Leaf Spring Pressure-Reducing Valve With Shorter Axial Length
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pressure-reducing valves for gases, such as compressed natural gas and hydrogen, are large in size due to the use of helical compression springs that bias the valve body in the opening direction, leading to increased axial length.
Innovation Solution
A pressure-reducing valve design utilizing a laterally extending plate spring as the biasing member, which reduces the axial length by allowing the valve body to be biased in the opening direction, and incorporating a relief valve system to manage secondary pressure and minimize load on the biasing member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a helical compression spring is used to bias the valve body in the opening direction, then the valve body can be effectively biased against secondary pressure, but the axial length of the pressure-reducing valve increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member is changed from a helical compression spring (axial arrangement) to a plate spring extending laterally (radial arrangement). This dimensional change moves the biasing force generation from the axial direction to the radial direction, thereby reducing the axial length while maintaining the necessary biasing force against secondary pressure
2Length of moving object
If the axial length is reduced by using a plate spring, then the pressure-reducing valve can be downsized, but the load on the biasing member increases when the relief valve is actuated
Solution Approach 1:
An atmosphere chamber is introduced as an intermediary between the secondary chamber and the biasing member. This chamber allows atmospheric pressure to act on the biasing member, serving as a mediator that helps balance the forces. When the relief valve is actuated, the relief pressure can be brought to the atmosphere chamber, which then exerts force on the biasing member to reduce the overall load
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 design achieves downsizing of the pressure-reducing valve while maintaining effective pressure regulation, reducing the axial length and load on the biasing member, and minimizing manufacturing costs through the use of a leaf spring that biases the valve body efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing member is a spring in the form of a plate and extends laterally from the valve body
Implementation Method 2
the tapered part is elastically deformed while changing the relative angle between an outer edge side portion and a center side portion
Data Source
AI summary
This pressure-reducing valve includes: a casing in which a valve passage is formed; a valve body that is movably housed in the casing and changes a position thereof according to a secondary pressure to adjust an opening degree of the valve passage; and a biasing member that biases the valve body against the secondary pressure in an opening direction in which the valve passage opens. The biasing member is a spring in the form of a plate and extends laterally from the valve body.