Variable-Circumference Strainer Screen for Serviceable Thermostatic Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermostatic valves face issues with strainer screens that are welded or snapped on, leading to maintenance difficulties, production costs, tolerance gaps, and potential injuries, which compromise the service life and sealing effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A strainer screen designed as an annular, thin-walled hollow cylinder with a reversible expansion mechanism, allowing tool-free transition between states with varying circumferences for secure fitting and easy maintenance, manufactured through injection molding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the strainer screen is welded to the valve body, then the strainer screen is securely fixed, but it cannot be removed for maintenance and cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer screen is designed as a separate, detachable component from the valve body, allowing it to be removed and reinstalled. This segmentation enables maintenance access while maintaining secure operation during use, resolving the contradiction between secure fixing and removability for cleaning.
2Ease of repair
If the strainer screen is snapped on, then it can be removed for maintenance, but additional O-rings are required and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function previously requiring separate O-rings is integrated directly into the strainer screen structure. The recesses and protrusions on the strainer screen create an inherent sealing mechanism, eliminating the need for additional O-ring components and simplifying the overall assembly.
3Ease of manufacture
If the strainer screen is snapped on with tolerance gap, then assembly is easier, but the strainer screen can be damaged and suspended particles can enter the valve
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer screen incorporates elastic elements that allow dynamic adaptation during assembly. The elastic components enable the strainer screen to flex and conform to the valve body opening, ensuring a tight seal and preventing particle ingress while maintaining ease of assembly through the elastic engagement mechanism.
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
Enables easy disassembly and cleaning, reduces production costs, minimizes injuries, and ensures a tight seal, thereby extending the service life and improving the performance of thermostatic valves.
Implementation Method 1
the strainer screen (100) can be transferred from a first state (301) to a further state (302), wherein the strainer screen (100) has a first circumference (311) in the first state (301) and has a further circumference (312) in the further state (302), wherein the further circumference (312) is greater than the first circumference (311)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a screen. The screen a) is annular, b) is designed to filter water in a thermostatic valve, c) can be transferred from a first state into an additional state, d) has a first circumference in the first state, and e) has an additional circumference in the additional state. The screen is characterized in that the additional circumference is greater than the first circumference. The invention also relates to a thermostatic valve comprising the screen; to a thermostat fitting comprising the thermostatic valve; to a method comprising connecting the screen to a thermostatic valve body; and to a use of the screen in a thermostatic valve or in a thermostat fitting or in both.