Seal carrier ring used in valves

Abstract

To provide a seal carrier ring that can highly accurately regulate or meter the volumetric flow rate through a valve opening by opening and closing the valve opening.SOLUTION: A basic body (4) has a first side, on which a seal carrier ring (1), in a state completely mounted on a valve housing, abuts on the valve housing. The seal carrier ring (1), when arranged on the basic body (4), is provided with at least one seal ring (8) that is formed of an elastic member surrounding a throughflow opening (3). A casing wall (9) is arranged on the basic body (4) and at least partially surrounds the throughflow opening (3) and, on a second side (10) of the basic body (4) opposite the first side, protrudes from the basic body (4) and has a larger inside diameter (11) than the seal ring (8).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seal carrier ring for use in a valve, particularly a vacuum valve. The seal carrier ring includes a flow opening, a base annularly surrounding the flow opening, and a fixing mechanism for fixing the seal carrier ring to a valve housing of the valve. The base has a first side, and the seal carrier ring abuts against the valve housing at the first side when fully attached to the valve housing. The seal carrier ring includes at least one seal ring made of an elastic member that surrounds the flow opening when placed on the base.

[0002] The invention further relates to a valve, in particular a vacuum valve, equipped with such a seal carrier ring. [Background technology]

[0003] A seal carrier ring is known that is provided in a valve, particularly a vacuum valve, and that facilitates replacement of a seal ring that abuts against a valve disc in a closed position (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this case, the seal carrier ring is removed from the valve housing and then replaced. It is also possible to replace only the seal ring of the seal carrier ring, and then reattach the seal carrier ring to the valve housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 5,577,707 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an improvement to a seal carrier ring of the type described above so that the valve in which it is fitted allows for highly accurate regulation or measurement of the volumetric flow rate through the valve opening by opening or closing the valve opening when the valve disc is near its closed position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve this problem, according to the present invention, in a seal carrier ring of the type described above, an outer mantle wall is provided on the base, which at least partially surrounds the flow opening, protrudes from the base on a second side of the base opposite the first side, and has an inner diameter larger than that of the seal ring.

[0007] The outer wall of the seal carrier ring and the base body define a transverse direction by the outer wall at the second side of the base body, forming an accommodating space that accommodates the valve disc along its path in the closing direction when the valve is closed. When the valve is opened, the valve disc is accommodated in the accommodating space along a portion of its opening path starting from the closed position. When the valve disc is close to its closed position, the medium flowing through the valve opening must flow through the annular space between the outer wall and the valve disc. This allows for highly accurate control of the fluid state and for accurate adjustment of the volumetric flow rate of the fluid flowing through the valve opening. Therefore, according to the present invention, accurate adjustment or metering of the volumetric flow rate is possible when the valve disc is close to its closed position.

[0008] When fully mounted in the valve housing, the base of the seal carrier ring can abut directly against the valve housing at its first side. When the seal carrier ring is fully mounted in the valve housing, the first side of the base can refer to the area of ​​the valve housing against which the seal carrier ring abuts, or it can be slightly spaced from that area of ​​the valve housing, for example, so that the seal ring or additional seal ring abuts directly against that area of ​​the valve housing.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer wall has a protrusion of 15 to 40 mm, preferably 20 to 30 mm, relative to the base on a second side opposite the first side. That is, the outer wall protrudes from the base on the second side by 15 to 40 mm, preferably 20 to 30 mm. In principle, this is sufficient from the standpoint of ensuring accurate adjustment of the required position of the valve disc, i.e., the position close to the closed position.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer wall is arranged on the outer periphery of the base body, spaced apart from the flow opening of the seal carrier ring. There are various options for arranging the outer wall relative to the base body. The outer wall may be attached to the base body by any suitable connecting method known in the art, such as welding, soldering, adhesive bonding, screwing, clamping, etc. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer wall is integrally formed with the base body. This means that the base body and the outer wall are integrally connected to each other or form a common, integral part.

[0011] The mantle wall may be a substantially cylindrical mantle wall that is completely closed in the circumferential direction. In this case, it is preferable that the mantle wall protrudes uniformly from the base body overall. A blind-hole-shaped wall opening may be formed in the mantle wall to provide a space for the support arm, to which the valve disc is attached, to pass. When the valve disc is near the closed position, the support arm supporting the valve disc can enter the blind-hole-shaped wall opening. Therefore, it is preferable that the blind-hole-shaped wall opening is open in a direction away from the base body of the seal carrier ring.

[0012] However, in order to regulate the volume flow rate through the valve opening as precisely as possible, the wall opening should not be larger than necessary. In this sense, according to a preferred variant of the invention, the mantle wall is configured as a cylindrical mantle wall that is partially cut out in the circumferential direction and is closed over a central angle of 300° or more, preferably 325° or more. In the region where the mantle wall is configured as a cylindrical mantle wall that is partially cut out in the circumferential direction, it is preferred that the mantle wall has a uniform projection from the base body as a whole.

[0013] In the seal carrier ring according to the present invention, it is preferable that the outer jacket wall is disposed on the first side surface of the base body at a right angle to the surface of the base body in a cross-sectional view.

[0014] The seal ring is preferably a sealing element that seals the valve disc against the seal carrier ring in its closed position. In this sense, the valve disc preferably abuts against the seal ring of the seal carrier ring in its closed position. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the seal ring may have a dual function in that it simultaneously seals the seal carrier ring against the valve housing. Alternatively, the seal carrier ring may be provided with an additional seal ring to ensure that the seal carrier ring is sealed against the valve housing. According to this embodiment, the seal ring according to claim 1 may be called the first seal ring, and the additional seal ring may be called the second seal ring. Of course, it is not excluded that three or more seal rings are provided on the seal carrier ring. If two or more seal rings are present, it is preferred that the outer wall has a larger inner diameter than all of the seal rings of the seal carrier ring.

[0015] In order to mount the seal ring and, if necessary, additional or other seal rings, the seal rings are fixed to the base body. For example, the seal rings may be fixed to the base body by being vulcanized and bonded to the base body. The same applies to the additional or other seal rings. According to this embodiment, if the seal rings need to be replaced during maintenance work on the valve, the seal carrier ring usually needs to be replaced as a whole.

[0016] In order to make it possible to replace only the sealing ring, according to another embodiment of the invention, the sealing ring may be removably arranged in a groove in the base. According to this embodiment, only the sealing ring can be removed from the groove in the base and replaced with a new sealing ring. This also applies to the additional sealing ring and any further sealing rings that may be present. The sealing ring may be removably arranged in a corresponding groove in the base or generally in a groove in the seal carrier ring.

[0017] In principle, there are various options or fixing mechanisms available for fixing the seal carrier ring to the valve housing of the valve. In principle, the fixing mechanism must be a removable type fixing mechanism. It is preferable that at least a part of the fixing mechanism of the seal carrier ring is formed on the outside or inside of the base. For mounting and dismounting the seal carrier ring to and from the valve housing, it is preferable that the seal carrier ring has a handle protruding outward from the base in a direction away from the flow opening. The seal carrier ring can be gripped or held at the handle during the mounting and dismounting processes.

[0018] There are various options for configuring the fixing mechanism of the seal carrier ring. According to one variant, for example, the seal carrier ring has a plurality of keyhole-shaped openings formed in the base body at a distance from one another as the fixing mechanism. The plurality of keyhole-shaped openings may be equally spaced from one another in the circumferential direction of the flow opening in the base body. Each of the keyhole-shaped openings preferably has a head section and an elongated channel section narrower than the head section, and the channel section is preferably defined by a slope-shaped inclined surface of the base body. The channel section is suitably designed to extend with the same curvature as the base body annularly surrounding the flow opening. According to a method for mounting the seal carrier ring to a valve housing, the seal carrier ring is preferably inserted into the valve housing so that the valve opening of the valve and the flow opening of the seal carrier ring are in communication with each other. Next, the seal carrier ring abuts against a region of the valve housing surrounding the valve opening at a first side of the base body, thereby inserting the mushroom-shaped head of a fastening bolt of the valve housing into the head section of the keyhole-shaped opening in the base body of the seal carrier ring. Next, the seal carrier ring is rotated relative to the valve housing so that the mushroom-shaped heads of the fastening bolts of the valve housing enter the inclined channel sections and slide along the inclined surfaces of the base body that define the channel sections until the seal carrier ring is fixed relative to the valve housing. The seal carrier ring is then fully attached to the valve housing. In the process of removing the seal carrier ring from the valve housing, the steps are performed in reverse order.

[0019] According to an alternative embodiment of the seal carrier ring of the present invention, a first fastening mechanism is formed in the base at an outer peripheral edge thereof away from the flow opening, and at least one screw is arranged on a fastening side of the seal carrier ring facing the groove as a second fastening mechanism. According to a method for attaching the seal carrier ring to the valve housing of this embodiment, the seal carrier ring is first inserted into the valve housing so that the mushroom-shaped heads of the fastening bolts in the valve housing enter the blind-hole-shaped grooves in the base. Next, the seal carrier ring is swung or rotated so that the first side of the seal carrier ring abuts against the area surrounding the valve opening on the first side of the base, and the valve opening of the valve and the flow opening of the seal carrier ring are in communication with or aligned with each other. Next, at least one screw arranged on the seal carrier ring is threaded into a nut on the valve housing to secure the seal carrier ring in this position. This completes the installation process and ensures that the seal carrier ring is fully installed in the valve housing. To remove the seal carrier ring from the valve housing, the steps are performed in reverse order.

[0020] In addition to the seal carrier ring, the present invention relates to a valve comprising a valve housing, a valve opening in the valve housing, and a valve disc for closing the valve opening in a closed position, wherein the seal carrier ring is fixed to the valve housing and arranged so that the valve opening of the valve and the flow opening of the seal carrier ring communicate with each other, and the valve disc abuts against the seal ring of the seal carrier ring in the closed position and is surrounded by the outer wall of the seal carrier ring.

[0021] As mentioned above, in the closed position of the valve according to the invention, the valve disc is located in a receiving space defined by the outer wall and the base of the seal carrier ring, which has the advantage that the volumetric flow rate through the valve opening can be precisely regulated or metered when the valve is opened or closed.

[0022] The valve according to the present invention is preferably a so-called pendulum valve. When the valve is opened or closed, the valve disc preferably moves back and forth along a linear first path of motion between a closed position and an intermediate position, and swings back and forth along a second path of motion between the intermediate position and a fully open position. The first path of motion is preferably perpendicular to the second path of motion. Pendulum valves, as well as the valve actuators required to realize the movement of the valve disc along the two paths of motion, are known per se, and reference may be made to the prior art for this information.

[0023] The valve according to the present invention is a so-called vacuum valve, i.e., a valve employed in the so-called vacuum technology field. Vacuum technology generally applies to operating conditions with pressures of 0.001 mbar (millibar) or 0.1 Pascal or less. A vacuum valve is a valve designed for these pressure ranges and / or pressure differentials relative to the environment. However, valves designed for pressures lower than normal, i.e., pressures below 1 bar, are also generally referred to as vacuum valves.

[0024] Apart from the seal ring or rings, the seal carrier ring is made of metal, preferably aluminum or an aluminum alloy or stainless steel, for example, the aluminum or aluminum alloy surface may be blank or hard anodized.

[0025] The elastomer of the sealing ring is preferably a perfluoroelastomer (FFKM).

[0026] Further advantages and details of the present invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram relating to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 29] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 30] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 32] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 33]FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a seal carrier ring and a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] In the first embodiment, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from the outside of a valve 2 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a top view of the valve 2, with section lines AA and BB indicated. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the valve 2 along section line AA in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the valve 2 along section line BB in FIG. 2. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a seal carrier ring 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a state where it is fully mounted in the valve housing 6 or its first housing part 28. FIGS. 5 to 9 show different aspects of the seal carrier ring 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, removed from the valve 2. FIGS. 10 to 17 show mounting modes of the seal carrier ring 1 to the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28 for further detailed explanation of the structures of the seal carrier ring 1 and the valve 2.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows that the valve housing 6 of the valve 2 according to the first embodiment is made up of three housing parts. The valve opening 26 is formed in the first housing part 28. More precisely, in the first embodiment, there are two openings arranged opposite each other. One opening is the valve opening 26, which is closed by the valve disc 27 in the closed position, and the other opening is an opening in the valve housing 6 on the opposite side. In other embodiments, this other opening may be completely omitted in suitable configurations of the valve housing 6 or may be closable by an additional valve disc. This is known per se. In the latter case, two seal carrier rings 1 may be used accordingly. All these variants are merely design matters within the capabilities of those skilled in the art and will not be further described herein. Therefore, the additional opening in the valve housing 6 opposite the valve opening 26 will not be described. In either case, the seal carrier ring 1 according to the present invention is appropriately arranged in the first housing part 28. In the second housing part 29, the valve disc 27 is pivoted or swung to the open position. The second housing part 29 is configured to be removable from the first housing part 28 so that the seal carrier ring 1 is inserted into the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28 during the mounting process, and the seal carrier ring 1 is removed from the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28 during the removal process. Even when the seal carrier ring 1 is arranged in the first housing part 28 in the first embodiment, this should be understood as a synonym for the expression "the seal carrier ring 1 is arranged in the valve housing 6."

[0030] The third housing part 30 of the valve housing 6 is provided with a valve actuator 34, which will be described below with reference to Figure 4. As mentioned above, suitable valve actuators 34 are known per se and can be configured in a wide variety of forms in accordance with the prior art.

[0031] 1 and 2 show that a flange 43 is disposed on the valve housing 6 on either side of the valve opening 26 that can be closed by the valve disc 27. The flanges 43 allow the valve 2 to be mounted to an appropriate process chamber, media flow passage, etc., and are well known in the art and will not be described in further detail.

[0032] The cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 3 shows how the seal carrier ring 1 according to the first embodiment is mounted on the valve housing 6 or a first housing part 28 thereof. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the valve disc 27, supported by or fixed relative to the support arm 32, is in a position spaced apart from the sealing ring 8, i.e., near the closed position but not in the closed position. In this position, an annular flow path is formed between the outer wall 9 and the valve disc 27 when a volume flow of a suitable medium or fluid flows through the valve opening 26. Due to the flow-guiding effect of the outer wall 9 and the valve disc 27, the volumetric flow rate of the fluid can be precisely adjusted when the valve disc 27 is moved towards the sealing ring 8 and thus towards and away from the closed position. The structure of the seal carrier ring 1 and its assembly, and thus the fixing of the seal carrier ring 1 to the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28, will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0033] The valve actuator 34 implemented to displace the valve disc 27 will now be described with reference to Figure 4. As previously mentioned, the valve actuator 34 can take a wide variety of other forms known per se in the art.

[0034] Figure 4 shows that the valve disc 27 is fixed relative to the support arm 32. The support arm 32 is fixedly connected to the axis pin 33. Figure 4 also shows that the support arm 32 passes through a wall opening 13, described below, in the outer wall 9 of the seal carrier ring 1 when the valve disc 27 is close to the seal ring 8 and thus in the closed position.

[0035] In the first embodiment, the valve actuator 34 is composed of two actuators: a lifting actuator 35 and a swivel actuator 41. A known motor 36, such as an electric motor, constituting the lifting actuator 35 is fixed relative to the third housing part 30. The motor 36 rotates a spindle 37 about its longitudinal axis. The spindle 37 engages with a nut 38 via a thread. The nut 38 is fixed relative to a carriage 39. The carriage 39 is mounted on a guide pin 40, which is arranged fixedly relative to the third housing part 30, so that it can be linearly displaced in its longitudinal direction. The swivel actuator 41 or its motor 42 is fixed relative to the carriage 39. The motor 42 enables the axis pin 33, and thus the support arm 32 fixed thereto, to rotate or swivel together with the valve disc 27 about the longitudinal axis of the axis pin 33.

[0036] To open the valve 2 from a closed position, in which the valve disc 27 abuts against the sealing ring 8, the lifting actuator 35 is actuated. By rotating the spindle 37 in the appropriate direction about its longitudinal axis, the carriage 39, together with the pivoting actuator 41, is displaced along the guide pin 40. As a result, the valve disc 27, together with the support arm 32 and the axis pin 33, moves away from the sealing ring 8 along a first linear path of movement. The aforementioned intermediate position is a position in which the valve disc 27 is sufficiently far from the sealing ring 8 that it will not collide with the outer wall 9 upon subsequent pivoting of the axis pin 33 about its longitudinal axis. During this path between the closed and intermediate positions, the clearance between the outer wall 9 and the valve disc 27 allows for the regulation or measurement of the volumetric flow rate of the fluid through the valve opening 26 and the flow opening 3 of the seal carrier ring 1, as previously described.

[0037] In the intermediate position, the valve disc 27 is appropriately spaced from the sealing ring 8, while still being aligned with the valve opening 26. The motor 42 of the pivot actuator 41 is driven to pivot the valve disc 27 from the intermediate position to the maximum open position. In the maximum open position, the valve disc 27 of the first embodiment fully opens the valve opening 26. In other words, in the maximum open position, the valve disc 27 is pivoted or swung relative to the second housing part 29 about the longitudinal axis of the axis pin 33 to such an extent that it fully opens the valve opening 26. However, other embodiments are also possible.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the seal carrier ring 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, looking toward the first side surface 7. The seal carrier ring 1 is fully mounted or assembled to the valve housing 6, or in this embodiment, the first housing part 28. In the first embodiment, when fully mounted, the seal carrier ring 1 directly abuts against the seal ring 8 in the valve housing 6 or its first housing part 28. FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the seal carrier ring 1 looking toward the second side surface 10 of the base body 4 of the seal carrier ring 1, which is opposite the first side surface 7. At the second side surface 10, the annular base body 4 and the outer wall 9 define an accommodation space in which the valve disc 27 is accommodated as it moves along the first movement path toward the closed position. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the seal carrier ring 1 looking toward the first side surface 7. FIGS. 8 and 9 show detailed configurations of the fixing mechanism 5, which is implemented in the seal carrier ring 1 according to the first embodiment and which fixes the seal carrier ring 1 to the valve housing 6 or its first housing part 28.

[0039] 5 to 7 clearly show that the seal carrier ring 1 comprises a flow opening 3, a base body 4 annularly surrounding the flow opening 3, and a fixing mechanism 5 for fixing the seal carrier ring 1 to the valve housing 6 of the valve 2. The base body 4 has a first side surface 7, against which the seal carrier ring 1 abuts when fully mounted in the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28. In the first embodiment, the seal carrier ring 1 comprises a single seal ring 8 made of an elastomer or elastic material. In the first embodiment, the seal ring 8 made of an elastomer, preferably a perfluoroelastomer, is vulcanization-bonded to the base body 4 at its outer periphery, which is spaced from the flow opening 3. In principle, the seal ring 8 may be attached to the base body 4 in other ways. The elastomeric seal ring 8 may have a wide variety of configurations known per se. In any case, in the first embodiment, the seal ring 8 surrounds the flow opening 3. An outer jacket wall 9 at least partially surrounds the flow opening 3. The mantle wall 9 protrudes from the base body 4 at a second side 10 of the base body 4 opposite the first side 7. Figure 6 illustrates that the mantle wall 9 has a larger inner diameter 11 than the sealing ring 8. This can be seen by comparing the inner diameter 11 of the mantle wall 9 and the inner diameter 47 of the sealing ring 8.

[0040] In the first embodiment, the outer wall 9 is integrally formed with the base body 4 of the seal carrier ring 1. As previously mentioned, the outer wall 9 and the base body 4 may be two separate members, provided that they are suitably connected, for example, by welding, soldering, gluing, or another connecting method.

[0041] In the first embodiment, the outer wall 9 has a protrusion 12 with respect to the base body 4 at the second side surface 10 opposite the first side surface 7. As described above, the protrusion 12 is preferably in the range of 15 mm to 40 mm, and particularly preferably in the range of 20 mm to 30 mm. In the first embodiment, the outer wall 9 is disposed on the outer peripheral edge 14 of the base body 4 spaced from the communication opening 3, or is uniformly formed around the outer periphery. The outer wall 9 is formed with the aforementioned blind hole-shaped wall opening 13 through which the support arm 32 can pass. The blind hole-shaped wall opening 13 correspondingly opens in a direction away from the base body 4 of the seal carrier ring 1.

[0042] In order to optimally regulate the volume flow rate through the valve opening 26 and the flow opening 3, as shown in the first embodiment, a completely closed cylindrical outer wall 9 is provided in addition to the wall opening 13. In the area configured as a closed cylindrical outer wall, the same overall projection 12 is achieved, as shown here. Typically, the outer wall 9 is configured as a substantially cylindrical (partially cut out) outer wall that is enclosed over a central angle 15 of 300° or more, preferably 325° or more. This configuration is used in the first embodiment. The central angle 15 is illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0043] For ease of mounting and dismounting of the seal carrier ring 1 on the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28 thereof, in a preferred embodiment of the seal carrier ring 1, a handle 31 is arranged on the seal carrier ring 1, which protrudes from the base body 4 in the direction 17 away from the flow opening 3. The seal carrier ring 1 is gripped at the handle 31 to perform the mounting and dismounting processes described below.

[0044] As described above, it is preferable that the fixing mechanism 5 of the seal carrier ring 1 is at least partially formed on the outside or inside of the base body 4. The first embodiment corresponds to this case. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the seal carrier ring 1 has a series of keyhole-shaped openings 19 spaced apart from one another in the base body 4 as the fixing mechanism 5. The keyhole-shaped openings 19 are equally spaced from one another in the base body 4, as in the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, each of the keyhole-shaped openings 19 has a head section 20 and an elongated channel section 21, and the channel section 21 is configured to taper relative to the head section 20. It is preferable that the channel section 21 is configured with a curvature corresponding to the shape of the annular base body 4. The keyhole-shaped openings 19 are shown in each of FIGS. 8 and 9. The sloped inclined surface 22 of the base body 4 that defines the channel section 21 is shown. As will be explained below, when the seal carrier ring 1 is mounted to the valve housing 6 or a first housing part 28 thereof, the keyhole-shaped opening 19 allows the seal carrier ring 1 to be pressed against the valve housing 6 by its seal ring 8 on the first side 7 of the base body 4 and to be securely fixed thereto.

[0045] 10 to 16, a process (assembly process) for mounting the seal carrier ring 1 of the first embodiment to the valve 2 will be described. The removal process (disassembly process) can be performed in the reverse order, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0046] During installation, the first housing part 28, in which the valve opening 26 of the valve housing 6 is located, is first removed from the second housing part 29 and the third housing part 30. For this purpose, the first housing part 28 and the second housing part 29 are removably connected by a screw connection, a clamp connection, or another suitable connection method, which will not be described in detail. In either case, when the first housing part 28 is removed from the second housing part 29 and the third housing part 30, the valve disc 27 is automatically removed from the first housing part 28. Next, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , the seal carrier ring 1 can be inserted into the first housing part 28 from the side through the opening 54 in the first housing part 28 that was opened by removing the second housing part 29 and the third housing part 30. FIGS. 10 and 11 show the start of the insertion process. FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the section line CC in FIG. 10 . FIG. 11 shows that fastening bolts 44 are arranged in the valve housing 6 at positions corresponding to the keyhole-shaped openings 19 around the valve opening 26. In the first embodiment, the fastening bolts 44 are fixed to the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28 thereof. Each of the fastening bolts 44 has a mushroom-shaped head 45. Next, the seal carrier ring 1 is inserted into the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28 so that the head section 20 of the keyhole-shaped opening 19 of the seal carrier ring 1 faces the fastening bolt 44. This is shown in FIG. 13 (a cross-sectional view taken along the cross-sectional line DD in FIG. 12). Next, the seal carrier ring 1 rises from the position shown in FIG. 13 until the first side surface 7 of the base body 4 abuts against the region surrounding the valve opening 26 of the valve housing 6, ahead of the seal ring 8, as shown in FIG. 14 (a cross-sectional view taken along the cross-sectional line DD in FIG. 12).

[0047] Next, the seal carrier ring 1 with the handle 31 is rotated about an imaginary axis 55, and the handle 31 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 12 to the position shown in FIG. 13. The axis 55 is perpendicular to the plane in which the valve opening 26 or the flow opening 3 exists. By appropriately rotating the seal carrier ring 1 about the axis 55 from FIG. 14 to FIG. 16 (a cross-sectional view taken along the cross-sectional line EE in FIG. 15), the mushroom-shaped head 45 enters the channel section 21 and abuts against the inclined surface 22. By further rotating the seal carrier ring 1 about the axis 55, the interaction or frictional force between the mushroom-shaped head 45 and the sloped inclined surface 22 firmly supports the seal carrier ring 1 against the valve housing 6. This completes the installation process, and the first housing part 28 is reattached to the second housing part 29 and the third housing part 30, again reaching the operating position shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0048] 14 and 16, as well as FIG. 17 described below, show that in the first embodiment, an undercut 46 surrounding the valve opening 26 is formed in the valve housing 6 or first housing part 28. When the seal carrier ring 1 is installed, the seal ring 8 abuts against the valve housing 6 below the undercut 46. The presence of the undercut 46 is preferred, but not essential.

[0049] In the first embodiment, the seal ring 8 of the seal carrier ring 1 in either case has the aforementioned dual function: the first function is to seal the valve disc 27 against the seal carrier ring 1 in the closed position of the valve disc 27. The second function is to ensure that the seal carrier ring 1 in the first embodiment is properly sealed against the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28 thereof.

[0050] Figure 17 shows an enlarged fragmentary view of one fastening bolt 44. In a preferred embodiment, the outer wall 9 is arranged in cross section at a right angle 16 to the surface of the base body 4 at the first side 7. Figure 17 shows how the fastening bolt 44 with its mushroom-shaped head 45 abuts against the inclined surface 22 of the base body 4 that defines the channel section 21, so that the first side 7 of the base body 4, on which the seal carrier ring 1 carries the seal ring 8, is pressed against the area of ​​the valve housing 6 or its first housing part 28 that surrounds the valve opening 26.

[0051] In the first embodiment, the fastening bolts 44 are fixed relative to the valve housing 6. However, in FIG. 18 , which shows a modified version of the first embodiment corresponding to FIG. 16 , the fastening bolts 44 are not fixed but are instead biased in the valve housing 6 in a bias direction 50. The bias in the bias direction 50, i.e., the bias in the direction away from the seal carrier ring 1, more firmly supports the seal carrier ring 1 relative to the valve housing 6. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18 , to achieve the bias in the bias direction 50, a spring member 49 or other suitable elastic member is provided between the fastening bolts 44 and the valve housing 6. The spring member 49 may be, for example, a leaf spring or any other suitable known elastic member. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 18 , each of the fastening bolts 44 is preferably sealed relative to the valve housing 6 by an O-ring 48 or other suitable sealing member. Apart from the differences described above, the modified version shown in FIG. 18 corresponds to the first embodiment in terms of its structure and function, and thus in terms of the installation and removal processes of the seal carrier ring 1, and therefore the description of the first embodiment may be referred to.

[0052] 19 to 33 show a seal carrier ring 1 and a corresponding valve 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 19 to 22 show views similar to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the first embodiment. Except for the differences described below, the second embodiment and the first embodiment share many commonalities. In particular, the descriptions of FIGS. 1 to 4 can be referenced for the descriptions of FIGS. 19 to 22. FIG. 21 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG. 20. FIG. 22 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line GG in FIG. 20. The differences between the first and second embodiments will be described below.

[0053] FIG. 23 shows a top view of the seal carrier ring 1 of the second embodiment in a fully assembled state facing the first side surface 7. In the second embodiment, an additional seal ring 51 is provided, which abuts against the first housing part 28 of the valve housing 6 or the valve 2. FIG. 24 shows a perspective view of the seal carrier ring 1 facing the second side surface 10 of the base body 4 opposite the first side surface 7. FIG. 25 shows a perspective view of the seal carrier ring 1 facing the first side surface 7 from obliquely above. FIG. 26 shows a detail of the region of the blind hole-shaped groove 23. The seal carrier ring 1 has many similarities with the first embodiment. Therefore, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described here, and reference is made to the corresponding description of the first embodiment for the rest.

[0054] The first difference from the first embodiment is the configuration of the fixing mechanism 5 of the seal carrier ring 1 and the corresponding components in the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28. The corresponding differences in the procedures of the mounting and dismounting processes will be explained in detail later with reference to Figures 27 to 33.

[0055] 23, 25, and 26 in particular, in the second embodiment, one of the fixing mechanisms 5 in the base body 4 is an open, undercut blind-hole-shaped groove 23 formed in the outer peripheral edge 14 of the base body 4, which is spaced from the flow opening 3. FIG. 26 shows an enlarged view of the blind-hole-shaped groove 23. In the second embodiment, a screw 25 is arranged on the fixing side surface 24 of the seal carrier ring 1 opposite the groove 23 as a second or additional fixing mechanism. FIGS. 23 and 25 show the threads of the screw 25. FIG. 24 shows the screw head of the screw 25. Specifically, here, as in the other embodiments, the screw 25 is arranged on the handle 31. However, this is not required. The screw 25 may also be arranged in another region of the seal carrier ring 1 on the fixing side surface 24 opposite the blind-hole-shaped groove 23. One or more screws 25 may be provided. As shown in FIG. 26, the blind-hole-shaped groove 23 has an undercut 57. During the installation process, the mushroom-shaped head 45 of the fastening bolt 44 , which will be described later, can engage with the rear of the undercut 57 .

[0056] The second difference from the first embodiment is the number and arrangement of the seal rings. Unlike the first embodiment, there is no single seal ring 8 here that seals the valve disc 27 against the seal carrier ring 1 in the closed position and seals the seal carrier ring 1 against the valve housing 6. In the second embodiment, two different seal rings are provided to perform these two sealing functions. One seal ring is a seal ring 8 that is arranged on the second side 10, i.e., opposite the first side 7, as shown in Figures 24, 28, 30, 32, and 33. This seal ring 8 is the first seal ring 8 that has the function of sealing the valve disc 27 against the seal carrier ring 1 in the closed position. In the second embodiment, an additional seal ring 51 is provided. The additional seal ring 51 has the function of sealing the seal carrier ring 1 against the valve housing 6 or its first housing part 28. In the second embodiment, the additional seal ring 51 is arranged on a collar 52 of the seal carrier ring 1. The collar 52 projects from the base body 4 of the second embodiment at the first side 7 , i.e. the side of the base body 4 opposite the mantle wall 9 .

[0057] Both the sealing ring 8 and the additional sealing ring 51 are commercially available and known O-rings made of elastomer, particularly perfluoroelastomer. Both sealing rings, i.e., the sealing ring 8 and the additional sealing ring 51, are replaceable sealing rings arranged in separate grooves. According to a second embodiment and another preferred embodiment, a groove 18 corresponding to the sealing ring 8 is arranged on the second side 10 of the base 4 of the seal carrier ring 1, opposite the first side 7. The additional sealing ring 51 is arranged in a corresponding groove in the collar 52. For replacement, the sealing rings 8 and 51 are removed from their corresponding grooves, and new sealing rings are installed. According to the present invention, the inner diameter 11 of the outer wall 9 is larger than the inner diameters of the sealing ring 8 and the additional sealing ring 51. Figure 24 shows the inner diameter 47 of the sealing ring 8. Figure 25 shows the inner diameter 56 of the additional sealing ring 51.

[0058] 27 to 33, a process (assembly process) for inserting the seal carrier ring 1 of the second embodiment into the valve housing 6 will be described. The removal process (disassembly process) is performed in the reverse order, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0059] FIG. 27 shows the first housing part 28 removed from the second housing part 29 and the third housing part 30. The valve disc 27 has been removed from the interior space of the first housing part 28. For assembly, the seal carrier ring 1 is inserted into the first housing part 28 through the opening 54, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28. FIG. 28 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the section line HH in FIG. 27. In FIGS. 29 and 30, the seal carrier ring 1 is guided by its blind hole-shaped groove 23 into the mushroom-shaped head 45 of the fastening bolt 44. This causes the mushroom-shaped head 45 to engage with the rear of the undercut 57 of the blind hole-shaped groove 23, as shown in FIG. 32. FIG. 30 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the section line II in FIG. 29. FIG. 31 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the section line JJ in FIG. 30. From the situation shown in FIG. 32, the seal carrier ring 1 is swung or rotated so that the first side surface 7 of the base body 4 faces upward until the additional seal ring 51 abuts over its entire circumference against the surface surrounding the valve opening 26 of the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28. This guides the additional seal ring 51 at the collar 52 into a corresponding recess in the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28 thereof, so that the additional seal ring 51 abuts gas-tightly against the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28. During this swinging of the seal carrier ring 1, the blind-hole-shaped groove 23 engages with the mushroom-shaped head 45 of the fastening bolt 44. After this swinging, the screw 25 is screwed into one nut 53 shown in FIG. 33 and another nut 53 (not shown in FIG. 33). This allows the seal carrier ring 1 to be completely inserted into the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28, as shown in FIG. 33. FIG. 33 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the oblique section line KK in FIG.

[0060] In the second embodiment, in the fully fitted or assembled state, the collar 52 directly abuts the valve housing 6 on the first side 7 in a direction parallel to the bias direction 50. In the second embodiment, this is also preferably the case when the fastening bolt 44 and / or nut 53 are not biased in the bias direction 50, as will be explained below.

[0061] In the second embodiment, the fastening bolt 44 is designed similarly to the variant shown in Fig. 18. It is therefore sealed against the valve housing 6 by an O-ring 48 and is resiliently biased in a bias direction 50 by a spring element 49. In principle, as in the first embodiment, the single fastening bolt 44 may also be rigidly attached to the valve housing 6 or the first housing part 28. In the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 33, a nut 53 onto which the screw 25 is threaded is resiliently biased in a bias direction 50 by a spring element 49 and is sealed against the valve housing 6 by the O-ring 48. Naturally, in a variant, the nut 53 may also be arranged or configured to be fixed relative to the valve housing 6. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1. Seal carrier ring 2. Valve 3‥Flow opening 4‥Base 5‥Fixing mechanism 6. Valve housing 7‥1st side 8. Seal ring 9. Mantle wall 10‥Second side 11. Inner diameter 12‥Protrusion amount 13. Wall opening 14. Outer edge 15‥Center angle 16‥Right angle 17‥Direction 18. Groove 19. Keyhole-shaped opening 20. Head section 21. Channel section 22‥Slope surface 23. Stopper hole shaped groove 24‥Fixed side 25. Screw 26. Valve opening 27. Valve disc 28. First housing part 29. Second housing part 30. Third housing part 31. Handle 32. Support arm 33. Axis Pin 34. Valve actuator 35. Lifting actuator 36. Motor 37. Spindle 38. Nut 39. Carriage 40. Guide pin 41. Rotation actuator 42. Motor 43. Flange 44. Fastening bolt 45. Mushroom-shaped head 46. ​​Undercut 47...inner diameter 48. O-ring 49. Spring parts 50...Bias direction 51. Additional seal ring 52. Color 53. Nut 54. Opening 55‥Axis line 56...inner diameter 57. Undercut.

Claims

1. A seal carrier ring (1) for use in a valve (2) or vacuum valve, comprising: the seal carrier ring (1) comprises a flow opening (3), a base body (4) annularly surrounding the flow opening (3), and a fixing mechanism (5) for fixing the seal carrier ring (1) to a valve housing (6) of the valve (2); the base body (4) has a first side surface (7), and the seal carrier ring (1) abuts against the valve housing (6) at the first side surface (7) when fully attached to the valve housing (6); the seal carrier ring (1) comprises at least one seal ring (8) made of an elastic material surrounding the flow opening (3) when placed on the base body (4); The base body (4) is provided with an outer wall (9) that at least partially surrounds the flow opening (3), protrudes from the base body (4) on a second side (10) of the base body (4) opposite the first side (7), and has an inner diameter (11) larger than that of the seal ring (8). Seal carrier ring (1).

2. The seal carrier ring (1) according to claim 1, The outer wall (9) has a protrusion (12) of 15 mm to 40 mm or 20 mm to 30 mm from the base (4) on a second side (10) of the base (4) opposite to the first side (7). Seal carrier ring (1).

3. The seal carrier ring (1) according to claim 1 or 2, A wall opening (13) in the shape of a blind hole is formed in the mantle wall (9). Seal carrier ring (1).

4. The seal carrier ring (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The outer wall (9) is arranged or formed on the base body (4) at the outer periphery (14) of the base body (4) spaced from the flow opening (3). Seal carrier ring (1).

5. The seal carrier ring (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The mantle wall (9) is disposed on the first side (7) of the base body (4) at a right angle (16) to the surface of the base body (4) in a cross-sectional view. Seal carrier ring (1).

6. The seal carrier ring (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, At least a part of the fixing mechanism (5) of the seal carrier ring (1) is formed on the outside or inside of the base body (4). Seal carrier ring (1).

7. The seal carrier ring (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The sealing ring (8) is fixed, vulcanized, or replaceably disposed in the groove (18) relative to the base (4). Seal carrier ring (1).

8. The seal carrier ring (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The seal carrier ring (1) has keyhole-shaped openings (19) formed in the base body (4) at intervals as the fixing mechanism (5). Seal carrier ring (1).

9. The seal carrier ring (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, One of the fixing mechanisms (5) in the base (4) opens at the outer peripheral edge (14) of the base (4) away from the flow opening (3), and an undercut blind hole-shaped groove (23) is formed as one of the fixing mechanisms, and at least one screw (25) is arranged on a fixing side (24) of the seal carrier ring (1) opposite the blind hole-shaped groove (23) as the other fixing mechanism (5). Seal carrier ring (1).

10. A valve (2) comprising a valve housing (6), a valve opening (26) in the valve housing (6), and a valve disc (27) for closing the valve opening (26) in a closed position, The seal carrier ring (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is fixed to the valve housing (6), The valve opening (26) of the valve (2) and the flow opening (3) of the seal carrier ring (1) are arranged to communicate with each other, and the valve disc (27) abuts against the seal ring (8) of the seal carrier ring (1) in the closed position and is surrounded by the outer wall (9) of the seal carrier ring (1). Valve (2).

Images