Electric Valve Actuator Worm Gear Self-Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric valve actuators fail to fully close valves due to pushback forces, leading to increased failure rates and reduced reliability, necessitating the use of additional brake devices that increase costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An electric valve actuator design that incorporates a power output member and transmission members with automatic locking ability, eliminating the need for a brake device by utilizing a second worm and worm gear system to ensure the valve remains fully closed without backward rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a brake device is added to the drive motor to prevent backward rotation, then the valve can be fully closed at 0-degree position, but the failure ratio of the drive motor increases and operation reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the brake device from the drive motor system entirely. Instead of adding a brake to prevent backward rotation, the design uses a worm gear mechanism (first worm and second worm) that inherently prevents reverse rotation through its self-locking特性, thus extracting the problematic brake component while maintaining the desired functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical brake system with a worm gear-based mechanical locking system. The worm gear mechanism uses the geometric characteristics of worm teeth engagement to automatically prevent backward rotation of the output shaft, substituting the need for active braking with passive mechanical self-locking
2Manufacturing precision
If a brake device is added to the drive motor to prevent backward rotation, then the valve can be fully closed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the braking function into the existing worm gear transmission system. The first worm and second worm are integrated with the drive motor and output shaft respectively, combining the transmission and locking functions into a unified mechanism rather than adding a separate brake device
Solution Approach 2:
The worm gear mechanism serves multiple functions: it transmits rotational motion from the drive motor to the output shaft, provides torque multiplication, and simultaneously prevents backward rotation through self-locking. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated brake components
3Device complexity
If the drive motor is used to directly drive the spur gear set, then the structure is simple, but the valve cannot be truly fully closed due to backward rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the direct spur gear drive with a worm gear-based transmission system. The worm gear mechanism provides inherent self-locking capability that prevents backward rotation, ensuring the valve reaches the true 0-degree closed position while maintaining reasonable structural 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 ensures the valve is fully closed at 0-degree opening position, reducing motor failure rates and service costs while enhancing operation reliability without the need for additional braking mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a second worm (19) engaged with a second worm gear section (171) of the fourth transmission member (17)
Data Source
AI summary
An electric valve actuator, including a power output member having a first engagement section; a rod member fixedly disposed on the power output member; a first transmission member pivotally disposed on the power output member and having a second engagement section and a first worm gear section; a second transmission member pivotally disposed on the rod member and having a shaft body section and an eccentric shaft section; a third transmission member pivotally disposed on the eccentric shaft section and having a third engagement section, a lower section of the third engagement section being engaged with the first engagement section, an upper section being engaged with the second engagement section; a fourth transmission member fixedly disposed on the shaft body section and having a second worm gear section; a first worm engaged with the first worm gear section; and a second worm engaged with the second worm gear section.