Valve with a device for presetting the flow channel cross-section

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thermostatic valves with two throttling points in series suffer from unfavorable flow behavior, leading to fluctuating room temperatures and increased energy consumption due to differing valve strokes required for preset flow rates, and occupy excessive space, making them unsuitable for existing systems.

Innovation Solution

A valve insert assembly unit comprising a spindle, throttle body, seat, and head piece, with a device that presets the flow channel cross-section width radially and height axially, allowing proportional control of flow rates using the same stroke size, and optionally includes a pressure control device to maintain constant pressure differences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two throttling points are connected in series to enable preset flow rate adjustment, then flow rate control capability is improved, but valve stroke varies with preset settings leading to fluctuating room temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow rate control capabilityVSAvoidroom temperature stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The valve is divided into two functional parts: a valve insert containing the presettable first throttling point that can be exchanged, and a fixed second throttling point. This segmentation allows the presetting function to be modified independently without changing the control mechanism, ensuring stable room temperature control while maintaining flow rate adjustment capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first throttling point is made adjustable through presettable valve inserts with different flow channel cross-sections, while the second throttling point remains fixed. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt to different flow rate requirements while maintaining consistent control characteristics through the fixed second throttling point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If two throttling points are connected in series to enable preset flow rate adjustment, then flow rate control capability is improved, but space requirements increase making installation in existing valves impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow rate control capabilityVSAvoidvalve space requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The first throttling point is integrated within the valve insert that fits into the housing containing the second throttling point. The presettable components are nested within the existing valve structure, allowing the addition of flow rate presetting functionality without significantly increasing the overall valve volume, enabling installation in existing thermostatic valve connection ports.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of repair

If valve inserts are made replaceable to improve maintenance ease, then ease of repair is improved, but connection geometry precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve insert replaceabilityVSAvoidconnection geometry precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A universal connection geometry is designed for the valve inserts that ensures precise and reliable connection to the housing. The standardized connection interface maintains manufacturing precision while enabling easy replacement of valve inserts. The connection geometry is designed to ensure proper positioning and sealing regardless of which presettable valve insert is installed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3527862B1Valve with a device for presetting the flow channel cross-section
Publication Date: 2020.10.21 F W OVENTROP KG
  • EP3527862B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3527862B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3527862B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a valve (1) with a device for presetting the flow channel cross-section for heating or cooling systems, comprising a housing (2) with inlet (3) and outlet (4), and a connecting piece (5) with a spindle (6) with an operating element (9) movable therein and a multi-part throttle body (14) coupled to the spindle (6) and acting on a valve seat (11), as well as with an actuating attachment (8) acting axially on the spindle (6), a head piece (19) and a valve seat (11), wherein the parts arranged in the connecting piece (5) are combined into an insert (18) as an assembly unit, wherein the parts (12, 13) forming the throttle body (14), which are movable relative to each other, form circumferential surfaces provided with openings, the openings forming boundary surfaces (20, 23) of the adjustable flow cross-section (10) and this is covered at least in partial areas by the valve seat (11).and the extending width (b) of the flow channel cross-section (10) is preset by the variable position of the second part (13), and the height (h) of the variable flow channel cross-section (10) is variable by the throttle body (14) moved relative to the seat (11) by means of the actuating attachment (8).