Snap-Close Valve Drive With Locked Spring Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve drives with snap-close functions require complex mechanisms to safely hold and decouple the spring force, leading to high energy consumption and maintenance costs, especially in electromechanical designs where the electric motor must constantly counteract the spring force.
Innovation Solution
A valve drive with a rotary input, lead screw, and a bearing housing that uses a releasable locking device to counteract the preload force of a snap spring, allowing the bearing housing to move under the spring's force for snap functions while preventing the spring force from loading the drive during normal operation, featuring a compact and cost-effective design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an electric motor is used to adjust the valve body against the snap-close spring force, then the valve can be controlled and positioned, but the motor must be of strong design and consume high energy to permanently counteract the closing force
Solution Approach 1:
The snap-close spring is pre-loaded to store closing force in advance. During normal operation, the locking device holds the spring in a tensioned state, so the motor only needs to overcome minimal friction forces rather than the full spring force, dramatically reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device extracts and isolates the spring force from the motor drive system. By mechanically decoupling the spring force through the locking mechanism, the motor operates independently from the spring force, eliminating the need for the motor to continuously counteract high closing forces.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a locking mechanism is added to decouple the spring force from the drive, then energy consumption is reduced, but the mechanism becomes more complicated and harder to control
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device serves as an intermediary element between the spring force and the motor drive. This simple mechanical intermediary cleanly separates the spring force from the motor, providing automatic engagement and disengagement without complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the operational state. During normal operation, it automatically locks to decouple the spring force; during snap-close, it automatically releases, eliminating the need for complex external control mechanisms.
3Speed
If the spring force is permanently applied to ensure fast snap-close, then the closing speed is improved, but the drive system experiences high continuous loads and increased maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The snap-close spring is pre-loaded during normal operation to store closing force, ensuring that when snap-close is triggered, the valve closes at maximum speed immediately without delay, while the drive system remains unloaded during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device extracts the spring force from the continuous drive system, isolating it so that the high forces are only transmitted during the brief snap-close event rather than continuously, dramatically reducing wear and maintenance needs.
4Reliability
If a complex locking mechanism is used to safely hold spring force, then snap-close safety is improved, but the mechanism complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device acts as a simple mechanical intermediary that provides reliable decoupling of the spring force. Its straightforward design with clear engagement and disengagement states ensures safety without introducing complex control systems or multiple components.
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 solution provides a mechanically simpler and more reliable valve drive that efficiently manages snap functions with reduced energy consumption and lower maintenance costs, allowing for safe and fast-acting valve operations without interfering with the adjusting movement during regulating or control operations.
Implementation Method 1
a lead screw (5) connected to the rotary drive input (3) or formed by this rotary drive input, wherein a slide (9) is connected to the lead screw (5) in a screw thread fashion
Implementation Method 2
a snap spring (14) whose force in a released state of the locking device (13) is capable of moving the bearing housing (11) at least partially in the direction of the longitudinal axis (6)
Data Source
AI summary
A valve drive with a snap function includes a rotary drive input, a lead screw connected to or formed by the rotary drive input, a slide in threaded engagement with the lead screw to form a screw thread, the slide being mechanically connected or connectable to a valve body and being movable in the direction of a longitudinal axis. A bearing housing is provided in which the lead screw is mounted so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis and stationary in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The bearing housing is held against a displacement along the longitudinal axis by a releasable locking device, countering the preload force of a snap spring.