Vertical Shaft Valve Optical Sensing During Power Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motorized valves in aircraft and other applications face challenges in determining the position of a valve shaft without power, as microswitches are prone to mechanical wear and require constant power, while optical sensors offer precision but cannot function during power failures.
Innovation Solution
A valve assembly with a shaft and optical emitter-sensor pairs, powered by a supercapacitor, allowing position sensing even during power outages by using infrared diodes and corresponding sensors integrated with a DC motor and control module, enabling the valve to move to a safe position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If microswitches are used to detect valve shaft position, then position feedback is provided even without power, but the microswitches are prone to mechanical wear and require constant power for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical microswitches with an optical sensing system comprising infrared emitters and photodetector sensors. This substitution eliminates mechanical wear while enabling position detection. The optical system uses light transmission through sight holes in the shaft to detect position, providing reliable feedback without the mechanical contact wear inherent in microswitches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a supercapacitor that charges during normal operation and automatically discharges to power the optical sensing system during power failures. This preliminary energy storage action ensures continuous position monitoring capability even when main power is lost, addressing the requirement for constant power while maintaining reliability during outages.
2Measurement precision
If optical sensors are used to provide precise position feedback, then measurement precision is improved, but the sensors cannot function during power failures
Solution Approach 1:
The supercapacitor is charged during normal power operation and automatically activates the optical sensing system when power fails. This preliminary energy storage enables the precision optical sensors to continue functioning during power outages, maintaining both measurement precision and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The supercapacitor acts as an intermediary energy storage device between the main power source and the optical sensing system. It buffers power supply interruptions, ensuring continuous operation of the precision optical sensors during power failures without requiring modification to the sensors themselves.
3Reliability
If a supercapacitor is added to provide backup power for the optical sensors, then reliability during power failure is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supercapacitor system is designed to automatically charge during normal operation and automatically discharge during power failures without requiring external control or intervention. This self-service operation minimizes control complexity while achieving reliable backup power for the optical sensing 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
Enables precise position sensing of the valve shaft independent of the main power source, maintaining functionality during power failures and reducing mechanical wear, with the supercapacitor providing backup power for extended operation.
Implementation Method 1
a supercapacitor, the supercapacitor being configured to power at least the at least one emitter and the at least one sensor
Implementation Method 2
The at least one emitter may be diodes
Data Source
AI summary
A valve assembly is provided, the valve assembly includes a shaft, the shaft comprising a sight through-hole; and a flow through-hole. The valve assembly further comprises a shaft position mechanism, the shaft position mechanism comprising a driving means configured to provide movement to the shaft, and at least one diode and at least one corresponding sensor. The valve assembly further includes at least one flow path from at least one fluid inlet to at least one fluid outlet, wherein the shaft is configured to move across the at least one flow path so as to allow flow therethrough in a first position, and to block the at least one flow path in a second position.