Face Sealing Annular Valve Anti-Jamming Guide Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Face sealing annular valves in fluid-working machines are prone to jamming due to tilting, and existing solutions either increase mass and size or compromise seal effectiveness by allowing excessive radial motion.
Innovation Solution
An annular valve design with a guide-engaging surface region that increases in diameter or decreases in a controlled manner along the central axis, providing clearance to prevent jamming while maintaining effective sealing and reducing drag and friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the annular valve member is made relatively long compared to its radius to prevent tilting and jamming, then the reliability is improved, but the weight and overall size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide engaging surface region is designed with varying radial clearance along the axial dimension, transitioning from uniform spacing to non-uniform spacing. This dimensional variation allows the valve member to accommodate tilting movements without requiring increased length, thereby preventing jamming while maintaining a compact, lightweight structure.
2Reliability
If the annular valve member is constrained to move along a short axial range with large inner diameter to prevent jamming, then the reliability is improved, but the radial motion restriction becomes insufficient compromising seal effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The guide engaging surface region implements local quality variation by providing different radial clearances at different axial locations. The minimum spacing region provides sufficient radial play to prevent jamming, while regions with increased spacing maintain proper alignment and sealing contact, thus achieving both anti-jamming and effective sealing locally.
3Reliability
If the annular valve member is made long to prevent tilting, then the reliability is improved, but the drag and friction forces increase reducing operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing length in the axial dimension to prevent tilting, the invention varies the radial clearance in the radial dimension along the axial direction. This dimensional approach prevents jamming by accommodating tilt while minimizing contact area and friction, thereby reducing drag and energy loss during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
In a face sealing annular valve, an annular valve member is retained around or within a guide. The annular valve member is configured so that, when the annular valve member and the annular valve seat are coaxial, the spacing between the guide means and the guide-engaging surface region increases with distance along the central axis from a minimum of spacing between the annular valve member and the guide means. An end stop limits the tilt of the annular valve member. Advantageously, the annular valve member has restricted radial movement, enabling a good seal to be formed, while being unable to simultaneously contact diametrically opposite sides of the guide and jam.