Regulator Actuator Buffering Structure for Water Hammer Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid regulators face issues with valve element assembly deformation and damage due to extreme stress caused by fluctuating pressures, leading to leakage and water hammer phenomena.
Innovation Solution
An actuator with a diaphragm assembly, elastic element, and limiting component is integrated into the fluid regulator, where the elastic element is compressively sleeved on the valve rod, and the limiting component on the shell's inner wall limits the diaphragm assembly's upward movement, providing a buffering force to mitigate excessive stress on the valve rod, flap, and port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the diaphragm assembly is allowed to move freely to respond to pressure changes, then the regulator can adjust outlet pressure effectively, but the valve element assembly may be deformed or damaged by extremely large stress during water hammer phenomena or continuous leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a buffering component (such as a spring or elastomer) between the diaphragm assembly and the valve rod that provides pre-established cushioning force. When extreme pressure fluctuations or water hammer phenomena occur, this buffering component absorbs and mitigates the shock loads before they reach the valve element assembly, preventing deformation and damage while still allowing the diaphragm to respond to normal pressure changes for outlet pressure control.
2Reliability
If the diaphragm assembly moves upward to close the valve port during high pressure, then outlet pressure control is achieved, but excessive force is transmitted to the valve rod, valve flap, and valve port causing deformation or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary buffering component positioned between the diaphragm assembly and the valve rod. This intermediary element (such as a spring, elastomer, or dashpot) acts as a mediator that transmits the force from the diaphragm to the valve rod in a controlled manner. During normal operation, it allows sufficient force transmission for pressure regulation, but during extreme pressure events, it limits the maximum force transmitted, thereby protecting the valve elements from excessive stress while maintaining the pressure regulation function.
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 reduces the stress on the valve element assembly, preventing deformation and damage by buffering the upward force with the elastic element, ensuring reliable operation and preventing leakage.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element, the elastic element being accommodated in the shell, and the elastic element being coupled to the diaphragm assembly, and being movably sleeved, between the diaphragm assembly and the tip of one end of the valve rod, on the valve rod in a compressed mode
Data Source
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AI summary
An actuator of a regulator is provided. The actuator is connected to one end of a valve rod (212/312). The actuator comprises a shell (203/303); a limiting component (205/305), the limiting component (205/305) being disposed on an inner wall of the shell (203/303); a diaphragm assembly (204/304), the diaphragm assembly (204/304) being accommodated in the shell (203/303), and the diaphragm assembly (204/304) being movably sleeved on the valve rod (212/312); and an elastic element (226/326), the elastic element (226/326) being accommodated in the shell (203/303), and the elastic element (226/326) being coupled to the diaphragm assembly (204/304), and being movably sleeved, between the diaphragm assembly (204/304) and a tip of one end of the valve rod (212/312), on the valve rod (212/312) in a compressed mode. An inner diameter of a portion, making contact with the shell (203/303), of the limiting component (205/305) is smaller than an outer diameter of an upper portion of the diaphragm assembly (204/304), and the limiting component (205/305) is located above the diaphragm assembly (204/304). A fluid regulator having the actuator is provided. By means of the actuator, the technical problem that a valve rod, a valve flap and a valve port are deformed and even damaged due to extremely large stress in the regulator is solved, the valve rod, the valve flap and the valve port of a valve element assembly are buffered to a certain extent when bearing extremely large stress, and therefore damage is avoided.