Pilot Valve Port Offset for Leak-Safe Universal Valve Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve arrangements require individually adapted pilot valves for different embodiments, leading to increased production costs and potential leakage issues due to unstable coupling points, which limits the use of a structurally identical pilot valve across various orientations.
Innovation Solution
The pilot valve inlet and outlet are arranged offset from each other in the insertion direction, allowing for displacement and rotation, enabling a reliable seal without the need for fixed connections, and incorporating a sealing element transverse to the insertion direction to facilitate a radial seal, thus allowing for a structurally identical pilot valve design across different orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pilot valve is fixedly connected to the pilot valve receptacle (e.g., screwed connection), then reliable sealing and stable connection are achieved, but the device complexity increases and production costs rise due to requiring different pilot valve designs for different embodiments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a pilot valve with offset inlet and outlet that can be used in multiple embodiments with different orientations (parallel or perpendicular adjustment directions). This single universal pilot valve design replaces the need for individually adapted pilot valves for each embodiment, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable sealing through the offset configuration that works across different installation scenarios
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pilot valve inlet and outlet are arranged offset from each other in the insertion direction, then a structurally identical pilot valve can be used across different embodiments, but the pilot valve inlet and outlet positions must be transferable through displacement and rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by arranging the pilot valve inlet and outlet offset in the insertion direction (longitudinal axis), allowing the positions to be transferable through displacement and rotation. This spatial configuration enables a single pilot valve design to adapt to different embodiments without requiring complex coupling mechanisms, as the offset arrangement naturally accommodates various orientations
3Reliability
If a screw connection is used to generate contact pressure, then reliable sealing is achieved, but the ease of manufacture decreases and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the pilot valve with offset inlet and outlet positions that automatically generate the necessary contact pressure through their spatial arrangement, eliminating the need for screw connections or other fixed connection mechanisms. The offset configuration itself provides the sealing function, making the system self-sufficient and reducing manufacturing complexity and costs
Data Source
AI summary
A valve arrangement having a main valve and having a pilot valve which is provided for controlling the main valve and which is inserted into a pilot valve receptacle in an insertion direction, wherein, through closure of the pilot valve, a pressure is able to be built up within a pressure chamber which is closed off by a diaphragm, whereby a valve seat between a main valve inlet and a main valve outlet is able to be closed off. By opening the pilot valve, it is possible to set a release of pressure within the pressure chamber by water flowing away via an inflow, connected to the pressure chamber, of the pilot valve receptacle and via a pilot valve inlet, adjoining the latter and formed by a main body of the pilot valve. A pilot valve outlet, formed by the main body, and via an outflow, adjoining said pilot valve outlet, into the main valve outlet, opens into the main valve outlet on the outflow side of the diaphragm. The pilot valve inlet and the pilot valve outlet are arranged offset from one another along a longitudinal axis of the pilot valve.