Integral Planetary Gear Ball Valve With Reduced Backlash

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ball valve systems with epicyclic or planetary gear trains are complex, prone to backlash, and have a higher part count, which increases size, mass, and risk of mechanical failure, particularly in applications where space and precision are critical, such as aerospace.

Innovation Solution

Integrally forming a gear of the planetary gear set with the valve body reduces the number of parts and backlash, allowing for conventional polishing and precise positioning, with the gear being recessed on the valve body's outer surface to maintain a compact and reliable design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a planetary gear train is used to increase torque and control valve rotation speed, then the valve operation precision and water hammer risk are improved, but the device complexity and part count increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve rotation precisionVSAvoidgear train complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the planetary gear set directly with the valve body by integrally forming the gear structure, eliminating separate gear components and reducing part count while maintaining the torque multiplication and precision rotation control functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve body is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the sealing component and the gear component, integrating the planetary gear set's ring gear directly into the valve body structure, thereby reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If multiple separate gear components are used in the planetary gear set, then the gear can be manufactured independently, but the backlash in the drive system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear manufacturing independenceVSAvoiddrive system backlash

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The gear structure is integrally formed with the valve body as a single piece, eliminating the interfaces between separate gear components and thus eliminating backlash at those interfaces, while still allowing the gear to be manufactured as part of the valve body casting or machining process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the gear projects beyond the valve body outer surface, then the gear engagement is easier, but the valve body cannot be polished conventionally

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear engagement easeVSAvoidvalve body polishing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The planetary gear set is nested within the valve body structure, with the gear teeth formed on the inner surface of a recess in the valve body, allowing the outer surface to remain smooth and polishable while maintaining proper gear engagement internally

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3842674B1Ball valve with integral gear

Publication Date: 2024.07.03 EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LTD

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AI summary

Ball valve in which the valve body (10) is driven to rotate through a drive train which includes a planetary gear set. A gear of the planetary gear set is integrally formed with the valve body (10), preferably in a recess (40). In a preferred form, the ring gear of the planetary gear set is integrally formed with the valve body (10).