Low Pressure Relief Valve Threaded Spider Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low pressure relief valves are tedious and time-consuming to assemble and calibrate, with issues such as O-ring attachment and uneven wear causing inaccuracies and inefficiencies in pressure adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A low pressure relief valve design featuring a threaded spider and guide spider assembly, utilizing an adjusting fork to compress the poppet spring and set pressure without disturbing the force balance, allowing for continuous fluid flow during calibration and employing PTFE seals to prevent attachment and ensure accurate flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the adjusting nut is screwed onto the poppet shaft and spun up and down to adjust set pressure, then the pressure setting can be adjusted, but the assembly and pressure adjustment process becomes tedious and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adjusting nut from the poppet shaft assembly. Instead, the set pressure is adjusted by rotating the entire poppet assembly within the valve body, which rotates the poppet relative to the spring. This extraction of the adjusting nut eliminates the tedious screwing and unscrewing operation while maintaining pressure adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the adjustment function with the poppet assembly itself. By making the poppet assembly rotatable relative to the spring, the adjustment mechanism is merged into the existing components rather than requiring a separate adjusting nut. This integration simplifies the overall structure and reduces assembly steps.
2Ease of operation
If the guide spider is rotated to vary spring force and establish set pressure, then the pressure setting can be adjusted, but the process requires holding the poppet firmly against the seat to prevent rotating, which is tedious and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the guide spider component entirely. Instead of using a guide spider that requires rotation and holding operations, the invention uses a rotatable poppet assembly that directly varies spring force through rotation. This extraction removes the complex interaction between guide spider and poppet that caused operational difficulties.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rotating the guide spider to adjust pressure while holding the poppet fixed, the invention inverts the approach by rotating the poppet assembly itself while the spring remains stationary. This inversion simplifies the adjustment mechanism and eliminates the need for holding operations.
3Reliability
If the O-ring seal is used to contain fluid at pressures below set pressure, then the seal functions when the valve is closed, but the O-ring has a propensity to attach itself to the seat and cause high and out of tolerance first crack
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the seal from rubber O-ring to PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). This material substitution fundamentally alters the seal's properties, eliminating the attachment tendency while maintaining sealing effectiveness. PTFE's low friction and non-stick properties prevent the seal from adhering to the seat.
4Productivity
If the poppet is allowed to fall over to one side when fluid flows through the valve, then the valve operates, but inaccurate flow and uneven wear on the O-ring occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide mechanism that dynamically guides the poppet during operation. The guide spider provides lateral support to the poppet shaft, ensuring it remains centered during fluid flow while allowing vertical movement for valve operation. This dynamic guidance prevents the poppet from falling to one side.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide spider acts as an intermediary component between the poppet and the valve body. It provides guidance and support to the poppet shaft, mediating the interaction between the moving poppet and the stationary valve body. This intermediary ensures accurate flow and uniform seal wear by maintaining proper poppet alignment.
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 new design significantly reduces assembly and calibration time, maintains accurate pressure settings, and prevents O-ring attachment, ensuring efficient and economical operation with reduced wear and improved reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The poppet may include a seal comprising polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) positioned adjacent and in contact with the head of the poppet
Implementation Method 2
a poppet spring positioned on the shaft
Implementation Method 3
the threaded spider may compress the poppet spring
Data Source
AI summary
A method for assembling and adjusting a pressure setting of a valve includes positioning a threaded spider and a poppet spring on a poppet, mounting a valve body into an assembly fixture, inserting the poppet including the threaded spider and the poppet spring positioned thereon into the mounted valve body, pushing an adjusting fork through the assembly fixture and through the valve body, engaging the threaded spider with the adjusting fork, and flowing pressurized fluid into the assembly fixture while simultaneously rotating the adjusting fork in a direction to draw the threaded spider into the valve body and to compress the poppet spring.