Self-Closing Valve With Flow Limiter Back Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing time-delayed valves with push-button control and timing chambers are prone to significant pressure-dependent time delay variations and have bulky constructions, leading to increased costs and inefficiencies, particularly in fluid delivery applications.
Innovation Solution
A time-delayed valve design featuring a piston-driven mechanism with a wiper seal, radial channels below the timing chamber, and a flow limiter system to maintain back pressure, ensuring consistent fluid flow and reduced valve body size, allowing direct fluid passage from upstream to downstream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radial channels are formed below the timing chamber with flow limiters, then back pressure is maintained and piston rise is maximized even at low pressures, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented into functional zones: the timing chamber for delay control, radial channels for pressure maintenance, and flow limiters for flow regulation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving reliable consistent timing while managing complexity through functional decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow limiters are nested within the radial channels, which are themselves integrated into the valve body structure. This nested arrangement allows multiple functions (pressure maintenance, flow control, structural support) to be combined in a compact configuration, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the valve body is made compact to eliminate lateral channels, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but fluid flow paths become more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple valve functions (main valve, auxiliary valve, timing mechanism, flow control) are merged into a single integrated valve body structure. The radial channels and flow limiters are directly formed in the valve body, eliminating the need for separate lateral channels and reducing the number of parts, which simplifies manufacturing and reduces cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it houses the timing chamber, provides radial decompression channels, incorporates flow limiters, and contains both main and auxiliary valve seats. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying manufacturing while managing internal complexity through integrated design.
3Reliability
If the piston rises maximally in the timing chamber, then time delay consistency is improved, but pressure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Flow limiters act as intermediary elements within the radial channels, regulating fluid flow to maintain optimal back pressure in the timing chamber. These flow limiters mediate between the high-pressure main valve operation and the low-pressure auxiliary valve operation, ensuring consistent piston rise across varying network pressures without requiring high pressure throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes pressure parameters locally within the timing chamber by using flow limiters to create controlled back pressure. This allows the piston to achieve maximal rise and consistent timing characteristics even when the overall network pressure varies, effectively decoupling timing consistency from network pressure requirements through parameter control.
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 design achieves a consistent time delay and efficient fluid delivery across varying pressures, maintaining maximum piston rise and fluid flow, even at low pressures, resulting in a more reliable and cost-effective valve operation.
Implementation Method 1
the return of the valve to its seat being caused by a spring and being slowed down by a wiper seal arranged between the piston and the internal wall of the delay chamber
Implementation Method 2
the return of the valve to its seat being caused by a spring
Implementation Method 3
the outlet orifice of each radial channel being closed by a flow limiter so as to maintain a back pressure upstream of the main seat
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The valve has a piston (13) sliding in a delaying chamber (11f) and carrying a main flap. A control rod (5) axially slides in a head body (6), and has a lower end carrying an auxiliary flap (9). A radial channel (6d) is arranged in the body downstream of an auxiliary seat (6a) to allow free flow of a fluid to an outlet orifice (1a) of the valve when the auxiliary flap is opened. Each of radial orifices (11d) is closed by an automatic flow regulator to maintain a counter-pressure upstream of a main seat (11a) to cause a maximal lift of the piston in the chamber even in case of low pressure. The flow regulator is constituted of a star tube made of plastic material, and a seal made of elastomer.