Electronic Pressure Regulator With Piston-Assisted Valve Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronically controlled regulators face issues such as slow leakage when the valve is closed due to reduced pressing force and sudden fluctuations in discharge pressure caused by backlash in the valve shaft moving structure, limiting discharge pressure and flow rate ranges.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a piston that receives fluid pressure to maintain valve closure and a spring to bias the valve shaft in the closing direction, combined with a trapezoidal feed screw mechanism to prevent positional deviation and sudden pressure fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electric motor is stopped during valve closing, then the valve body can be pressed against the seat face, but the pressing force is reduced causing slow leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve closure reliabilityVSAvoidpressing force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

A piston is introduced as an intermediary component between the discharge pressure chamber and the valve body. The piston receives fluid pressure from the discharge pressure chamber and transmits this force to press the valve body against the seat face, ensuring reliable valve closure even when the electric motor is stopped. This mediator mechanism maintains sufficient pressing force without requiring continuous motor operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If backlash is provided in the valve shaft moving structure, then the feed screw mechanism can operate smoothly, but positional deviation occurs causing sudden discharge pressure fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeed screw operationVSAvoidvalve shaft positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A spring is installed to constantly bias the valve shaft in the closing direction, creating a preliminary counteracting force against the backlash in the feed screw mechanism. This preliminary action prevents the valve shaft from deviating due to backlash during pressure regulation, thereby avoiding sudden discharge pressure fluctuations while maintaining smooth feed screw operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Device complexity

If a pressure regulating spring is fixed to a specified set height, then the regulator structure is simplified, but the discharge pressure range and flow rate range are mechanically limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregulator structureVSAvoiddischarge pressure range
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the fixed-height pressure regulating spring with an electronically controlled system comprising an electric motor, feed screw mechanism, and adjustable spring. This dynamic system allows the spring height and biasing force to be adjusted according to different discharge pressure requirements, enabling a single regulator to cover a wide range of discharge pressures and flow rates without mechanical limitations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Prevents slow leakage and stabilizes discharge pressure by maintaining valve closure and minimizing backlash-induced pressure fluctuations, ensuring accurate and consistent pressure regulation.

Implementation Method 1

a piston (37A) that receives the fluid pressure in the discharge pressure chamber (3A) is slidably disposed in the discharge pressure chamber (3A) together with the valve shaft (21A)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

a spring (70) that constantly biases the piston (37A) and the valve shaft (21A) in the valve closing direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 3

a valve shaft moving structure that moves the valve shaft (21A) in the axial direction while operating by driving of the electric motor (30A)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP4557040B1Electronically controlled regulator
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 NIKKI CO LTD
  • EP4557040B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4557040B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4557040B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An electronically controlled regulator capable of preventing occurrence of slow leakage via a pressure regulating valve when a valve is closed and avoiding fluctuation in discharge pressure caused by backlash provided in a valve shaft moving structure. In an electronically controlled regulator (1A) including a pressure regulating valve (20A) including a discharge pressure regulating unit that adjusts a pressure of a fluid by changing a distance between a valve body (22A) and a valve seat (23A) while reciprocating a valve shaft (21A) by a valve shaft moving structure using a feed screw (60), a piston (37A) that receives a fluid pressure in a discharge pressure chamber (3A) is slidably disposed, and a spring (70) that constantly biases the valve shaft (21A) in a valve closing direction is disposed.