Valve Assembly Locking Plunger for Leak-Resistant Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Valves in fluid conduits often fail to maintain a closed position due to forces such as direct fluid impact or pressure changes, leading to leakage, as existing locking mechanisms are insufficient to counteract these forces.
Innovation Solution
A valve assembly with a locking device featuring a plunger and locking element that engages to prevent axial movement, utilizing a biasing element and ratchet mechanism to securely hold the valve in the closed position, even against opposing forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple plunger mechanism is used to hold the valve closed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of maintaining valve closure under force is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device transitions from a static simple plunger to a dynamic system with multiple states (undeployed and deployed positions). The plunger can move between these states and engage with the locking element to provide positive mechanical arrest, ensuring reliable valve closure while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element acts as an intermediary between the plunger and the valve. It provides the additional mechanical engagement needed to ensure reliable valve closure under force, while the plunger serves as the actuating intermediary that moves to engage or disengage the locking element.
2Reliability
If the plunger is made more powerful to counteract fluid forces, then the valve closure reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is segmented into distinct functional components: the plunger for actuation, the locking element for mechanical arrest, and the engagement interface. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function rather than requiring a single oversized component, managing complexity while ensuring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic engagement where the plunger moves to engage the locking element only when needed to counteract fluid forces. This dynamic operation allows the device to maintain reliability under load while remaining simpler overall than a continuously engaged locking mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the plunger is allowed to move freely to open the valve, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of preventing unintended opening worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger is designed with dynamic movement capability in the first axial direction for easy valve opening operation, while the locking element provides conditional restraint in the opposite direction. This dynamic design allows free movement when needed for operation while providing stability when the valve should remain closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element is positioned to provide preliminary anti-action against unintended valve opening forces. It stands ready to engage the plunger and prevent movement in the direction that would open the valve, while not interfering with intentional opening operations.
4Reliability
If a locking element is added to engage the plunger, then the reliability of maintaining closed position is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element and plunger are merged into a coordinated system where their interaction provides the locking function. Rather than adding a completely separate locking mechanism, the design combines the plunger's movement capability with the locking element's engagement feature to achieve reliable valve closure with minimal additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element serves as an intermediary that provides the additional mechanical engagement needed for reliable valve closure. It mediates between the plunger's actuation force and the valve's resistance to closing, ensuring stability without requiring a completely separate complex locking system.
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 effectively prevents valve opening and subsequent leakage by mechanically arresting the plunger's movement, ensuring a reliable closed position under various operational conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient biasing member may be a spring, which provides a mechanical means for applying the biasing force
Implementation Method 2
The first and second ratchet members are arranged so that the first and second ratchet members are mutually engageable to permit relative movement between the first and second ratchet members in one direction and prevent relative movement between the first and second ratchet members in the opposite direction
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2~3
AI summary
There is provided a locking device (32), for use in a fluid conduit, comprising: a plunger (36) for engaging a valve in the fluid conduit, the plunger (36) arranged to be moveable in a first axial direction (50) from an undeployed position to a deployed position, the plunger (36) when in its deployed position configured for holding the valve in a valve closed position; and a locking element (56) arranged to engage the plunger (36) in its deployed position so as to prevent movement of the plunger (36) in a second axial direction (52), the second axial direction (52) being opposite to the first axial direction (50).