Dead weight balancing device and VSPA oxygen generation system switching valve with same

Abstract

The invention discloses a self-weight balancing device and a VSPA oxygen generation system switching valve with the self-weight balancing device, and the self-weight balancing device comprises a supporting block and a top ball; a jacking cavity is formed in the bottom end of an inner cavity of the valve body and right faces the bottom of the valve rod. The supporting block is embedded in the bottom end of the jacking cavity. A containing groove is formed in the top of the supporting block, the top ball is arranged in the containing groove, and the top of the top ball protrudes out of the containing groove and abuts against the bottom end of the valve rod. According to the self-weight balancing device, the valve element assembly applies balance force which is equal to the self weight in magnitude and opposite to the self weight in direction, so that the valve element assembly is in a suspension state with the net weight being zero in the whole movement process; unilateral eccentric wear to the guide sleeve caused by the dead weight of the valve core and additional impact and stress to a sealing pair are eliminated, the wear rate of key parts of the valve is effectively reduced, the service life of the valve under the high-frequency switching working condition is remarkably prolonged, and the reliability of the valve under the high-frequency switching working condition is remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of industrial valve technology, and more specifically to a self-balancing device and a switching valve for a VSPA oxygen generation system equipped with a self-balancing device. Background Technology

[0002] Vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VSA) oxygen production is a technology that uses an adsorbent to adsorb nitrogen under normal or high pressure and then desorbs it under vacuum to produce oxygen in a cyclical manner. The core of this process lies in the cyclical switching of multiple adsorption towers, and its flow typically includes steps such as adsorption, pressure equalization, vacuuming, rinsing, and pressurization. Valves (such as inlet valves, outlet valves, pressure equalization valves, and evacuation valves) are key actuators for achieving the switching of each step.

[0003] In VSPA oxygen generation systems, the self-controlled switching valves are mostly vertically installed. The moving parts, such as the valve disc and valve stem (hereinafter referred to as the valve core assembly), have considerable weight. During the valve's high-frequency opening and closing cycles of dozens of times per minute, the weight of the valve core assembly is always present, leading to the following problems: 1. When the valve is open, the weight of the valve core assembly is entirely borne by the valve stem and valve disc guide rail, easily causing continuous uneven wear on one side; 2. At the moment the valve closes, the weight of the valve core assembly is superimposed on the closing force of the drive device, intensifying the impact on the valve body sealing surface; 3. When the valve is closed, the weight of the valve core assembly continuously acts on the lower half of the valve body sealing surface, potentially causing localized micro-deformation or stress concentration.

[0004] The asymmetric wear and additional load caused by the weight of the valve core assembly significantly shorten the service life of the valve body and valve disc, and are one of the important reasons for valve leakage and frequent maintenance. Existing valve structures usually do not specifically consider this problem, or only passively address it by selecting more wear-resistant materials, which cannot fundamentally eliminate the adverse effects of the valve core assembly's weight.

[0005] Therefore, developing a self-weight balancing device that can eliminate the influence of the self-weight of the valve core assembly and a VSPA oxygen generation system switching valve with a self-weight balancing device is a problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the present invention provides a self-weight balancing device that can eliminate the influence of the self-weight of the valve core assembly and a VSPA oxygen generation system switching valve with the self-weight balancing device.

[0007] The self-weight balancing device includes:

[0008] The valve body has a support block and a lifting chamber at the bottom, which is directly opposite the bottom of the valve stem; the support block is embedded in the bottom of the lifting chamber. The top bead has a receiving groove on the top of the support block, and the top bead is placed in the receiving groove. The top of the top bead protrudes from the receiving groove and abuts against the bottom end of the valve stem.

[0009] Preferably, a limiting groove adapted to the shape of the top ball is provided at the bottom end of the valve stem corresponding to the position of the top ball.

[0010] Preferably, an auxiliary bearing is provided inside the lifting cavity, and the auxiliary bearing is sleeved on the outside of the bottom end of the valve stem.

[0011] Preferably, the side wall at the bottom end of the valve stem is provided with a concave connecting surface, and the auxiliary bearing is sleeved on the outside of the connecting surface.

[0012] Preferably, a pad is provided inside the lifting cavity, and the pad is located at the bottom of the auxiliary bearing.

[0013] The VSPA oxygen generation system switching valve with a self-balancing device also includes a valve body, valve stem, valve disc, and actuator; The valve disc is disposed in the valve body, the top of the valve stem is connected to the actuator, and the bottom extends into the valve body, connects to the valve disc, and passes through the valve disc; The self-weight balancing device is located at the bottom of the valve body and is supported at the bottom of the valve stem.

[0014] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, compared with the prior art, the present invention discloses a self-weight balancing device and a VSPA oxygen generation system switching valve with a self-weight balancing device, the advantages of which are: (1) By applying a constant upward balancing force through the self-weight balancing device, the "net weight" of the valve core assembly tends to zero throughout the entire movement, which solves the problem of one-sided wear of the guide sleeve caused by its own weight and greatly extends the valve disc life. (2) When the switching valve is closed, the driving force of the actuator is used entirely to form the sealing pressure, without having to overcome the weight of the valve core assembly, thus reducing the required driving force; the force on the sealing surface is uniform, avoiding the additional stress on one side caused by its own weight, which is conducive to keeping the sealing surface flat for a long time and reducing the wear rate; while reducing wear, the sensitivity and response speed of the switching valve may be improved due to the reduced resistance of the moving parts, which helps to accurately control the VSPA process sequence. (3) The self-weight balancing device uses mechanical components such as round top balls and auxiliary bearings. It does not require external energy, sensors or control units. It has a reliable structure, is maintenance-free, and is suitable for any working environment. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a front view of the switching valve provided by the present invention; Figure 2 A side view of the switching valve provided by the present invention; Figure 3 This is an internal sectional view of the self-weight balancing device provided by the present invention within the valve body.

[0017] In the figure, 1-Support block; 11-Receiving groove; 2-Valve body; 21-Lifting chamber; 3-Valve stem; 31-Limiting groove; 32-Connecting surface; 4-Top ball; 5-Auxiliary bearing; 6-Padded block; 7-Valve disc; 8-Actuator. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] This invention discloses a self-weight balancing device, comprising: The bottom of the inner cavity of the valve body 2 is provided with a lifting cavity 21, which is directly opposite to the bottom of the valve stem 3; the support block 1 is embedded in the bottom of the lifting cavity 21. The top bead 4 and the support block 1 have a receiving groove 11 on the top. The top bead 4 is placed in the receiving groove 11, and the top of the top bead 4 protrudes from the receiving groove 11 and is abutted against the bottom end of the valve stem 3.

[0020] The self-weight balancing device applies a balancing force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the valve core assembly through the support block 1 and the top ball 4, keeping the valve core assembly in a "zero-weight" suspended state throughout its movement. This eliminates the unilateral wear caused by the valve core assembly's own weight on the guide sleeve and the additional impact and stress on the sealing pair, effectively reducing the wear rate of key components of the switching valve and significantly extending the service life and reliability of the switching valve under high-frequency switching conditions.

[0021] In one embodiment, a limiting groove 31, which is adapted to the shape of the top ball 4, is provided at the bottom end of the valve stem 3 at a position corresponding to the top ball 4. The limiting groove 31 ensures that the top ball 4 is stably supported by the valve stem 3, preventing the position of the top ball 4 from deviating when the valve stem 3 moves.

[0022] In one embodiment, an auxiliary bearing 5 is provided inside the lifting cavity 21, and the auxiliary bearing 5 is sleeved on the outside of the bottom end of the valve stem 3. The auxiliary bearing 5 is used to assist the rotation of the valve stem 3 to reduce mechanical hysteresis, and can also adapt to the high-frequency response of the switching valve.

[0023] In one embodiment, the side wall at the bottom end of the valve stem 3 is provided with a concave connecting surface 32, and an auxiliary bearing 5 is sleeved on the outside of the connecting surface 32.

[0024] In one embodiment, a pad 6 is provided inside the lifting cavity 21, and the pad 6 is located at the bottom of the auxiliary bearing 5. The pad 6 is used to support the auxiliary bearing 5, so that the auxiliary bearing 5 is in a suitable position for easy connection with the valve stem 3.

[0025] The VSPA oxygen generation system switching valve with a self-balancing device also includes a valve body 2, a valve stem 3, a valve disc 7, and an actuator 8; The valve disc 7 is located inside the valve body 2. The top of the valve stem 3 is connected to the actuator 8, and the bottom extends into the valve body 2, connects to the valve disc 7, and passes through the valve disc 7. Self-weight balancing device A (such as...) Figure 1 , 2 As shown, the self-weight balancing device (represented by the letter A) is located at the bottom of the valve body 2 and is supported at the bottom of the valve stem 3.

[0026] Work process: The self-weight balancing device lifts the valve stem 3 upwards, balancing the weight of the valve core assembly. When the switching valve is open, almost all the driving force of the actuator 8 is used to overcome the resistance such as the friction of the stuffing gland, rather than lifting the weight of the valve core assembly. Therefore, the valve disc 7 experiences uniform force during its overshoot. When the switching valve is closed, the driving force of the actuator 8 does not need to be used to overcome the weight of the valve core assembly, allowing for more precise control of the sealing force at the closing end. Furthermore, the impact force on the valve body 2 is reduced during this process.

[0027] Regardless of the position of the switching valve, the top ball 4 always provides an upward force to balance the weight of the valve core assembly, minimizing its additional force on the valve disc 7 and valve body 2.

[0028] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0029] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A self-weight balancing device, characterized in that, include: The support block has a lifting chamber at the bottom of the valve body cavity, which is directly opposite the bottom of the valve stem. The support block is embedded at the bottom end of the lifting cavity; The top bead has a receiving groove on the top of the support block, and the top bead is placed in the receiving groove. The top of the top bead protrudes from the receiving groove and abuts against the bottom end of the valve stem.

2. The self-weight balancing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A limiting groove adapted to the shape of the top ball is provided at the bottom end of the valve stem corresponding to the position of the top ball.

3. The self-weight balancing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, An auxiliary bearing is provided inside the lifting cavity, and the auxiliary bearing is sleeved on the outside of the bottom end of the valve stem.

4. The self-weight balancing device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The valve stem has a recessed connecting surface on its bottom side wall, and the auxiliary bearing is sleeved on the outside of the connecting surface.

5. The self-weight balancing device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, A pad is provided inside the lifting cavity, and the pad is located at the bottom of the auxiliary bearing.

6. A VSPA oxygen generation system switching valve with a self-balancing device as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, It also includes the valve body, valve stem, valve disc, and actuator; The valve disc is disposed in the valve body, the top of the valve stem is connected to the actuator, and the bottom extends into the valve body, connects to the valve disc, and passes through the valve disc; The self-weight balancing device is located at the bottom of the valve body and is supported at the bottom of the valve stem.

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