Spherical Valve Ball with Reduced Lip for Lower Actuation Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow control valves face challenges in reducing fluid forces and moments acting on the flow controlling element, leading to increased operating forces and moments, which can cause the valve to drift and require higher effort for positioning and maintaining desired fluid flow positions.
Innovation Solution
The design of a flow controlling element with a spherically-shaped valve ball featuring adjustable flat diameters, a hollowed-out portion with elliptical shape, and reduced lip width, along with surface finish modifications and blend radius enhancements, to minimize fluid forces and moments, thereby improving flow control capability and reducing operating forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a tighter friction fit is provided between the ball and seat to maintain valve ball position, then positioning stability is improved, but operating force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spherical ball element with precisely engineered curvature that interfaces with a complementary spherical seat. This spherical geometry distributes contact forces uniformly across the contact surface, providing stable positioning without requiring excessive friction or operating force. The curved surfaces maintain consistent contact during actuation, reducing the force needed to overcome friction while preserving position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies geometric parameters including the ball diameter, seat angle, and contact surface dimensions to optimize the balance between positioning stability and operating force. By carefully selecting these parameters, the valve achieves reliable throttling control with reduced actuation effort, resolving the contradiction between maintaining position and minimizing operating force.
2Stability of the object's composition
If friction in manual control handle assembly is increased to maintain valve ball position, then positioning stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical ball design with optimized contact surfaces reduces the friction torque required to actuate the valve while maintaining stable positioning during throttling. The curved geometry allows smooth rotational movement through the control range, improving ease of operation without sacrificing position stability through excessive friction.
3Stability of the object's composition
If hydraulic forces internal to the valve ball are increased to maintain position, then positioning stability is improved, but operating force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes hydraulic parameters including pressure distribution across the ball surface, contact area dimensions, and fluid flow characteristics to reduce the hydraulic forces that must be overcome during actuation. By carefully controlling these parameters, the valve achieves stable throttling positions with reduced actuation force requirements.
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
These modifications allow for reduced hydraulic forces, improved flow control, and lower operating forces, enabling the valve to modulate higher flows with enhanced throttling capability and reduced friction, thus optimizing the positioning and maintenance of the flow controlling element.
Implementation Method 1
the flow control element can be subjected to forces and moments from the fluids. These fluid forces and moments are a function of fluid pressure and flow rate
Implementation Method 2
friction in a valve manual control handle assembly, and hydraulic forces internal to the valve ball, may be utilized to facilitate the valve assembly with maintaining the valve ball position
Data Source
AI summary
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a flow control valve element, which may comprise a generally spherical shape. An inlet and outlet are formed in the element, with a fluid passage disposed between. The respective inlet and outlet are defined by a lip, and at least the outlet has a lip face comprising a width less than that of an adjacent element wall thickness. The element can comprise a pair of opposing flats formed in the wall, where the flats respectively comprise an external flat portion of the element wall and an opposing internal flat portion of the element wall.