Seat Valve Braking Structure for Smooth Opening Deceleration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seat valves in piston compressors face issues with wear and damage due to abrupt movements during opening, which can impair safe operation and longevity.

Innovation Solution

A seat valve design featuring a braking device with a movable stop body and guide device, which gradually brakes the closing element to prevent abrupt movements and reduce wear, allowing for smooth operation even at low gas pressures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the closing element is allowed to move freely during opening, then the valve responds quickly to pressure changes, but the closing element strikes the limiting surface causing wear and damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speed of closing elementVSAvoidoperational reliability of valve
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A braking device with a movable stop body is positioned before the limiting surface to intercept the closing element during opening movement. The stop body provides gradual deceleration through friction or contact, cushioning the closing element before it reaches the hard limiting surface, thereby preventing impact damage while maintaining quick response

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If a fixed stop is used to limit opening movement, then the closing element is protected from excessive travel, but abrupt deceleration causes wear and damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from excessive travelVSAvoidwear and damage from abrupt deceleration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stop body is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to move in the opening direction during braking. This dynamic arrangement enables gradual deceleration of the closing element through controlled friction or contact, transforming the abrupt stop into a smooth, progressive braking action that reduces wear and damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the braking device is integrated with the closing element, then the structure is simplified, but the mass of the closing element increases affecting response behavior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrationVSAvoidresponse behavior of valve
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The braking device is segmented into separate components: a movable stop body and a guide element, positioned independently from the closing element. The stop body moves within the guide element's internal guide, creating a distributed braking system that maintains low closing element mass while providing effective gradual deceleration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution enhances operational reliability and longevity by minimizing wear and tear, ensuring safe and efficient valve operation without abrupt stops or excessive material stress.

Implementation Method 1

a closing spring assigned to each closing element, which applies a preload force to the respective closing element oriented towards closing the inlet channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a braking device which gradually decelerates an opening movement of the respective closing element when opening the inlet channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3908755B1Seat valve
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 BURCKHARDT COMPRESSION AG
  • EP3908755B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3908755B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3908755B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a seat valve (10), comprising: a valve body (92) having a plurality of inlet channels (94); a plurality of closing elements (14) that are arranged so as to be movable in a longitudinal direction (L), a closing element (14) for opening and closing the inlet channel (94) being assigned to each inlet channel (94); closing springs (15) assigned respectively to each closing element (14), each closing spring applying a preloading force to the particular closing element (14), which preloading force is oriented for closing the inlet channel (94). A braking device (16) is assigned to each closing element (14), which device is arranged so as to be separate from the closing element (14) and gradually brakes an opening movement of the particular closing element (14), independently of the closing spring (15), when the inlet channel (94) is opened.