Coined PRV Seat Geometry for Leak-Free Metal Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic locking actuators in aircraft suffer from excessive leakage and unreliable re-seat operations due to the design of pressure relief valves (PRVs) with coined-seats, leading to continuous fluid leakage at pressures below one-third of the re-seat pressure.
Innovation Solution
The PRV design incorporates a coined seat formed by deforming the housing parts with a coining ball, creating a seat with a larger diameter than the sealing ball, and an elastic element to bias the sealing ball, ensuring reliable seating and re-seating with minimal leakage by forming a specialized seating and re-seating mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional coined seat is used in the PRV, then the sealing ball can be retained, but excessive leakage occurs at pressures below one-third of the re-seat pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the coined seat by forming a recess with specific dimensions (depth, width, curvature radius) that differ from conventional designs. The recess depth is approximately 0.020-0.040 inches and the curvature radius is approximately 0.010-0.020 inches, creating optimal sealing conditions that eliminate leakage while maintaining reliable sealing ball retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The coined seat recess is pre-formed in the housing before the sealing ball is installed. This preliminary action creates a prepared seating surface with the exact geometry needed for proper sealing, ensuring that when the sealing ball is placed in the recess, it automatically achieves the correct seating position and orientation for leak-free operation.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a metallic sealing mechanism is used, then durability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coined seat recess is designed to self-align and self-adjust during the sealing ball installation process. The geometric features of the recess (curvature, depth, width) work together to automatically position the sealing ball correctly without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances on individual features, thereby reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining durable metallic sealing.
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
The solution achieves zero or minimal leakage within acceptable limits, providing reliable metallic-to-metallic sealing and distinct pressure characteristics, improving the performance of hydraulic locking actuators in aircraft applications.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second deformed corners are deformed by a coining ball to cooperatively form a coined seat at the metering hole
Implementation Method 2
an elastic element coupled at opposite ends thereof to the sealing ball and the third housing part to elastically bias the sealing ball toward the metering hole
Implementation Method 3
PRV design is based on metallic sealing in which a spring-loaded ball is held against a metallic seat
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure relief valve (PRV) is provided. The PRV includes a first housing part and a second housing part. The first housing part includes first major and minor surfaces and a first deformed corner at an intersection of the first major and minor surfaces. The second housing part includes second major and minor surfaces and a second deformed corner at an intersection of the second major and minor surfaces. The first and second housing parts are disposed with the first and second minor surfaces facing oppositely at a distance to define a metering hole. The first and second deformed corners are deformed by a coining ball to cooperatively form a coined seat at the metering hole for seating and re-seating a sealing ball. The first and second deformed corners have respective radii of curvatures resulting from deformation which are larger than that of the sealing ball.