Motor-Driven Pressure Regulator With Anti-Backlash Valve Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional regulators for high-pressure fluids face challenges in maintaining consistent discharge pressures and preventing slow leakage due to mechanical limitations and backlash in the valve shaft moving structure.

Innovation Solution

An electronically controlled regulator is designed with a piston in the discharge pressure chamber that receives fluid pressure and presses the valve body against the seat face when the electric motor is stopped, combined with a spring that constantly biases the valve shaft in the closing direction, thereby preventing slow leakage and backlash-induced pressure fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pressure regulating spring is used to mechanically regulate discharge pressure, then the regulator can maintain a set discharge pressure, but the discharge pressure range and flow rate range are mechanically limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge pressure maintenanceVSAvoiddischarge pressure range and flow rate range

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the fixed mechanical pressure regulating spring with a dynamic electric motor-driven valve shaft moving structure. The electric motor can adjust the valve shaft position and opening area dynamically, allowing the discharge pressure and flow rate to be varied within a wide range rather than being limited to fixed mechanical settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the regulating parameter from a fixed spring load to an electrically controllable valve opening area. By controlling the electric motor, the valve opening area can be adjusted to change the flow rate and discharge pressure parameters, providing adaptability across different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a feed screw is used in the valve shaft moving structure, then the electric motor can drive the valve shaft, but backlash in the meshing portion causes positional deviation and discharge pressure fluctuation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve shaft movement controlVSAvoiddischarge pressure stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using a spring to constantly bias the valve shaft in the closing direction. This pre-applied closing force counteracts the backlash in the feed screw meshing portion, preventing positional deviation of the valve shaft and the resulting discharge pressure fluctuation that would otherwise occur during pressure regulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the electric motor is stopped during valve closing, then energy consumption is reduced, but slow leakage occurs due to reduced pressing force on the seat face

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectric motor energy consumptionVSAvoidvalve closure sealing

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a spring as a counterweight mechanism that constantly biases the valve shaft in the closing direction. This spring force maintains continuous pressing force on the seat face even when the electric motor is stopped, preventing slow leakage while allowing the motor to remain idle and conserve energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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

The solution effectively prevents slow leakage and stabilizes discharge pressure by ensuring consistent valve closure and minimizing positional deviations due to backlash, thus enhancing the regulator's performance and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a spring that constantly biases the valve shaft in a valve closing direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring biasing force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a piston that receives fluid pressure in the discharge pressure chamber is slidably disposed in the space together with the valve shaft in a state where the piston is fixed to an outer peripheral side of the valve shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS20250163871A1Electronically controlled regulator

Publication Date: 2025.05.22 NIKKI CO LTD

AI summary

An electronically controlled regulator may include a pressure regulating valve, which may include a discharge pressure regulating unit that adjusts a pressure of a fluid by changing a distance between a valve body and a valve seat while reciprocating a valve shaft by a valve shaft moving structure using a feed screw, a slidable piston that receives a fluid pressure in a discharge pressure chamber, and a spring that constantly biases the valve shaft in a valve closing direction. At the time of valve closing, the fluid pressure received by the piston may be converted into a pressure load in a direction of pressing the valve body, and at a time of pressure adjustment, a positional deviation of the valve shaft due to a backlash provided at a meshing portion of the feed screw may be avoided by a biasing force of the spring.