Rotary Drive Position Indicator Nesting in Tubular Body

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rotary drives for valve assemblies face challenges in compact design and protection of position indicators, which are often exposed to mechanical damage and environmental influences, and require additional installation space for detection systems.

Innovation Solution

The position indicator is integrated within the tubular body of the rotary drive, specifically in a receiving chamber near the output shaft, allowing for a compact and protected design that reduces the distance between the magnet arrangement and the sensor, enabling efficient detection of magnetic fields and position signals without increasing installation space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the position feedback sensor is mounted on top of the rotary drive housing, then the position detection function is achieved, but the installation space increases and the sensor is exposed to mechanical damage and environmental influences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of position sensorVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The position feedback sensor is integrated into a receiving chamber formed within the upper wall section of the tubular body, nesting the sensor inside the existing structure rather than mounting it externally. This eliminates the need for additional external space while providing mechanical protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The position feedback device is merged with the tubular body structure by forming a receiving chamber within the wall section. The sensor, magnet arrangement, and housing structure are combined into a single integrated unit, eliminating separate external mounting requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If the position feedback sensor is mounted on top of the rotary drive housing, then the position detection function is achieved, but the distance between the magnet arrangement and sensor increases, requiring stronger magnets or more sensitive sensors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic field detectionVSAvoiddistance between magnet and sensor
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving chamber is formed within the upper wall section of the tubular body, nesting the position feedback sensor in close proximity to the magnet arrangement on the output shaft. This minimizes the distance between the magnet and sensor, improving magnetic field detection without requiring stronger components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a position feedback device is added to the rotary drive, then position monitoring capability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition monitoring capabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The position feedback device is merged with the tubular body structure by forming a receiving chamber within the wall section. The sensor, magnet arrangement, and housing structure are combined into a single integrated unit, eliminating separate external mounting requirements and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The upper wall section of the tubular body serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, contains the receiving chamber for the position sensor, and integrates the magnet arrangement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This configuration results in a practical, compact, and robust rotary drive that can operate in limited spaces, with improved protection and reduced demands on the magnet and sensor components, facilitating better monitoring of valve positions without external evaluation units.

Implementation Method 1

a magnet arrangement (34) belonging to the axial end of the output shaft (6), which receives a rotary movement of the output shaft (6) and generates a magnetic field with the position feedback device (36)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

the position feedback device (36) is configured to detect the magnetic field generated by the magnet arrangement (34) and to provide a position signal corresponding to a position of the output shaft (6) depending on the detected magnetic field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3227565B1Rotary drive with position indicator and process valve unit
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 FESTO AG & CO KG
  • EP3227565B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3227565B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3227565B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a fluid-actuated rotary drive (40), having a housing (1) which has a tubular body (44) which extends along an axial direction (26) and in which a drive piston arrangement (19) is provided for driving a rotatably mounted output shaft (6) which runs through the tubular body perpendicularly with respect to the axial direction and the axial end of which is guided out of the tubular body at an upper wall section (35) of the tubular body, having a magnet arrangement (34) which is arranged at the axial end of the output shaft and records a rotational movement of the output shaft, and having a position indicator (36) which is configured to detect the magnetic field which is generated by the magnet arrangement and to provide a position signal which corresponds to a position of the output shaft in a manner which is dependent on the detected magnetic field, wherein the position indicator is arranged in a receiving chamber (38) which is configured in the upper wall section of the tubular body.