Pressure Regulator Noise Attenuator Rod Support Against Plate Bending

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gas regulators with noise attenuation devices fail to maintain effective noise suppression due to high pressure forces causing the noise attenuation plates to bend and detach, disrupting the noise reduction function.

Innovation Solution

A fluid regulating device with a noise attenuation assembly retained by a plurality of rods, where each rod has a front end, middle portion, and rear end, equidistantly disposed around the outer edges of multiple plates within a cylindrical body, distributing stress and securing the plates to prevent bending and enhance noise suppression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single rod is used to support noise attenuation plates, then the device structure is simple, but the plates bend and detach under high pressure forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverod support structureVSAvoidplate stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single rod support is segmented into multiple rods (at least three) equidistantly distributed around the cylindrical body. Each rod independently supports the noise attenuation plates, distributing the high pressure forces across multiple points rather than concentrating them on a single rod, thereby preventing plate bending and detachment while maintaining structural reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple rods are used to support noise attenuation plates, then plate stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplate stabilityVSAvoidrod support structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The multiple rods are positioned at specific locations equidistantly around the cylindrical body, creating localized support points that strategically distribute stress. This localized quality approach ensures that each rod supports a specific sector of the plates, providing optimal stability while minimizing overall structural complexity through symmetric, regular spacing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If stress is concentrated at the center of plates, then the support structure is simple, but the plates bend under high pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress distribution structureVSAvoidplate resistance to bending
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure transitions from a single central rod (one-dimensional support) to multiple rods distributed in a circular pattern (two-dimensional radial distribution). This dimensional change distributes stress from the plate centers across multiple peripheral attachment points, preventing stress concentration and plate bending while maintaining structural simplicity through symmetric geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3507667B1Apparatus and method for retaining a noise attenuation assembly for use with a pressure regulator
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • EP3507667B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3507667B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3507667B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A fluid regulating device includes a valve having an inlet and an outlet and an actuator coupled to the valve and having a control assembly. The control assembly includes a control element and a diaphragm operably connected to the control element, the control element disposed within the valve and adapted to be displaced relative to a valve seat. A noise attenuation assembly is coupled to the outlet of the valve and includes a cylindrical body and at least one plate disposed in the cylindrical body, the at least one plate having an outer edge. An apparatus for retaining the noise attenuation assembly includes a plurality of rods coupled to the at least one plate. The plurality of rods includes at least one rod having a first end disposed through the outer edge of the at least one plate to support the noise attenuation assembly.