Valve Status Display Using Rotating Drag Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shut-off valves with status displays often suffer from ambiguous position indication during valve operation, leading to potential misinterpretations and safety hazards due to simultaneous visibility of open and closed marks in transition areas, especially when the valve is not fully rotated.
Innovation Solution
A shut-off valve design featuring a drag element that can be rotated to cover the closed marking, ensuring only the open marking is visible through the viewing window until the valve is fully closed, utilizing a detachable connection between the drag element and actuating element to prevent incorrect position displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a clamped indicator ring is used in the handwheel, then the indicator ring remains stationary during rotation, but the viewing window passes through transition areas where both open and closed marks are simultaneously visible, causing ambiguous status indication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a drag element as an intermediary component between the handwheel and the indicator ring. This drag element is rotatably mounted on the handwheel and interacts with the actuating element through a driver mechanism, allowing it to be dragged along during rotation. The drag element selectively covers the closed marking during transition phases, serving as a mediator that prevents the ambiguous simultaneous visibility of both open and closed marks through the viewing window.
2Ease of operation
If the handwheel rotates more than 360° to reach the end position, then the valve can be fully actuated, but the indicator ring must be dragged along against friction or require additional drivers, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the drag element rotatable rather than completely stationary or permanently fixed. The drag element can rotate freely under certain conditions but is dragged along when the driver engages with it during valve actuation. This dynamic behavior allows the system to accommodate handwheel rotations greater than 360° without requiring permanent frictional engagement or multiple drivers, simplifying the overall mechanism while achieving full actuation range.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the indicator ring is prevented from rotating by friction or clamping, then the indicator remains stable, but the viewing window changes position relative to the indicator during handwheel rotation, causing transition areas with simultaneous visibility of both marks
Solution Approach 1:
The drag element serves as a mediator that resolves the conflict between indicator stability and accurate position indication. It is rotatably mounted on the handwheel, allowing it to move with the handwheel during rotation, but it can be dragged along by the driver mechanism to selectively cover the closed marking. This intermediary component ensures that only the correct status (open or closed) is visible through the viewing window at any given time, eliminating the measurement precision error caused by transition areas.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~4b
Figure 5a
AI summary
The valve has an actuating element (9) rotatable around a rotation axis (23) and provided with a viewing window (5) on an upper side (11). A towing element (15) comprises an open marking, and is rotatable above a closed marking in a plane. The towing element cooperates with the actuating element such that the element clears a vision through a viewing window on a closed marking in closing position of the valve and prevents the vision through the viewing window on the closed marking by a cover in an opening position of the valve.