Internal Relief Valve with Bleed Hole for Fluid Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid regulators with internal relief valves often vent excessive fluid to the atmosphere, exceeding regulatory limits, and can be triggered undesirably by temperature variations, leading to unwanted activation of over pressure protection devices.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an internal relief valve with a bleed hole and a seal to control fluid flow, allowing a predetermined and controlled fluid flow rate, which is designed to comply with regulatory limits and prevent unnecessary activation of over pressure protection devices due to temperature variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an internal relief valve is used to prevent unwanted activation of over pressure protection devices, then reliability is improved, but excessive fluid is vented to the atmosphere causing loss of substance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow parameters by introducing a bleed hole with specific dimensions that limits the maximum flow rate through the relief valve. This parameter modification allows the valve to maintain its pressure relief function while reducing fluid loss to comply with regulatory limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a restricted flow path through the bleed hole in the diaphragm plate. This localized flow restriction enables different parts of the system to have different flow characteristics - the main relief function is preserved while the bleed hole provides controlled, limited flow to prevent excessive emissions.
2Loss of substance
If a seal is added along the relief valve stem to prevent fluid flow through the opening, then loss of substance is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from the main valve body and places it specifically along the relief valve stem. This separation allows the seal to address the fluid loss issue independently without requiring complete redesign of the valve assembly, thereby limiting the increase in complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal acts as an intermediary element between the relief valve stem and the surrounding structure. It provides the necessary fluid flow control without requiring direct modification of the main valve components, simplifying the overall implementation compared to redesigning the entire valve mechanism.
3Manufacturing precision
If the bleed hole is positioned between the relief valve seat and the seal, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bleed hole directly into the diaphragm plate structure, combining multiple functions (flow restriction, structural support, sealing surface) into a single component. This integration improves manufacturing precision by eliminating separate parts while the overall device complexity increases only minimally due to the added seal element.
Data Source
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AI summary
Example internal relief valves for use with fluid regulators are described. An example internal relief valve includes a relief valve seat coupled to a first end of the relief valve stem and to engage a first side of a sensing apparatus to prevent fluid flow between the first side of the sensing apparatus and a second side of the sensing apparatus when the internal relief valve is in a closed position. A bleed hole within a surface of the sensing apparatus and separate from the opening of the sensing apparatus is dimensioned to provide a controlled flow rate between the first side and the second side of the sensing apparatus when the internal relief valve is in an open position. A seal is disposed along a body of the relief valve stem upstream from the bleed hole and the valve seat to prevent fluid flow between the first side of the sensing apparatus and the second side of the sensing apparatus via the opening of the sensing apparatus when the relief valve is in the open position.