Internal Valve Strainer Assembly for Secure Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal valves used in fluid containers face challenges in securely mounting strainers to prevent hazardous fluid leaks and spills, particularly in applications involving pressurized gases like propane and anhydrous ammonia, where existing flow control mechanisms are inadequate in managing pressure differentials and ensuring safe cutoffs.
Innovation Solution
The internal valve design includes a strainer assembly with an extended portion that secures to a mounting area within a clearance space, surrounding the poppet and bleed valves, and utilizing fasteners that are longer than the clearance space to ensure securement, thereby enhancing the safety and reliability of fluid flow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the valve body diameter is reduced to fit through the container opening, then the valve can be installed in the container, but the clearance space between the valve body and container opening becomes limited, making it difficult to securely mount the strainer
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer is designed with an extended portion that utilizes the radial clearance space between the valve body and container opening. By extending the strainer radially outward into this clearance space, the mounting surface is created in a dimension that was previously unused, allowing secure attachment without increasing the axial profile of the valve assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The strainer assembly is nested within the clearance space formed by the container opening and valve body. The strainer body surrounds the poppet valve, and the extended portion of the strainer fits into the annular clearance space, creating a nested configuration that maximizes use of available space while maintaining mounting security.
2Reliability
If longer fasteners are used to secure the strainer in the limited clearance space, then the strainer mounting reliability improves, but the assembly complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer is segmented into distinct functional portions: a strainer body that filters fluid and surrounds the poppet valve, and an extended portion that protrudes into the clearance space for mounting. This segmentation allows the extended portion to serve specifically as a mounting interface, simplifying the overall assembly process despite using longer fasteners.
3Reliability
If the strainer is designed to surround the poppet valve and bleed valve, then the filtration coverage and safety improve, but the strainer size increases, potentially interfering with other valve components
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer is designed with non-uniform geometry, being larger in the radial direction where it needs to surround the poppet valve for filtration, while maintaining a compact axial profile. The extended portion specifically targets the clearance space area for mounting, while the strainer body provides localized filtration around the valve components where it is most needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively manages pressure differentials and ensures safe fluid flow control by securely mounting the strainer assembly, preventing leaks and spills, and automatically restricting flow when excess pressure is detected, thus enhancing system safety and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a poppet valve including a poppet body, the poppet body operatively coupled to the valve stem by a first spring
Implementation Method 2
a bleed valve operatively coupled to the valve stem and arranged to open and close the poppet inlet
Data Source
AI summary
An internal valve includes a valve stem disposed in a valve body, a poppet valve coupled to the stem, and a bleed valve coupled to the stem. The valve stem is shiftable from a first position in which the poppet valve and the bleed valve are closed, to a second position in which the bleed valve is open, and a third position in which the bleed valve is closed and the poppet valve is open, and the poppet may close in response to a pressure change. The internal valve includes a strainer having an extended portion to be positioned in a clearance space between an upper portion of the valve body and an opening of a fluid container. The strainer is arranged for securement to a mounting area of the valve body by at least one fastener.