Sanitary Changeover Valve Hollow Piston Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sanitary changeover valves are complex, space-consuming, and lack versatility, particularly in low-pressure applications, as they cannot be easily adapted to different requirements.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary changeover valve with a valve housing and a valve piston that can move between two positions, featuring a flow restrictor, flow rate regulator, or backflow preventer, allowing for modular adaptation to specific applications through interchangeable sanitary accessories, and enhanced sealing mechanisms to improve functionality across pressure ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing sanitary changeover valves are used, then basic flow switching function is achieved, but the device complexity and space consumption increase while adaptability to different applications decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve piston is designed as a hollow body that can accommodate different sanitary accessories (flow restrictors, flow rate regulators, backflow preventers) internally, allowing a single valve structure to serve multiple applications by simply changing the accessory module
Solution Approach 2:
Sanitary accessories are nested within the hollow interior of the valve piston, with the insertion opening located on the piston end face. This nesting approach allows compact integration of multiple functions within the valve body without increasing overall device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing sanitary changeover valves are used, then basic flow switching function is achieved, but the volume and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve piston combines multiple functions into a single component: it serves as both the flow switching element and the housing for sanitary accessories. The hollow interior of the piston integrates storage and functional elements, reducing the need for separate components and overall valve volume
3Reliability
If standard sealing mechanisms are used, then basic sealing function is achieved, but sealing reliability in low-pressure conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism transitions from a static seal to a dynamic pressure-activated seal. At low pressures, the piston moves freely with minimal friction. When pressure differential exceeds the activation pressure, the sealing element is pushed against the sealing surface, creating an effective seal only when needed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a sanitary change-over valve (1) comprising a valve housing (2) which has a valve inlet (3) and two selectively controllable valve outlets (4, 5), a valve piston (6) that can be moved from a first switch-over position, in which the fluid is conducted via a flow path passing through a first valve outlet (4), into a second switch-over position, in which the fluid is conducted via a flow path passing through a second valve outlet (5), as soon as the stretch of the second flow path leading from the change-over valve (1) has been released. The valve piston (6) is designed as a hollow body, through which the fluid is conducted by means of at least one piston inlet (9) positioned on the piston circumference in the course of at least one of the flow paths. The change-over valve according to the invention is characterised in that the fluid conducted by means of the at least one piston inlet (9) is led, in the course of the second flow path, through a first piston outlet provided on the piston end face facing away from the piston head (10), and in that a flow throttle (12), a flow-control valve (11) or a check valve is provided in the first piston outlet.