Shock Actuated Valve Mechanism with Ball Ricochet Trigger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve technologies face challenges in automatically closing fluid flow during earthquakes due to delayed actuation caused by ball rebounding or retreating, which can lead to increased damage and inefficiency in responding to shock and vibration forces.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal and vertical shock and vibration force responsive valve assembly featuring a cradle with a concave transverse surface and a bent swing member, where a ball ricochets off the cradle to activate the mechanism only when forces reach a predetermined magnitude, ensuring timely valve closure without unnecessary activation during small earthquakes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ball is used to actuate a valve due to earthquake forces, then the valve can be automatically actuated by shock forces, but the ball may rebound or retreat from its initial urged position causing delayed valve closure
Solution Approach 1:
A trip fork mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the ball and the valve closing mechanism. The trip fork has an elongated wall that provides additional leverage when struck by the ball, ensuring that the valve closes promptly without the delay caused by ball rebound. The trip fork translates the ball's impact into effective valve actuation even when the ball retreats from its initial position.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ball is moved to a second position by repeated shock forces, then the valve can respond to varying shock magnitudes, but the compounded motion delays valve closure and increases damage possibility
Solution Approach 1:
The trip fork mechanism is pre-positioned with its elongated wall aligned to receive impact from the ball. This preliminary arrangement ensures that even a single ball movement in any direction can effectively strike the trip fork and initiate valve closure, eliminating the need for the ball to achieve a specific second position through repeated shocks.
3Reliability
If a vertical valve assembly is designed with a cradle holding a movable ball, then the valve can respond to earthquake forces, but the device lacks versatility for horizontal valve applications
Solution Approach 1:
The trip fork mechanism with its elongated wall design is orientation-independent and can be effectively used in both vertical and horizontal valve assemblies. The same basic structure of cradle, ball, and trip fork can be applied to valve bodies oriented in any direction, making the earthquake-responsive mechanism universal and adaptable to different installation scenarios.
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 effectively and reliably closes fluid flow during earthquakes of a predetermined magnitude, preventing damage and ensuring safety without requiring auxiliary power sources, while also preventing unnecessary activation during minor seismic events.
Implementation Method 1
a ball which serves as a shock and vibration force receiving means
Implementation Method 2
the ball ricochets off a housing cover covering the cradle
Implementation Method 3
a bent swing member which serves as a leverage of the triggering mechanism
Implementation Method 4
The device modifies the pedestal on which the ball rests to allow gravity forces to act on the ball once it has been moved from its position of rest to aid actuation of the shock actuation control mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A horizontal and vertical shock responsive fluid valve assembly which are capable of automatically closing a fluid valve in response to earthquake forces or other shock forces of a predetermined magnitude. The assemblies are comprised of a respective horizontal and vertical shock and vibration force triggering mechanism working in a similar fashion. The mechanism has a respective cradle comprising a generally concave transverse surface that holds a movable ball and when it is energized by the forces can rotate 360 degrees in any direction and rolls out of the surface such that the ball ricochets off a housing cover covering the cradle and activates the mechanism only when the external forces reach a predetermined magnitude.