Inverted Roller Screw Valve Actuator Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuators for valve devices with electric drives are either mechanically complex and costly or lack high adjustment speeds, often requiring additional gear units and braking mechanisms, which increase maintenance and power losses.
Innovation Solution
An actuator design featuring an electric drive with a torque motor driving a hollow shaft that positions an inverted roller screw, eliminating the need for gear units and incorporating a self-locking mechanism through carefully chosen thread leads, reducing the risk of failure and maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional gear units and braking mechanisms are added to achieve high adjustment speeds, then adjustment speed is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the gear unit from the drive system, using a direct drive configuration where the torque motor directly drives the threaded spindle. This removal of the gear unit simplifies the mechanical structure while maintaining high adjustment speeds through direct coupling of the motor to the linear drive mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional valve actuation approach by using a torque motor with direct threaded drive instead of traditional motor-gear-brake combinations. This inversion eliminates the need for gear units and complex braking mechanisms, achieving both high speed and simplicity simultaneously.
2Speed
If additional gear units and braking mechanisms are incorporated, then adjustment speed control is improved, but power losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gear unit from the power transmission path, eliminating gear meshing losses and reducing overall power consumption. The direct drive configuration ensures that motor power is transmitted directly to the threaded spindle with minimal mechanical losses.
3Reliability
If safety clutch and decoupling mechanisms are added to prevent torque overload, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The torque motor inherently provides overload protection through its control system, which can detect and respond to torque limits without requiring mechanical safety clutches or decoupling mechanisms. This self-service approach maintains reliability while avoiding additional complex mechanical components.
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
The actuator achieves high adjustment speeds with a simple and compact design, low probability of failure, and reduced power losses, while maintaining reliability under axial loads and high pressures, potentially eliminating the need for additional braking devices.
Implementation Method 1
an electric drive comprising at least one torque motor which drives a hollow shaft as an internal rotor
Implementation Method 2
threaded drive having a screw nut and a threaded spindle for converting the rotational movement of the hollow shaft into a translational movement of the threaded spindle
Data Source
AI summary
Actuator for actuating a valve device comprising an electric drive (14) being operatively engaged to an actuating element (1) of the valve device, the electric drive (14) comprising at least one torque motor (2) which drives a hollow shaft (3) as an internal rotor, that positions a threaded drive (4) having a screw nut (6) and a threaded spindle (5) for converting the rotational movement of the hollow shaft (3) into a translational movement of the threaded spindle (5), and the threaded spindle (5) acts upon the actuating element (1) for displacing the same, wherein the threaded drive (4) comprises an inverted roller screw (4.1), and the screw nut (6) of the inverted roller screw (4.1) houses the threaded spindle (5) as a push rod.