Spring-Biased Vent Limiting for Any-Orientation Fluid Regulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vent limiting devices for indoor fluid regulators require vertical installation due to gravity operation, increasing installation costs and complexity, and necessitating vent away piping, which complicates safety and reliability.
Innovation Solution
Development of multidirectional vent limiting devices that operate independently of installation orientation, featuring a housing, stem, and poppet mechanism with sealing surfaces, allowing fluid regulation in any orientation, and optionally including pressure and position transducers for operational state indication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional vent limiting devices are used, then vent away piping is required to ensure safety and reliability, but installation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the vent limiting function from the external piping system and integrates it directly into the fluid regulator device. The vent limiting device includes a poppet valve mechanism with sealing surfaces that can be installed directly on the fluid regulator, eliminating the need for separate vent away piping while maintaining safety and reliability functions.
2Reliability
If conventional vent limiting devices are used, then vent away piping is required, but installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the vent limiting function with the fluid regulator into a single integrated device. The vent limiting device with its poppet valve and sealing surfaces is designed to be installed directly on the fluid regulator body, combining multiple functions into one component and eliminating the need for separate vent piping, thereby reducing installation cost.
3Ease of operation
If conventional vent limiting devices are used, then vertical installation is required due to gravity operation, but installation flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the gravity-dependent mechanical operation with a spring-based mechanism. The poppet valve is biased by a spring rather than relying on gravity, allowing the device to operate reliably in any orientation including horizontal installations. The spring provides consistent force regardless of installation position, eliminating the orientation limitation.
4Reliability
If vent away piping is installed, then safety and reliability are ensured, but number of installation steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the vent limiting function from the external piping system and integrates it directly into the fluid regulator device. This integration eliminates the need for separate vent away piping installation steps, reducing installation time while maintaining safety and reliability through the built-in poppet valve mechanism.
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
Eliminates the need for vent away piping, reduces installation costs, and enhances operational safety and reliability by allowing vertical and horizontal installation orientations while maintaining fluid regulation functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a spring positioned about the stem and having a first end and a second end located opposite the first end, the second end of the spring contacting the poppet, the spring biased in a first direction
Implementation Method 2
a seal positioned about the stem, the seal having a first end and a second end located opposite the first end, the first end of the seal contacting the bore when the poppet is in the closed position to close the bore
Data Source
AI summary
Multidirectional vent limiting devices for use with fluid regulators are described. An example vent limiting device includes a housing having an interior surface, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a first fluid passageway in fluid communication with and located between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The interior surface includes a first sealing surface that defines a portion of the first fluid passageway. The vent limiting device further includes a stem having a first end, a second end located opposite the first end, and an axial portion located between the first end and the second end. The vent limiting device further includes a poppet having a first end, a second end located opposite the first end, a second sealing surface that defines a portion of the first fluid passageway, and a bore that defines a second fluid passageway in fluid communication with and located between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The first end of the stem is rigidly coupled to the poppet. The poppet is slidable in an axial direction within the housing between an open position and a closed position. The second sealing surface contacts the first sealing surface when the poppet is in the closed position to close off the first fluid passageway.