Actuatable Valve Bearing Base With Rotating Fastening Slots

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of mechanically actuated valves with roller lever actuating devices is cumbersome due to difficult access to mounting screws and high manufacturing costs associated with specialized housing designs.

Innovation Solution

The bearing base of the actuating device is designed with fastening slots that can be rotated into position, allowing pre-screwed fastening screws to be easily inserted before attachment, simplifying the assembly process and reducing manufacturing costs by avoiding the need for specialized housing designs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the bearing base is screwed to the valve housing in the operating position, then secure clamping is achieved, but the fastening screws are difficult to access and assembly becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping securityVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening screws are pre-screwed into the valve housing in a ready position before the bearing base is attached. The fastening slots are designed to receive these pre-positioned screws when the bearing base is rotated into its operating position, eliminating the need to access and screw fasteners after assembly begins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening slots are designed to accommodate the rotational movement of the bearing base from the attachment position to the operating position. The slots allow the fastening screws to be engaged during rotation, transforming a static fastening problem into a dynamic solution that resolves itself through movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If fastening slots are designed to receive pre-screwed fastening screws, then assembly is simplified, but the fastening slots must be accessible during rotation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidfastening slot configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening slots are positioned asymmetrically on the bearing base at specific radial distances from the vertical axis. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that during rotation from attachment to operating position, the slots pass through the mounting surface area and become accessible to the pre-screwed fastening screws at the correct moment in the rotation sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The solution adds a rotational dimension to the fastening process. Instead of linear insertion, the fastening slots utilize the rotational movement of the bearing base to access the mounting surface, creating a new degree of freedom in the assembly process that simplifies overall installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the bearing base occupies the mounting surface, then secure attachment is achieved, but it obstructs access to threaded openings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidaccess to threaded openings
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening screws are screwed into the threaded openings of the valve housing in advance, while the bearing base is still in the attachment position and the openings are accessible. This preliminary action allows the fastening screws to be positioned before the bearing base rotates into its final operating position where it would block access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3308062B1Mechanically actuatable valve and method for the production thereof
Publication Date: 2018.11.28 FESTO AG & CO KG
  • EP3308062B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3308062B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3308062B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a mechanically actuatable valve (1) having an actuation device (3) which is attached to a mounting surface (15) of a valve unit (2) by a bearing base (22). Using securing screws (24), the bearing base (22) is braced with the valve housing (5) when adopting an operating position. In order to permit a simple mounting, securing slits (52) are formed on the bearing base (22), which are open in a circumferential direction of a vertical axis (25) of the base. During mounting, the bearing base (22) can be attached to the mounting surface (15) in an attaching position that is rotated in relation to the operating position, and can then be rotated in a rotational movement (77) in such a way that the securing slits (52) are introduced under the screw heads (74) of the not-yet-tightened securing screws (24).