Integrated Valve Housing for Internal Trough Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valves for trough-like containers have low maximum flow rates and are not suitable for internal installation due to separate housing parts and exposed drive units, leading to mechanical damage and aesthetic issues.
Innovation Solution
A compact valve design with integrated drive and piston within a single housing, featuring equidistant inlet openings and a central outlet opening, allowing internal installation and protection from external influences, with a flange for secure attachment and a metallic sleeve guiding the piston, ensuring efficient and secure operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If valves are installed externally on trough-like containers, then the drive unit is accessible and protected by the valve housing, but the valve disrupts the visual appearance and the drive unit remains exposed to mechanical damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the valve body and drive unit into a single integrated housing structure. The drive unit is positioned inside the valve housing such that when the valve is installed in the trough wall, both components are protected together, eliminating the need for external mounting and thereby preserving aesthetic appearance while maintaining drive unit protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive unit is nested within the valve housing, which itself is installed within the trough wall structure. This nested arrangement allows the drive unit to be protected by the valve housing while the entire assembly is concealed within the trough, preventing visual disruption and mechanical damage.
2Ease of repair
If separate housing parts are used for the valve body and drive unit, then the drive unit can be accessed for maintenance, but the valve requires external attachment and has lower flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the housing parts into a single integrated structure that maintains internal accessibility. The drive unit is positioned within the housing but remains accessible through designed access points or removable components, allowing maintenance while achieving higher flow rates through the integrated compact design with optimized flow paths.
3Productivity
If the valve is designed with a compact integrated housing, then flow rates increase and aesthetic appearance is maintained, but the drive unit becomes less accessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing specific access points or removable housing sections in strategic locations. These localized access features allow the drive unit to be accessed for maintenance while the overall compact integrated housing maintains high flow rates and aesthetic appearance when installed.
4Productivity
If multiple inlet openings are distributed around the housing, then the total flow area increases, but the housing design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric distribution of inlet openings around the housing perimeter, strategically positioned to maximize total flow area while maintaining a relatively simple housing design. The asymmetric arrangement allows optimal flow capture from different directions without requiring complex symmetric structures.
Data Source
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AI summary
A valve (10) is described comprising a drive unit (14), a piston (16) and a housing (12), in which the housing (12) accommodates both the drive unit (14) and the piston (16), resulting in a particularly compact design which, in particular, can be inserted with most of the housing (12) into a volume to be sealed, e.g. a tub, a pipe or the like.