Steam Valve Positioning Structure for Wear-Free State Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The steam valve disclosed in Patent Document 1 lacks a mechanism to regulate the position of the base end portion, leading to abrasion due to rattling and contact between the stop valve and the valve main body, and does not have a mechanism to detect the open/close state of the stop valve.
Innovation Solution
A steam valve with a tubular stop valve and a valve main body that includes inclination surfaces on the base end portion and contact surfaces in the accommodation space to regulate the position of the base end portion, and a detection mechanism to determine the open/close state of the stop valve, utilizing a rod-shaped member with an elastic-force-apply portion and a sensor to detect the distance and position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the base end portion is accommodated in the accommodation space without position regulation, then the structure is simple, but the stop valve rattles and abrades due to uncontrolled movement
Solution Approach 1:
A regulation member is introduced as an intermediary component between the stop valve's base end portion and the accommodation space. This regulation member includes contact surfaces that interact with inclination surfaces on the base end portion, mediating the positional control and preventing harmful rattling and abrasion while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If the stop valve is allowed to move freely in the accommodation space, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stop valve rotates and contacts the valve main body causing abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The regulation member serves as a mediator that permits necessary axial movement for valve operation while constraining rotational movement. The contact surfaces on the regulation member engage with inclination surfaces on the base end portion, allowing linear motion but preventing rotation that would cause contact with the valve main body.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclination surfaces are designed with specific geometric curvature and orientation. The angled surfaces guide the base end portion along a controlled path, converting potential rotational motion into controlled axial movement while preventing contact with harmful surfaces.
3Device complexity
If no detection mechanism is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the open/close state of the stop valve cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
A detection mechanism is implemented that provides feedback about the stop valve's open/close state. The system detects the position of the base end portion and communicates this information externally, enabling monitoring and control without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
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 suppresses abrasion by regulating the position of the stop valve and allows for the detection of the open/close state, reducing maintenance frequency and improving operation efficiency in power generation systems.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic-force-apply portion configured to apply an elastic force with respect to the rod-shaped member so as to maintain the state in which the end of the rod-shaped member comes in contact with the base end surface
Data Source
AI summary
A steam valve has a tubular stop valve configured to move toward an upper/lower end side along a direction of an axis when the stop valve is opened/closed; and a valve main body accommodating the stop valve, wherein a base end portion including an end portion of the stop valve at the upper end side is accommodated in a first accommodation space formed in the valve main body, the base end portion has a plurality of inclination surfaces formed on an outer circumference of the base end portion which are inclined such that a distance from the axis to each of the plurality of inclination surfaces decreases toward the upper end side, and a plurality of contact surfaces are formed in the first accommodation space to come in contact with the plurality of inclination surfaces respectively when the stop valve moves toward the upper end side.