Variable Orifice Valve Detent for Stable Preset Flow Rates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valves with ball detent apparatuses are prone to misalignment and damage under harsh environmental conditions such as high pressures, G-forces, impacts, and vibrations, and are often difficult to adjust intuitively, leading to potential misuse or damage.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a detent configuration with ramped teeth and slots that allows for selection of preset flow rates, which can be adjusted without axial pressure and maintains the selected flow orifice position even under harsh conditions, using a biasing element and the geometry of the teeth and slots to ensure stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ball detent apparatus is used for flow rate selection, then the valve can maintain preset flow rates, but the detent position migrates over time under harsh environmental conditions such as vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The detent mechanism is segmented into multiple independent ramped teeth on the valve member that engage with corresponding ramped slots in the valve body. Each tooth-slot pair represents an independent detent position, allowing the system to maintain multiple preset flow rates without relying on a single ball detent apparatus. This segmentation distributes the stability requirement across multiple engagement points, reducing migration under vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramped teeth and slots utilize curved ramp surfaces instead of linear or flat engagement surfaces. The curved geometry of the ramps allows for gradual engagement and disengagement of the detent positions, providing a more stable locking mechanism that resists migration under vibrational forces while maintaining precise flow rate control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the valve is designed for manual adjustment, then flow rate can be changed, but the valve is difficult or nonintuitive to adjust leading to potential damage or misuse
Solution Approach 1:
The valve incorporates visual indicators (such as colored bands or markings) on the valve member that align with corresponding indicators on the valve body when detent positions are engaged. This visual feedback system makes the current flow rate setting immediately identifiable, preventing misuse and making the valve intuitive to operate without requiring users to understand complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramped engagement surfaces provide a natural mechanical guidance that directs the valve member into the correct detent positions during rotation. The curved ramp geometry creates a self-correcting adjustment mechanism that is intuitive to operate, reducing the likelihood of improper adjustment or damage during manual flow rate changes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing detent configurations are used, then flow rate selection is possible, but the valve is prone to migration from set position under vibrations and harsh conditions
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple ramped teeth are distributed around the valve member, creating multiple independent detent engagement points. This segmentation allows the valve to maintain preset flow rate positions more reliably under harsh conditions, as the distributed engagement points provide greater resistance to migration compared to a single detent mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramped geometry of the teeth and slots provides curved engagement surfaces that create a more stable mechanical lock under vibrational and high-G force conditions. The ramped design allows the engagement surfaces to press against each other at an angle, increasing the holding force and preventing position migration during harsh operational environments.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a selectable variable orifice valve having a detent configuration that allows for selection of various preset flow rates through the valve. The detent configuration as described herein includes one or more ramped teeth that are configured to fit into one or more ramped slots, and the slots are located so as to correspond to a predetermined flow rate setting of the valve. Each flow rate setting of the valve corresponds to an amount of a flow path of a valve member that aligns with an open flow path of a valve body. The valve configuration as described herein may be adjusted with or without application of an axial pressure.