Quick-Acting Valve Metering Relief Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick-acting valves for oxygen lances and similar gases face challenges in achieving precise gas volume metering with low force requirements and long service life, while also protecting the valve spring from gas impurities and ensuring safe operation, especially in high-pressure environments.
Innovation Solution
A two-part sealing body design with the valve spring housed internally, where the rear housing part is displaceable within the front housing part, using a perforated ring to guide gas flow laminarily and prevent backflow, and incorporating sealing rings and a ball mechanism for smooth operation and precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the valve spring is placed on the outside of the sealing body, then the valve can be actuated by the hand lever, but the spring is damaged by gas impurities and the valve no longer closes reliably
Solution Approach 1:
The valve spring is nested inside the hollow sealing body, with the spring housed within an inner cavity of the sealing body. This nested arrangement protects the spring from direct contact with gas impurities while still allowing it to exert force on the sealing element through the hollow interior structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow sealing body acts as an intermediary structure that transmits the spring force to the sealing element without exposing the spring itself to the harsh gas environment. The spring pushes against internal surfaces of the hollow body, which in turn transmits this force to close the valve reliably.
2Ease of operation
If the entire sealing body is moved out of the sealing seat against gas pressure and spring force, then the valve can be opened, but a large amount of force is required
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing body is segmented into a hollow structure with distinct functional zones. The sealing element is separated from the actuation mechanism, allowing the hand lever to apply force locally to overcome the spring force without requiring movement of the entire sealing body against full gas pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve transition from closed to open state occurs dynamically through localized displacement of the sealing element rather than requiring the entire sealing body to move against maximum spring and gas pressure forces simultaneously.
3Ease of operation
If the sealing body moves with its entire surface against gas pressure, then the valve can be actuated, but precise metering control is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing body is segmented into a hollow structure where the sealing function is separated from the actuation function. This allows precise control of gas flow through the hand lever's localized action on the sealing element, enabling metering precision while maintaining ease of operation.
4Device complexity
If the valve spring is exposed to the gas stream, then the valve structure is simpler, but the spring is impaired by gas flow and impurities
Solution Approach 1:
The valve spring is nested within the hollow sealing body, creating a protected internal environment for the spring that isolates it from the external gas stream and impurities while maintaining a relatively simple overall valve structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow sealing body serves as an intermediary structure that shields the spring from direct exposure to the gas stream, allowing the spring to maintain its performance characteristics while the sealing body interfaces with the gas flow externally.
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
Enables precise metering and safe operation with reduced force, protecting the valve spring from gas impurities and maintaining laminar gas flow, allowing for efficient and safe gas supply to oxygen lances, with increased capacity and reduced risk of ignition or damage.
Implementation Method 1
a valve spring (8) acting on the sealing body (10)
Implementation Method 2
the pressure of the inflow gas
Implementation Method 3
an approximately laminar flow can be achieved
Data Source
AI summary
A quick-acting valve 1 having metering relief is used in particular for oxygen lances, wherein the actual sealing body 10 inside the valve tube 2 has a two-part design and accommodates the valve spring 8 with the housing parts 16 and 17 of the spring. The gas is conducted around the sealing body 10, so that the gas pressure cannot have an effect on the actuation by way of the hand lever 3. The rear housing part 17, which is located behind the front housing part 16 can be displaced inside the front housing part 16, and has a flow-promoting design, being displaced against the force of the valve spring 8, and specifically with the help of the hand lever 3, so that it now can be actuated independently of the gas pressure with precise metering control.