Telescoping Scotch Yoke Actuator for Compact Valve Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Scotch yoke actuators require substantial installation space, are heavy, and have complex maintenance procedures due to their design, which includes extended housing portions and high stress concentrations, leading to reduced operational efficiency and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a telescoping assembly with a yoke having a transverse passage and a rod assembly that pivots to support a slide member, allowing linear movement to be converted to torque with reduced footprint and improved stress distribution, enabling easier installation and maintenance, including the ability to reverse rotational modes without reorienting the entire actuator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional Scotch yoke actuator design with extended housing portions is used, then the actuator can enclose the yoke at all rotational orientations, but the installation space requirement increases and the actuator becomes heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a main body and removable extended portions. The extended portions can be detached when the yoke approaches certain rotational orientations, allowing the yoke to rotate through full 360 degrees without requiring the extended housing to be present throughout the entire rotation cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing configuration changes dynamically during operation. The extended portions are removable and can be added or removed based on the yoke's rotational position, transforming the housing from a static enclosure to a dynamic structure that adapts to operational requirements.
2Reliability
If conventional Scotch yoke actuator design is used, then the actuator can provide rotary to linear motion conversion, but the weight increases due to extended housing portions
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into essential structural components and removable extended portions. By removing the extended portions when not needed for yoke enclosure, the overall weight of the actuator is reduced while maintaining the necessary motion conversion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The extended housing portions are discarded (removed) during operational cycles when they are not needed for enclosing the yoke, and can be recovered (reinstalled) when the yoke requires enclosure. This cyclic discarding and recovering reduces the average weight and material usage.
3Force
If conventional Scotch yoke actuator design with high stress concentrations is used, then the actuator can transmit torque effectively, but the maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is segmented into modular components including the main housing, removable extended portions, yoke, and rod assembly. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access and service high-stress areas without disassembling the entire actuator, reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining torque transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
High-stress components and areas are extracted or made accessible through the removable extended portions and modular design. This allows direct access to stress concentration areas for inspection, lubrication, and repair without requiring complete disassembly of the actuator housing.
4Stability of the object's composition
If conventional Scotch yoke actuator design is used, then the actuator can provide stable torque characteristics, but the device complexity increases due to extended housing and high stress concentrations
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is divided into standardized modular components with simple geometric forms. This segmentation reduces manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty while maintaining the torque characteristics through proper component design and arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The design parameters of the yoke, rod assembly, and housing are optimized to achieve stable torque characteristics with reduced stress concentrations. By changing parameters such as material selection, cross-sectional dimensions, and geometric configurations, the actuator achieves stable performance with simpler construction.
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 approach results in a more compact, lightweight actuator with improved stress distribution and simplified assembly and maintenance processes, maintaining torque characteristics while reducing material usage and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The first slide member can be configured to slide telescopically within the at least one bore as the first rod assembly moves in the first direction to transmit torque to the yoke for actuation of the valve assembly
Implementation Method 2
The first free end of the first slide member can be pivotally secured to the first rod assembly via a pivoting connection to a connecting arm that is in threaded engagement with the first rod assembly
Implementation Method 3
a pivoting connection to a connecting arm that is in threaded engagement with the first rod assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide an actuator (100) for a valve assembly. The actuator can include a yoke (146) with at least one bore (196), a first rod assembly (136), and a first slide member (148) seated within the at least one bore and pivotally connected to the first rod assembly. The yoke can be configured to rotate about a yoke axis (198) to actuate the valve assembly. The first rod assembly can be configured to move in a first direction transverse to the at least one bore and the yoke axis. The first slide member can be configured to slide telescopically within the at least one bore as the first rod assembly moves in the first direction to transmit torque to the yoke for actuation of the valve assembly.