Modular Air Valve Assembly for Adjustable Flow and Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional air butterfly valve designs are custom, single bore configurations, requiring larger valve bodies for increased airflow and necessitating custom valves for each application, which poses challenges in thrust management and alignment.
Innovation Solution
A modular valve system featuring a first valve with a cylindrical flow path and connecting flanges for interconnection with additional valves, allowing for adjustable airflow and flexible configuration to accommodate various applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If custom single bore valve configurations are used to achieve larger airflow volumes, then the valve body needs to be made bigger, but this increases device complexity and requires custom valves for each application
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is divided into modular components that can be connected in series. Multiple smaller valve bodies with standardized bore sizes are linked together to achieve the equivalent airflow of a single large valve, eliminating the need for custom large valve designs while maintaining airflow requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
A universal standardized valve body design is created that can be used across multiple applications by connecting them in series. This single standardized configuration replaces the need for custom-designed valves for different airflow requirements, achieving multi-functionality through modular assembly.
2Reliability
If pressure loaded shaft designs are used in traditional valves, then thrust management challenges arise, but this is a conventional design approach
Solution Approach 1:
The valve disc is designed with an asymmetric offset from the shaft centerline, creating an unbalanced configuration that generates counteracting forces during operation. This asymmetry produces a balancing effect that reduces net thrust on the shaft, eliminating the need for complex thrust management systems while improving reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 2A
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A retaining clip system for retaining an alignment of a valve disc (122) within a valve housing (104) including a c-shaped retaining clip (150) configured to be disposed on a shaft (124) of the valve (102) and a shim pack including a plurality of shims (166) configure to axially bound the retaining clip (150) on the shaft (124). A valve system comprising a first valve (102) having a first housing (104; a first valve disc (122) mounted to a first shaft (124) and a first retaining clip (150) disposed on the first shaft to retain the valve disc within the first housing.