Modular Fluid Control Valve Structure for Casing Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid control devices require elaborate designs and separate manufacturing of fluid control bodies to match the shape of the casing, leading to increased costs and complexity in design, manufacturing, and management, especially when dealing with varying specifications and standards across different regions.

Innovation Solution

A fluid control device using a standardized on-off valve with a partition body that includes a valve seat, wall, and lid portions, which are separately manufactured and mounted to the casing, providing sealing and structural integrity without requiring custom designs for each casing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the fluid control body is designed with an elaborate shape to closely connect to the inner surface of the casing, then the sealing property is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing propertyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid control body is divided into separate modular components: a standardized valve body and a custom-machined casing. The casing is manufactured as a separate component with the elaborate shape needed for sealing, while the valve body remains a simple standardized component. This segmentation allows each part to be manufactured independently using appropriate methods, reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elaborate sealing shape is extracted from the valve body design and transferred to the casing design. Instead of making the valve body conform to the casing's inner surface, the casing is made to conform to the valve body's simple cylindrical shape, with the sealing features implemented on the casing's outer surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the fluid control body is separately designed and manufactured according to regional specifications and standards, then the adaptability to different regions is improved, but the manufacturing cost and storage complexity become enormous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregional adaptabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into a universal standardized valve body that can be manufactured once and used everywhere, and a regional-specific casing that is manufactured locally according to regional specifications. This allows the expensive-to-manufacture standardized component to be produced in volume at low cost, while the adaptive component is produced locally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The standardized valve body is designed with universal mounting interfaces and dimensions that allow it to be installed in casings from different regions with different specifications. The valve body serves multiple regions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate valve body designs for each region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If the fluid control body is designed with elaborate lid portions and wall portions, then the structural strength is improved, but the design and manufacturing process becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The structural components (lid portions, wall portions, partition walls) are segmented and integrated into the casing design rather than being separate parts of the valve body. The casing itself is machined to provide the necessary structural strength and rigidity, eliminating the need for complex separate structural components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The structural support functions and the sealing containment functions are merged into a single integrated casing component. The casing simultaneously provides structural strength to support the valve body and provides the elaborate shape needed for sealing against the pipe flange and surrounding structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3904739B1Fluid control device
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 COSMO KOKI CO LTD
  • EP3904739B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3904739B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3904739B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention is to provide a fluid control device with which processes of designing, manufacturing, and managing a fluid control body are simplified to suppress cost of manufacturing, etc., and desired control properties are provided. In a fluid control device including a fluid control body 10 that controls a fluid in a pipe, the fluid control body being installed in a sealed manner inside a casing 2 which is externally fitted onto a fluid pipe 1 in a sealed manner at a point where part of the fluid pipe 1 is cut off in an uninterrupted flow state, the fluid control body 10 includes an on-off valve 11 formed by a valve seat body 12 which includes an opening portion 12a and a valve element 13 which is provided in the valve seat body 12 in such a manner that the opening portion 12a is openable and closable, and a partition body 15 formed by a wall portion 16 that is provided with a through hole 16a communicating with the opening portion 12a, the wall portion being mounted on the valve seat body 12 in a sealed manner, and a lid portion 17 which is provided continuously to the wall portion 16, the lid portion covering an opening side of the casing 2, the partition body including a seal component 19 that seals a gap between an inner surface of the casing 2 and the partition body 15.