Rotatable Valve Seat for Adjustable Flow Presetting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valve designs face challenges in changing flow characteristics due to the valve seat being part of the housing, limiting the functionality of presetting mechanisms and requiring complex interactions between housing and insert.

Innovation Solution

The valve seat member is rotatable and arranged within an insert, allowing independent adjustment of the maximum effective flow cross section by rotating it around the axis, enabling various presetting options and simplifying the housing design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the valve seat is part of the housing, then the housing structure is simple, but it becomes difficult to change the flow characteristics through the valve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing structure simplicityVSAvoidflow characteristics adjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The valve seat is separated from the housing and integrated into a rotatable valve seat member. This segmentation allows the valve seat to be independently positioned and oriented to change flow characteristics, while the housing maintains its simple structure. The valve seat member can be rotated to different angular positions to achieve various flow rates and pressure drops.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The valve seat member is made rotatable around the axis of displacement, transforming a static valve seat into a dynamic component. This rotation capability allows the flow characteristics to be adjusted by changing the angular position of the valve seat member relative to the valve element, enabling versatile flow control while keeping the housing simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the valve seat member is rotatable within the insert, then the presetting options are increased, but the mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepresetting optionsVSAvoidpresetting mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The presetting mechanism is merged with the rotatable valve seat member itself. The valve seat member incorporates features such as openings or markings that indicate presetting positions, eliminating the need for separate complex presetting mechanisms. The rotation of the valve seat member directly provides both the flow control function and the presetting indication function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve seat member serves multiple functions: it provides the sealing surface, controls flow characteristics, enables presetting through rotation, and indicates presetting positions through its angular positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components and mechanisms.

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

3Shape

If the valve seat member is indirectly connected to the housing, then the housing shape can be simpler, but the connection mechanism becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing shape simplicityVSAvoidconnection mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insert serves as an intermediary component between the housing and the rotatable valve seat member. The insert is fixed in the housing and provides a bearing surface or mounting structure for the valve seat member. This intermediary allows the housing to maintain a simple shape while still enabling the rotational movement and positioning of the valve seat member.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3193064B1valve
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 DANFOSS AS
  • EP3193064B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3193064B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3193064B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a valve (1) comprising a valve housing (2), a valve seat (3) and a valve element (4). The valve element (3) is displaceable relative to the housing (2) along an axis (A) towards the valve seat (3). The task of the invention is to provide a valve with an improved functionality. According to the present invention the task is solved in that the valve seat (3) is arranged in a valve seat member (5), wherein the valve seat member (5) is rotatable around the axis (A) to change the maximum effective flow cross section through the valve (1).