Valve Actuator Variable Flow Area for Soft Piston Deceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed valve operations often result in abrupt stopping of internal components, leading to potential damage due to contact between the obstruction member and the actuator, necessitating a method to slow down these components before they reach a full stop.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a valve actuator with a piston and a variable flow area mechanism, where a projection or recess on the piston reduces the flow area as it approaches a stop position, slowing down the piston's speed by restricting fluid flow, thereby reducing the abruptness of the stop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the valve obstruction is opened and closed at high speeds, then the productivity and response time are improved, but the internal components contact each other causing damage due to abrupt stopping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a deceleration mechanism that activates before the piston reaches its stop position. A reduced flow area is created in the chamber to slow down the piston progressively, cushioning the stopping process and preventing abrupt contact between components. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining high actuation speeds while protecting components from damage through pre-planned deceleration.
2Loss of time
If the piston moves at high speed, then the response time is reduced, but the abrupt stopping causes harmful contact forces between components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the flow area variable rather than fixed. The reduced flow area in the chamber dynamically adjusts the fluid resistance based on piston position, allowing high speeds during most of the stroke while automatically increasing resistance near the stop position. This dynamic adjustment maintains responsiveness while preventing harmful contact forces.
3Reliability
If a mechanical or electrical control system is used to slow down components, then the component damage is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing a passive deceleration mechanism that uses the fluid system itself to slow down the piston. The reduced flow area in the chamber creates automatic fluid resistance that decelerates the piston without requiring external mechanical brakes or electrical controls. The system serves its own deceleration needs through intelligent chamber geometry, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
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
This solution effectively slows down the valve components before they reach a full stop, reducing the risk of damage and ensuring a smoother stopping process, thereby enhancing the durability and reliability of the valve operation.
Implementation Method 1
a projection or recess on the piston configured to reduce the flow area as the piston moves toward a stop position, and configured to allow fluid communication through the reduced variable flow area in the stop position
Data Source
AI summary
A valve actuator for a valve is disclosed, including an actuator housing with a reciprocation axis and a piston configured to reciprocate within the actuator housing along the reciprocation axis. The actuator housing has a port and a chamber disposed between the piston and a portion of the actuator housing with the port for fluid communication with the port of a working fluid. A piston projection or piston recess in the chamber is moveable with the piston to reduce a flow area in the chamber that causes a reduction in speed of the piston prior to reaching a stop position.