Compressor Seating Plate Hardness and Fixing for Valve Body Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Compressors with integral valve seats are prone to damage under severe conditions due to high differential pressures and rapid opening/closing speeds, and the valve seat's integration with other parts makes reinforcement or replacement difficult, leading to potential position shifts, deformation, and pressure loss.

Innovation Solution

A compressor design featuring a base portion with a discharge port, a valve body that elastically deforms to open the port under higher compression pressure, and a seating plate made of harder material than the base, which supports the valve body and is fixed to the base portion to prevent direct contact and potential damage, while also ensuring secure compressing performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the valve seat is integrally formed with another part, then the structure is simplified, but it is not easy to reinforce or replace and position shift or deformation is likely to occur

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidposition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The valve seat is separated from the base portion and formed as an independent component. This segmentation allows the valve seat to be manufactured separately with precise dimensional control, then assembled to the base portion using fixing portions that prevent position shift and deformation while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the valve body repeatedly abuts against the valve seat to open and close the discharge port, then the discharge function is achieved, but impact fretting wear and damage are likely to occur under severe conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge functionVSAvoiddamage resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The valve seat is designed with enhanced hardness and structural support through the fixing portions that attach it to the base portion. This beforehand reinforcement prepares the valve seat to withstand repeated impact loads from the valve body under severe operating conditions, preventing damage before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the seating plate is made of harder material than the base portion, then damage to the base portion is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The seating plate is manufactured as a separate component with harder material properties than the base portion. This segmentation allows selection of optimal materials for each component based on their specific functional requirements, with the seating plate using harder material for wear resistance while the base portion uses more ductile material for structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If the seating plate is fixed to the base portion at positions on both sides of the extension direction with respect to the center of the through-hole, then position shift and floating are prevented, but the number of fixing portions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition stabilityVSAvoidnumber of fixing portions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing portions are strategically positioned at specific locations on the seating plate - on both sides of the extension direction with respect to the center of the through-hole. This localized placement provides optimal stability and prevents position shift and floating under pressure, while minimizing the total number of fixing portions needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 prevents damage to the compressor components under severe conditions, secures compressing performance, and simplifies the structure by sharing fixing means with the valve body, while minimizing pressure loss and maintaining sealability.

Implementation Method 1

a valve body (25) having one end, which is fixed to the base portion (15a, 17a), and the other end, which opposes the base portion (15a, 17a) to close the discharge port (15c, 17c), in which the other end elastically deforms to open the discharge port (15c, 17c) when a pressure of the compression side becomes higher than a pressure of the discharge side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3514385B1compressor
Publication Date: 2020.12.02 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND THERMAL SYST
  • EP3514385B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3514385B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~3
  • EP3514385B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

This compressor is provided with a seating plate (28) disposed between a base (15, 17) and a valve body (25) and in contact with the surface of the valve body (25), which faces the base (15, 17), to support the valve body (25). The seating plate (28) consists of a harder material than the base (15, 17) and has: a through-hole (28a) corresponding to a discharge port (15c, 17c); and a plurality of affixation sections (28b, 28c) for affixing the seating plate (28) to the base (15, 17), the plurality of affixation sections (28b, 28c) being provided on both sides of the center of the through-hole (28a) in the direction of extension.