Pilot Valve Layout for Releasable Sealing in Main Valves
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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 sealing mechanism without the need for fixed connections, and incorporating a sealing element transverse to the insertion direction to reduce contact pressure and prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pilot valve is fixedly connected to the pilot valve receptacle (e.g., by screwing), then reliable sealing and stability are achieved, but the connection cannot be released without tools and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling point is segmented into a pilot valve body and a pilot valve receptacle that can be separated. The pilot valve can be inserted and removed from the receptacle without tools, while maintaining reliable sealing during operation. This segmentation allows both fixed sealing during use and easy release when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism transitions from a static fixed connection to a dynamic connection that can adapt between inserted and removed states. The pilot valve body can be dynamically positioned within the receptacle, allowing for flexible installation and maintenance while ensuring stable sealing during operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different pilot valves are designed for different valve arrangement embodiments (parallel vs. perpendicular orientation), then adaptability to specific embodiments is improved, but production costs increase due to multiple variants
Solution Approach 1:
The pilot valve is designed with universal functionality to work with different main valve orientations (parallel or perpendicular). The offset arrangement of inlet and outlet allows the same pilot valve structure to be used in various configurations, eliminating the need for multiple specialized pilot valve variants and reducing production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot valve features an asymmetric design with the inlet and outlet offset from each other. This asymmetric configuration allows the valve to function correctly regardless of its orientation relative to the main valve, providing adaptability to different embodiments without requiring different pilot valve designs.
3Reliability
If axial sealing is used at the coupling point, then sealing is achieved, but high contact pressure is required which may cause leakage over time
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism transitions from axial sealing (along the insertion direction) to radial sealing (perpendicular to the insertion direction). The sealing element acts in the radial dimension between the pilot valve body and receptacle, reducing the required contact pressure while maintaining effective sealing over time.
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.