Shaft Retaining Assembly for Fluid Valve Hygiene

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rotary valves in sanitary applications face issues with particulate and bacteria accumulation and growth due to numerous components and abutments within the fluid path, which are difficult to clean and maintain effectively.

Innovation Solution

The use of a shaft retaining assembly positioned outside the fluid path, featuring a groove with ring segments and a bonnet assembly that maintains alignment of the sealing element with the seating surface, reducing the number of components exposed to fluid flow and incorporating redundant blowout protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional shaft mounting assemblies with multiple components and abutments are used within the fluid path, then proper alignment of the fluid control element with the seal is enabled, but particulate and bacteria accumulation and growth occur on these components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment of fluid control elementVSAvoidparticulate and bacteria accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft retaining assembly is extracted from the fluid path and positioned in the bonnet, removing the harmful abutments and components that caused particulate and bacteria accumulation while preserving the alignment function through the groove-and-retainer mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The groove in the shaft end and the corresponding retainer in the bonnet act as intermediary elements that maintain alignment between the fluid control element and seal without requiring direct abutments within the fluid path, thus preventing contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If multiple components and abutments are placed within the fluid path to enable proper valve operation, then alignment and control are achieved, but cleaning and maintenance become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve alignment and controlVSAvoidcleaning and maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The shaft retaining assembly is designed as a separate, modular component that can be independently accessed and maintained through the bonnet, decoupling the alignment function from the fluid path components and simplifying cleaning procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2452105B1Shaft retaining assembly for use with fluid valves

Publication Date: 2013.07.10 FISHER CONTROLS INT LLC

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AI summary

Shaft retaining assemblies for use with fluid valves are described. In a described example, a bonnet assembly (203) for use with a fluid valve (200) includes a bonnet (218) defining (224) a passage to receive at least a portion of a shaft (214) of the fluid valve. The bonnet is to be removably coupled to the fluid valve. Additionally, the example bonnet assembly includes a retaining assembly (238) mounted in the bonnet to be substantially not exposed to a flow of fluid through the fluid valve. The retaining assembly is to control an amount of movement of the shaft along a longitudinal axis of the shaft to enable an alignment of a sealing element (208) coupled to an end of the shaft relative to a seating surface (212) of the fluid valve.