumbing, but the stiffness is low and the covers are likely to be bent
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover is divided into multiple split bodies (first split body, second split body, third split body) that can be assembled around the valve unit. Each split body contains multiple plates (first plate, second plates, third plate, fourth plates, fifth plate, sixth plates) arranged in a segmented structure, allowing the cover to adapt to the valve unit geometry while maintaining structural integrity through the distributed plate configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover combines multiple plate structures with different orientations (curved first plate, perpendicular second plates, L-shaped third plate, T-shaped fourth plates) to create a composite structure. This composite configuration of multiple plates arranged in specific geometric relationships provides enhanced stiffness and resistance to bending while maintaining the ability to cover the valve unit.
2Ease of operation
If protecting covers are assembled by clamps, then assembly is possible, but thermal notches occur at assembly parts and assembly accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple plates are merged into integrated assemblies where the first plate is combined with second plates perpendicular to it, and the third plate is combined with fourth plates in L-shapes and T-shapes. This merging of multiple structural elements into unified plate assemblies improves assembly accuracy by reducing the number of separate connection points and minimizing thermal notch formation at joints.
3Ease of manufacture
If protecting covers are made with simple plate structures, then manufacturing is simpler, but the coupling strength of coupling portions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The first plate is designed with a curved surface corresponding to the curved surface of the valve unit, and the third plate has an L-shaped configuration while the fourth plates have T-shaped configurations. These specific geometric shapes are optimized to match the valve unit geometry and enhance coupling strength at the assembly portions without requiring complex manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an insulating material protective cover for a valve unit. The insulating material protective cover for a valve unit, according to the present invention, comprises: a first split body including a first plate, first finishing chassis respectively coupled to both end portions of the first plate in the widthwise direction, and second plates perpendicular to the first plate and respectively coupled thereto; a second split body including a third plate, second finishing chassis respectively coupled to both end portions of the third plate in the widthwise direction, and fourth plates perpendicular to the third plate and respectively coupled thereto; and a third split body including a fifth plate, a second finishing chassis coupled to a first end portion of the fifth plate in the widthwise direction, a first finishing chassis coupled to a second end portion of the fifth plate in the widthwise direction, and a sixth plate perpendicular to the fifth plate and coupled thereto.