Universal Refrigeration Valve With Weldable Leak-Free Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration valves are heavy, specialized, and prone to leakage, corrosion, and require mechanical connections, making them unsuitable for commercial and industrial refrigeration systems due to their material and design limitations.
Innovation Solution
A universal refrigeration valve with an investment-cast stainless-steel body and adapter plates, featuring flangeless distal ends with unmachined weldable rims for leak-free integration, allowing for various functions without mechanical connections and optimized for lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional refrigeration valves are made from heavy materials like iron or steel, then strength and durability are improved, but weight increases requiring additional support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using stainless steel (which has higher strength-to-weight ratio) and reducing wall thickness through improved design, achieving both strength and weight reduction simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The valve combines stainless steel body with different material components (seals, springs, diaphragms) to achieve optimal performance, where each material is selected for its specific properties to balance strength and weight
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional valves are designed with specialized configurations for specific locations, then functional requirements are met, but device complexity and number of different valve types increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal valve body design that can perform multiple functions (pressure regulation, flow control, safety relief) through a single standardized configuration, eliminating the need for specialized valves for different locations while maintaining all required functionalities
Solution Approach 2:
The valve is segmented into a standardized body and interchangeable functional components (adapter plates, seals, springs), allowing different configurations without changing the main body design, thus reducing overall system complexity
3Ease of operation
If conventional valves use mechanical connections like flanges, then installation flexibility is improved, but leakage risk and connection complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical flange connections with welding connections, eliminating the interfaces that cause leakage while maintaining installation flexibility through proper welding design and positioning features
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is merged directly with the piping system through welding, creating a unified structure that eliminates separate connection components and potential leakage points, while the standardized welding interfaces maintain ease of installation
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional valves are made from materials like brass or copper, then ease of machining is improved, but corrosion resistance to ammonia deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The valve uses stainless steel as the base material which provides both corrosion resistance and adequate machinability, combined with other materials (seals, springs) that are selected for their compatibility with ammonia and ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material selection from traditional brass/copper to stainless steel, altering the material parameters to achieve both corrosion resistance and acceptable manufacturability through modern machining techniques
Data Source
AI summary
A universal valve for refrigeration systems including an investment-cast, stainless-steel valve body, a piston and one of a plurality of an anodized aluminum adapter plates. Each adapter plate configured to be removed and replaced with another to operate the valve to perform a different function. The investment-cast, stainless steel valve body includes an inlet and an outlet which each include a flangeless distal end configured, as cast, with an unmachined, weldable rim for integration without mechanical connections in a leak-free configuration.