Valve Electrical Drive Clutch Switching Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical drive apparatuses for valves require excessive time and effort to switch to manual operation during emergencies like blackouts, as operators need to manually turn hand wheels and transmission shafts to control valve bodies, leading to operator exhaustion.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a switch unit that allows easy transition from electrical drive mode to manual drive mode, enabling faster manual operation of valve bodies by disengaging the clutch mechanism and allowing direct rotation of the hand wheel and transmission shaft, reducing the time and effort required to open or close valves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the valve body is operated manually by turning a hand wheel to drive a worm and spiral gear during a power cut, then the valve can be opened or closed, but it takes a lot of time and causes operator exhaustion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve operation capability during power cutVSAvoidtime to manually open or close valve body

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The clutch mechanism enables dynamic switching between electrical drive mode and manual drive mode. During normal operation, the clutch engages the electrical drive. During a power cut, the clutch can be quickly disengaged and reconfigured to engage the manual drive directly, allowing the operator to turn the hand wheel which directly rotates the transmission shaft without going through the worm and spiral gear, thus dramatically reducing the time and effort required while maintaining valve operation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the valve body is operated manually by turning a hand wheel to drive a worm and spiral gear during a power cut, then the valve can be opened or closed, but it requires significant operator effort leading to exhaustion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve operation capability during power cutVSAvoidoperator effort to manually open or close valve body

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The clutch mechanism enables dynamic switching between electrical drive mode and manual drive mode. During normal operation, the clutch engages the electrical drive. During a power cut, the clutch can be quickly disengaged and reconfigured to engage the manual drive directly, allowing the operator to turn the hand wheel which directly rotates the transmission shaft without going through the worm and spiral gear, thus dramatically reducing the time and effort required while maintaining valve operation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Facilitates quicker and less strenuous manual operation of valve bodies during power outages, saving time and energy, thus enhancing emergency response effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

the hand wheel can be rotated to rotate a transmission shaft directly to control the opening/closing of the valve body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS8382621B2Electrical drive apparatus for valves

Publication Date: 2013.02.26 SUN YEH ELECTRICAL IND

AI summary

An electrical drive apparatus for valves includes: a main body having an internal first receiving space in which a transmission unit is received; a drive unit disposed on one side of the main body for driving the transmission unit to rotate; a hand wheel fixed with a top section of the transmission unit, a lower section of the hand wheel being formed with several sockets; and a switch unit for controlling whether the hand wheel and the first transmission shaft can be rotated so as to switch the electrical drive apparatus between an electrical drive operation mode and a manual drive operation mode.