Valve Polygon Plug-in Connection Torque Transmission

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fittings for shutting off or regulating media, such as water and gas, face challenges in reliability, cost-effectiveness, and wear issues due to severe competition and unfavorable design features like the notch effect in shaft connections, leading to corrosion and contamination concerns.

Innovation Solution

A polygon plug-in connection with rounded corner areas is used, eliminating the need for additional components like feather keys or pins, providing a cost-effective and reliable torque transmission with zero play, and incorporating a sleeve for medium protection and sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If traditional shaft-hub connections (pin, wedge, feather key, or splined connection) are used, then torque transmission is achieved, but the structure becomes complex and production costs increase due to additional components and assembly steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the shaft and hub connection by integrating the polygonal cross-section directly into both components, eliminating the need for separate connecting elements like pins, wedges, or feather keys. This unified approach reduces structural complexity while maintaining reliable torque transmission through the polygonal interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate components from the shaft-hub connection system. By using a direct polygonal plug-in connection, it removes feather keys, wedges, and pins that were previously required, simplifying the overall structure and reducing assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Strength

If traditional shaft connections with milled grooves are used, then torque transmission is achieved, but the torsional resistance of the shaft is weakened due to the notch effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorsional resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by rounding the corner areas of the polygonal cross-section. This rounded polygonal design eliminates sharp notches and grooves that would create stress concentration points, thereby maintaining the shaft's torsional resistance while still enabling effective torque transmission through the polygonal interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of manufacture

If polygon plug-in connection with rounded corner areas is used, then assembly is simplified and production costs are reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper fit and zero play

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidfit precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the polygonal connection by rounding the corner areas. This parameter change balances the need for manufacturing simplicity with the requirement for precise fit, allowing for cost-effective production via modern CNC machines while ensuring proper engagement and zero play between the shaft and hub.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If the drive shaft is exposed to the medium, then the structure is simplified, but corrosion and contamination occur leading to reduced reliability over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelong-term reliabilityVSAvoidprotective structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a sleeve as a protective barrier between the drive shaft and the medium. This sleeve shields the drive shaft from corrosive and contaminating media, ensuring long-term reliability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The sleeve acts as a thin film barrier that protects critical components without adding significant complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP1811211B2Valve for the cut-off or regulation of a fluide
Publication Date: 2014.06.25 ERHARD
  • EP1811211B2 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP1811211B2 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP1811211B2 patent drawingFigure 8

AI summary

The armature has a plug-in connector with a polygonal cross section for transferring torque from a drive shaft (3) to a hub (2.2). A bearing bush (4) is provided between the hub and a housing, where the bush shields the shaft against a medium e.g. waste water, and supports the shaft at the housing. Seals are provided for sealing a gap between the bush and a blind hole of the shaft and a gap between the bush and a housing hole. The surfaces of the hub and the housing are provided with a coating in the region of the seals.