Motor-Driven Pressure Regulator With Balanced Seat and Seal Diameters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional regulators for high-pressure fluid depressurization are mechanically limited in discharge pressure range and flow rate, requiring specific pressure regulating springs and electric motors for various applications, leading to increased costs and limited flexibility.

Innovation Solution

An electronically controlled regulator with a valve shaft and valve body configuration that allows for pressure regulation through an electric motor, featuring a high-pressure chamber, discharge pressure chamber, and pressure control chamber, where the seat and seal diameters are set to balance pressure loads, enabling flexible pressure regulation without changing the electric motor type or layout.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pressure regulating spring is used to mechanically regulate discharge pressure, then the regulator can maintain a set discharge pressure, but the discharge pressure range and flow rate range are mechanically limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge pressure maintenanceVSAvoiddischarge pressure range and flow rate range
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical pressure regulating spring system with an electronically controlled valve shaft moving structure. An electric motor drives the valve shaft to reciprocate, changing the distance between the valve body and valve seat to regulate discharge pressure. This substitution enables flexible electronic control of discharge pressure and flow rate, eliminating the mechanical limitations of fixed spring loads while maintaining reliable pressure regulation through electronic feedback control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If different pressure regulating springs are prepared for various discharge pressures, then each specified discharge pressure can be achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge pressure regulation accuracyVSAvoidnumber of pressure regulating springs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal pressure regulating system where a single electric motor-driven valve shaft moving structure can regulate discharge pressure to any desired level within a wide range. The electric motor can precisely control the valve shaft position to achieve different discharge pressures, eliminating the need for multiple specialized pressure regulating springs. This multi-functional design reduces device complexity and manufacturing costs while maintaining accurate discharge pressure regulation.

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

3Device complexity

If the pressure regulating spring is fixed to a specified set height, then the regulator structure is simplified, but the discharge pressure range and flow rate range are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregulator structureVSAvoiddischarge pressure range and flow rate range
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static, fixed-height pressure regulating spring system into a dynamic, electronically controlled valve shaft moving structure. The electric motor enables the valve shaft to reciprocate dynamically, adjusting the valve opening degree and discharge pressure in real-time according to actual needs. This dynamic design maintains relatively simple regulator structure while dramatically expanding the discharge pressure range and flow rate range, allowing the regulator to adapt to varying operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 regulator achieves flexible pressure regulation across various applications without changing the electric motor, reducing manufacturing and supply costs while maintaining set discharge pressures and accommodating fluctuating flow rates.

Implementation Method 1

an electric motor that transforms electrical energy to mechanical energy to drive a valve shaft reciprocating motion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a pressure regulating mechanism that utilizes pressure differential to control a fluid flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4471268A1Electronically controlled regulator
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 NIKKI CO LTD
  • EP4471268A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4471268A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4471268A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is an electronically controlled regulator (1A) having a body (10A) sectioned into a high-pressure chamber (2A), a discharge pressure chamber (3A), a pressure control chamber (4A), and an atmospheric pressure chamber (5A), and including a pressure regulating valve including: a valve shaft (21A) having a valve body (22), a valve seat (23) in close contact with the valve body (22), and a discharge pressure regulating unit that regulates a fluid pressure by causing the valve shaft (21A) to reciprocate through driving of an electric motor (30), in which a high-pressure fluid introduced is regulated to a set pressure and discharged, and three diameters of a seat diameter (Ds) of the valve seat (23) as a boundary between the high-pressure chamber (2A) and the discharge pressure chamber (3A), a seal diameter (Dh) of an O-ring (72) which is a seal member on the atmospheric pressure chamber side as a boundary between the high-pressure chamber (2A) and the atmospheric pressure chamber (5A), and a seal diameter (Do) of the O-ring (71) which is a seal member on the pressure control chamber side as a boundary between the discharge pressure chamber (3A) and the pressure control chamber (4A), are made substantially the same.