Tundish with integral dry tap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dry trap tundishes require strong springs to function effectively, which can be affected by debris and corrosion, leading to poor sealing and increased complexity in design.
Innovation Solution
A dry trap tundish design with a movable valve member and biasing member located below the dividing member, utilizing a coil spring and support structure integrated with the lower housing portion, which is shielded from fluid flow, allowing for quick opening under low flow conditions and reduced risk of contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a strong coil spring is used to close the valve member against its own weight, then the valve can seal effectively, but the spring is affected by debris and corrosion leading to poor sealing and increased complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the spring and valve member from the direct fluid flow path by positioning them in a recessed chamber below the dividing member. This separation removes the spring from exposure to debris and corrosion while maintaining its sealing function, thus improving reliability without adding complex protection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of protecting the spring from debris through complex shielding mechanisms, the patent inverts the approach by placing the spring in a location where debris naturally does not reach - below the dividing member in a recessed chamber. This positional inversion eliminates the need for additional protection structures.
2Speed
If the valve member and biasing member are located in the fluid flow path, then they can respond quickly to flow conditions, but they are exposed to debris and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member and biasing member are extracted from the main fluid flow path and positioned in a recessed chamber below the dividing member. The aperture in the dividing member provides the necessary fluid communication for quick response, while the extraction from direct flow exposure protects against debris and corrosion.
Solution Approach 2:
The aperture in the dividing member acts as an intermediary, allowing fluid pressure to transmit to the valve member for quick response while preventing direct exposure to harmful debris and corrosion in the main flow path.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for the dry trap and tundish, then each component can be optimized independently, but the assembly becomes more complex and requires more installation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the dry trap valve assembly with the tundish housing into a single integrated unit. The valve member, biasing member, and support structure are incorporated within the tundish housing, eliminating the need for separate dry trap components and reducing installation complexity while maintaining independent optimization of each function.
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 design enhances responsiveness and durability by protecting moving parts from debris and corrosion, simplifying assembly, and ensuring effective sealing with fewer components, while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Implementation Method 1
The valve member is biased to close the aperture under the action of a coil spring
Implementation Method 2
when there is sufficient force of flow or weight of fluid, urges the valve member to open
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A dry trap tundish 10 comprising: an upper housing portion 12 including a liquid inlet connector 20 at an upper end thereof; a lower housing portion 14 including a liquid outlet connector 22 at a lower end thereof; a chamber 60 defined by peripheral walls 15,17 of the upper and lower housing portions between the inlet and outlet connectors, wherein the chamber is divided into an open upper chamber 61 and a closable lower chamber 62 by a dividing member 50 comprising an aperture 52; and a movable valve member 70 urged to close the aperture 52 from below under the action of a biasing member 76 and guided by a support structure. The valve member 70, the biasing member 76 and the support structure are fully located below the dividing member 50.