Motorized Valve Assembly With Extractable Actuator Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized valve assemblies face challenges with impractical connections between the motor body and the valve, requiring tools for coupling and uncoupling, and are difficult to accommodate in compact spaces due to their spatial arrangement.
Innovation Solution
A motorized valve assembly with a box-like body and an extraction body that moves between inactive and active conditions, allowing easy coupling and uncoupling via parallel movement of engagement means and a lever system for applying force to uncouple the motor from the valve, reducing the size of the access window and facilitating flush mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the motor body is directly coupled to the valve body using traditional connection methods, then the connection is secure and reliable, but the coupling and uncoupling process requires tools or wrenches and becomes particularly impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The motor body is divided into a first body portion and a second body portion that can move relative to each other. The second body portion can be extracted from the first body portion to enable tool-free coupling and uncoupling operations, while maintaining secure connection when engaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism transitions from a fixed single-position connection to a multi-position system where the second body portion can move along the coupling/uncoupling direction (axial movement) and be positioned at different locations (engaged, disengaged, intermediate positions), adding a dimensional aspect to the connection system.
2Reliability
If the motor and valve are arranged in a spatial configuration suitable for operation, then the functional performance is optimized, but the uncoupling becomes extremely complicated when accommodating them inside an accommodation compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The motor body incorporates a movable second body portion that can dynamically change its position relative to the first body portion. This dynamic structure allows the motor to adapt to different spatial constraints, including compact accommodation compartments, while maintaining functional performance through controlled movement along the coupling direction.
3Power
If a bulky actuation motor is used to ensure sufficient power, then the motor can reliably actuate the valve, but the overall size of the valve assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the motor body into movable portions, the design allows for more compact motor configurations. The extraction mechanism enables a smaller motor to be used since the movable second body portion provides mechanical advantage and leverage, reducing the need for oversized motors while maintaining adequate actuation power.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A motorized valve assembly (1) comprising a box-like body (2) for the accommodation of at least one flow control valve (3), the box-like body (2) forming at least one window (4) for access to the flow control valve or valves (3) and being associated with at least one covering body (5) which can move, with respect to the box-like body (2), between a position for closing the window (4) and an open position, in which it allows access to the flow control valve or valves (3); the flow control valve (3) has a flow control body (6) which can be actuated by an actuation stem (7), which can rotate about an actuation axis (100) arranged substantially at right angles to the plane of arrangement of the access window (4). The motorized valve assembly (1) comprises an actuation motor (10) for the movement of the actuation stem (8) which can be associated detachably, by virtue of coupling means (20), with the flow control valve (3) and is provided with a motor body (11) associated with an extraction body (12) which is movable with respect to the motor body (11) between an inactive condition, in which it is completely accommodated within the box-like body (2), and an active or extraction condition, in which it passes at least partially through the access window (4), so as to facilitate the uncoupling of the actuation motor (10) from the flow control valve (3).