Boiler pressure relief valve and automatic air vent isolation assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing boiler systems require multiple components and segments of piping to couple isolation valves, pressure relief valves, and automatic air vents, leading to increased leak paths, assembly time, labor, and space requirements.

Innovation Solution

A unitary valve body with integrated ports and a union member that simplifies the assembly by reducing the number of components and potential leak paths, while allowing for efficient coupling of pressure relief valves and automatic air vents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If multiple components and segments of piping are used to couple isolation valve, pressure relief valve, and automatic air vent, then the system can be assembled with standard components, but the number of leak paths increases and assembly time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly timeVSAvoidleak paths

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple valve components (isolation valve, pressure relief valve, automatic air vent) and piping segments into a single integrated valve body structure. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate components and connections, thereby reducing leak paths while maintaining ease of manufacture through a unified design that can be produced as a single piece or pre-assembled unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated valve body performs multiple functions simultaneously - isolation, pressure relief, and air venting - within a single structure. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining system reliability by eliminating multiple connection points that could potentially leak.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent standardizationVSAvoidassembly space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple valve components and piping segments into a single integrated valve body, significantly reducing the space required for assembly. The unified structure eliminates the need for multiple separate components that would require additional space for installation and connection, while maintaining compatibility with standard boiler systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a unitary valve body is used to integrate multiple valve components, then assembly time and labor are reduced and leak paths are minimized, but the manufacturing complexity of the valve body increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleak pathsVSAvoidvalve body structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated valve body is designed with distinct functional sections for isolation, pressure relief, and air venting that are integrated into a unified structure. This segmentation approach allows each function to be clearly defined within the valve body while maintaining manufacturability through modular design principles that simplify the manufacturing process despite the integrated nature of the component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12281712B2Boiler pressure relief valve and automatic air vent isolation assembly

Publication Date: 2025.04.22 NIBCO INC

AI summary

An isolation assembly for a boiler unit that incorporates a pressure relief valve and an automatic air vent to a valve body that includes a valve positioned adjacent to the automatic air vent. The unitary valve body reduces the number of components and leak paths and incorporates a ball valve to permit removing and/or securing the automatic air vent without having to purge the adjacent plumbing system.