Tolerance Compensating Valve Stem for Manual Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manufacturing tolerances in pneumatic and hydraulic control valves often require adjustments and complicate assembly, as existing valves lack self-adjusting mechanisms to accommodate these variances.
Innovation Solution
An automatically adjusting control valve with a valve body, sealing disc, armature, biasing mechanism, and an actuation stem that deforms to accommodate manufacturing tolerances, allowing for manual operation to move the armature between positions and maintain the valve in a full stroke position without continued manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operators are used in control valves, then the valve can be operated manually, but manufacturing tolerances require adjustment and fitting which complicates assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The stem is designed to automatically adjust and accommodate manufacturing tolerances through self-deformation during initial operation. The flexible portion of the stem deforms to absorb dimensional variations, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and fitting operations during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The stem incorporates a flexible portion that can change its physical parameters (shape, length) through deformation. This allows the stem to adapt to manufacturing tolerances by physically adjusting its geometry during initial operation, thereby simplifying assembly procedures.
2Reliability
If manufacturing tolerances are accommodated through adjustment and fitting, then the valve can function properly, but the assembly process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The stem is pre-designed with a flexible portion capable of deformation to accommodate tolerances. During initial operation, the stem automatically performs the adjustment function that would otherwise require manual intervention, thereby reducing assembly time while ensuring proper valve functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation mechanism is built into the stem structure itself, allowing it to self-adjust to manufacturing variations without requiring external adjustment tools or skilled assembly operations, thus reducing both assembly time and complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the stem is made rigid to maintain precision, then positioning accuracy is improved, but it cannot accommodate manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The stem is divided into distinct segments: a rigid portion that maintains positioning accuracy and a flexible portion that accommodates manufacturing tolerances through deformation. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function - the rigid portion ensures precision while the flexible portion provides adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the stem have different mechanical properties. The flexible portion is specifically designed with localized flexibility to absorb dimensional variations, while the remaining portions maintain rigidity to ensure accurate armature positioning. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between precision and adaptability.
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 enables the valve to self-adjust and maintain the full stroke position, accommodating manufacturing tolerances and simplifying assembly, ensuring reliable operation and maintaining the valve's sealing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
Initial movement of the stem between the deformation position and the hold position may deform the portion of the stem, thereby accommodating manufacturing tolerances of the valve
Data Source
AI summary
An automatically adjusting control valve comprises a valve body; a valve seat within the valve body; a sealing disc adjacent the valve seat when the valve is closed and offset from the valve seat when the valve is open; an armature adjacent the sealing disc and operable to move the sealing disc linearly within the valve body; a biasing mechanism which biases the armature toward a first position; and an actuation stem configured to overcome the biasing mechanism and move the armature between the first position and a second position upon manual operation. The actuation stem may comprise a portion which engages the armature during movement between the first position and the second position The portion may be configured to deform to accommodate manufacturing tolerances of the valve.