Valve Servo Retrofit with Centering Sleeve for Coaxial Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve robot hands cannot adapt to ball valves of different specifications due to varying screw cap dimensions, leading to misalignment and malfunctioning, as the counterforce from the valve causes loosening and shifting of the actuator's mounting clamp.
Innovation Solution
The electro mechanic valve servo apparatus features a driving device, transmitting sleeve, centering sleeves, and return springs that allow the driving fork to align and securely couple with screw caps of different dimensions, ensuring the rotating axis of the valve robot hand is coaxial with the ball valve handle, using adjustable through-holes and position-limiting steps to maintain stability and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a fixed mounting clamp is used to secure the valve actuator, then the actuator can be firmly mounted, but the counterforce from the valve causes loosening and shifting of the clamp leading to malfunctioning
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting clamp is divided into two separate clamps positioned on opposite sides of the valve body. This segmentation distributes the counterforce from the valve handle across two mounting points, preventing any single clamp from loosening or shifting due to rotational torque, thereby maintaining reliable actuator alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting clamp integrates a resilient element (spring) directly into the clamping mechanism, combining the mechanical fastening function with the shock absorption and force distribution function. This allows the clamp to maintain firm mounting while accommodating the counterforce from valve operation without loosening.
2Manufacturing precision
If the valve actuator is designed for a specific screw cap dimension, then it can achieve precise alignment, but it cannot adapt to ball valves of different specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The driving fork incorporates an adjustable positioning mechanism that can dynamically adapt its position along the axial direction to match different screw cap dimensions. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the actuator to maintain precise alignment (coaxiality) with the valve handle across various ball valve specifications without requiring multiple fixed designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve actuator is designed with universal adaptability through adjustable components (driving fork positioning, centering sleeve adjustment) that enable a single actuator design to accommodate multiple screw cap dimensions. This multi-functionality allows the same actuator to achieve precise alignment with ball valves of different specifications.
3Power
If the driving fork is directly coupled to the valve handle, then it can drive the handle rotation, but misalignment with screw caps of different dimensions causes malfunctioning
Solution Approach 1:
The centering sleeve acts as an intermediary component between the driving fork and the valve handle screw cap. It provides a mediating adjustment mechanism that ensures the driving fork's rotational axis aligns with the screw cap's axis, regardless of the screw cap's specific dimensions. This intermediary component transmits the driving power reliably while accommodating dimensional variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving fork includes an adjustable positioning mechanism that dynamically adapts its position to match different screw cap dimensions. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the driving fork remains properly aligned with the screw cap across various ball valve specifications, maintaining both drive capability and operational reliability.
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
This solution enables reliable operation of the valve robot hand across various ball valve specifications by ensuring proper alignment and secure mounting, preventing malfunctions and improving installation efficiency, while maintaining stability and coaxiality with the valve handle.
Implementation Method 1
The first return spring is configured to exert a downward elastic force on the first centering sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
A valve robot hand includes a driving device, a transmitting sleeve, a first return spring, a first centering sleeve configured to sleeve on a screw cap of a valve handle, and a driving fork configured to couple with the valve handle. A lower end of the transmitting sleeve is connected with the driving fork. The driving fork is provided with a first through-hole configured to sleeve on the screw cap of the valve handle. The first through-hole is coaxial with the transmitting sleeve. The driving fork is sleeved on the first centering sleeve through the first through-hole such that the first centering sleeve is capable of moving in the transmitting sleeve along its axial direction. The first return spring is configured to exert a downward elastic force on the first centering sleeve.