Fluid control systems require reliability and longevity, and the SplashValve has been engineered with durability and minimal maintenance in mind. The SplashValve must operate without frequent maintenance, so the philosophy behind its design, material selection and testing protocols ensure they meet stringent lifecycle expectations.
The SplashValve’s Design Philosophy
The SplashValve is conceived as a “set-and-forget” component, according to Ronn Garland, program director at ARM Automation’s SplashBotix division. Once installed, it should operate for its entire lifecycle without internal servicing. External cleaning may be required depending on environmental conditions, but the internal mechanism is engineered for durability and stability.
Material Selection for the Underwater Valve
Oil-impregnated nylon bearings provide self-lubrication, eliminating the need for periodic greasing, Garland says. This design choice minimizes friction and wear over extended operational periods.
He says the spool assembly is constructed from high-performance self-lubricating polymers, including Delrin, and offers excellent dimensional stability and resistance to chemical and thermal degradation.
The belts are Kevlar.
Lifecycle Expectations and Testing Methodology
Empirical testing indicates a minimum service life of 5-6 years, with actual performance often exceeding this benchmark, Garland notes. “It’ll last much longer, but at some point you have to…draw the line of this is what we guarantee.” In controlled environments, valves have achieved well over 24 million cycles without measurable wear using conventional inspection techniques, he adds.
Before market introduction, the SplashValve went through rigorous prototypical and first-article evaluations to validate design integrity and performance under simulated conditions.
The product has evolved through three generations now, driven by insights from testing and market feedback. Early improvements focused on production efficiency and cost optimization, while recent updates have centered on software enhancements for functionality and stability, Garland reports, ensuring consistent operational behavior.
Quality assurance protocols include vacuum decay testing and subset stress testing for extreme environment validation.
Every valve is subjected to the vacuum decay test before leaving the factory to confirm sealing integrity. During the subset stress test, a representative sample undergoes real-world simulation under extreme conditions—continuous operation, aggressive motion profiles and temperatures exceeding 100°F.
Garland says this approach ensures that valves perform reliably in customer applications, even under severe environmental stress.
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