Regulating Valve Head with Transverse Slot and Preload Flanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing regulating valves for door and window drives, particularly those made of plastic, face issues such as damage from improper screwdriver use, dirt accumulation, and unintended rotation, leading to increased production costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A regulating valve with an elongated transverse slot in the valve head and radially extending prestressing flanks provides enhanced security against twisting and damage, reduces dirt accumulation, and simplifies handling and cleaning, featuring a sealing ring to maintain consistent friction and prevent hydraulic fluid interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a Phillips head tool receptacle is used in the valve head, then the valve can be adjusted with a screwdriver, but the plastic valve head is easily damaged by improper screwdriver use or excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The tool receptacle is segmented into multiple load-bearing flanks (at least three, preferably four) arranged circumferentially around the slot. This distributes the applied force across multiple contact points rather than concentrating it at a single point, significantly increasing the plastic valve head's resistance to damage while maintaining adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The slot is designed with an asymmetric cross-sectional shape featuring inclined flanks that taper towards the slot opening. This asymmetric geometry provides mechanical advantage by converting radial insertion forces into axial clamping forces on the adjustment tool, improving grip and control while reducing the risk of slippage and damage.
2Ease of operation
If a Phillips head tool receptacle is used, then the valve can be adjusted, but dirt and contaminants can accumulate in the recessed head, making cleaning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a recessed head design that traps contaminants, the invention uses a protruding valve head with a slot opening that faces outward. This inverted geometry allows dirt and contaminants to be easily washed away rather than accumulated, significantly improving cleanability while maintaining full adjustability functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If the valve head is made of plastic to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the valve may rotate unintentionally during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The valve head features localized friction-enhancing elements in the form of inclined flanks with specific surface characteristics. These flanks create high friction contact zones that prevent rotation at critical interfaces, while the rest of the plastic valve head maintains its cost-effective material properties. This localized approach provides anti-rotation stability without requiring the entire valve head to be made of expensive materials.
4Stability of the object's composition
If additional brake and sealing rings are installed to prevent rotation, then anti-rotation stability improves, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for separate brake and sealing rings by integrating their functions directly into the valve head structure. The inclined flanks and friction surfaces are formed as integral parts of the plastic valve head through molding, combining anti-rotation and sealing functions into a single component. This reduces device complexity and eliminates additional parts while maintaining stability.
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 ensures secure, cost-effective production and operation with reduced risk of damage and improved ease of handling and cleaning, while maintaining high frictional torque and secure engagement.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic anti-rotation device is held on the thread in a groove that extends through the thread
Implementation Method 2
The oversize of the preload flanks compared to the circumference of the rest of the valve head creates a frictional torque
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
A regulating valve (10) for an actuator, in particular for a door or window, comprises a valve body (12), in particular made of plastic, and a valve element (14), for example in the form of a valve cone. The valve body (12) comprises a valve head (16) which is provided with a tool receptacle for an actuating tool. The tool receptacle of the valve head is designed as an elongated slot (18) extending transversely through the valve head, and the valve head (16) is provided with preload flanks (20) arranged around its circumference, which extend radially outwards transversely to the longitudinal direction of the slot (18).