Pneumatic-hydraulic type control valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic-hydraulic control valves have complex structures and suffer from inaccurate movement and insufficient sealing due to the long stroke of the metal wire and elastic fatigue in springs, leading to decreased closing force.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic-hydraulic type control valve with a fixed base, valve base, valve stem, and cable, where the valve stem has different stressed portions for fluid opening and closing forces, and a cable is used to pull the valve stem directly along its axis, eliminating the need for a return spring and simplifying the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a metal wire is used to operate the lifting valve through a complex routing system with idler wheels, then the valve can be opened, but the structure becomes complex and the stroke becomes long causing inaccurate movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the idler wheel and complex metal wire routing system from the design. Instead, a cable is directly connected to the valve stem, eliminating unnecessary components while maintaining the valve opening function. This extraction of unnecessary elements simplifies the structure and reduces the stroke length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional lifting mechanism by using a pull-down cable system instead of a push-up metal wire system. The cable is anchored at the bottom and pulls the valve stem downward to open the valve, rather than pushing it upward. This inversion simplifies the mechanical linkage and reduces structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a spring is used to provide closing force for the lifting valve, then the valve can return to closed position, but elastic fatigue in the spring causes decreased closing force and insufficient sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring-based closing force system with a hydraulic force system. Fluid pressure acts directly on the valve stem through hydraulic passages to provide the closing force, eliminating the spring component. This substitution removes the issue of elastic fatigue and provides consistent, reliable sealing force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic pressure to provide the closing force for the valve stem. Fluid is directed through hydraulic passages to act on the valve stem, creating a reliable closing force that does not degrade over time. This hydraulic mechanism replaces the unreliable spring-based system and ensures consistent sealing performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If the valve stem has equal diameter throughout, then the structure is simple, but the fluid closing force cannot be made slightly greater than opening force for proper sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different diameters to different portions of the valve stem to achieve different functional requirements. The upper portion has a larger diameter to receive greater fluid closing force, while the lower portion has a smaller diameter for cable attachment. This local variation in quality ensures proper sealing while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the valve stem diameter to create the necessary force differential between closing and opening operations. The asymmetric diameter design allows the fluid pressure to generate a closing force that is slightly greater than the opening force, ensuring reliable sealing. This asymmetric geometry is essential for the valve's proper function.
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 design ensures better sealing by maintaining a slight greater fluid closing force than opening force, reduces the stroke length, and ensures accurate movement of the valve stem, while simplifying the structure by omitting the return spring.
Implementation Method 1
the pneumatic-hydraulic type control valve utilizes the difference in the outer diameter between the first stressed portion and the second stressed portion to enable the fluid closing force to be slightly greater than the fluid opening force
Implementation Method 2
the cable can be driven by an external force to move the valve stem from the close position to the open position
Data Source
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AI summary
A pneumatic-hydraulic type control valve (10) includes a cable (53) attached to a fixed base (20), a valve base (30) disposed in the fixed base (20), and a valve stem (40) disposed in the valve base (30) and driven by the cable (53) to be opened. First and second oil guiding holes of the valve base (30) communicate with each other when the valve stem (40) is opened, and the first and second oil guiding holes of the valve base (30) do not communicate with each other when the valve stem (40) is closed. Further, the valve stem (40) has a first stressed portion (42) for bearing a fluid closing force and a second stressed portion for bearing a fluid opening force. The outer diameter of the first stressed portion (42) is larger than that of the second stressed portion. Thus, the present invention achieves effects of simplifying structure and accurate actuation without affecting the sealing effect.