Concentric Butterfly Valve Seal for Leak-Free Two-Way Disk Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing butterfly valve design in vacuum cleaners suffers from a poor seal, allowing air to pass through even when the disk is in its closed position, and restricts disk rotation to a single direction due to angled conduit entrances, limiting operational flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A seal comprising a cap and concentric tubular side walls is integrated into the conduit entrances of the butterfly valve, ensuring a perpendicular edge alignment with the conduit axis, and a resiliently deformable material is used to create an airtight seal and allow bidirectional disk rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the disk is designed to abut against the inner wall of the conduit entrance to close the conduit, then the valve structure is simple, but air can still pass around the disk resulting in poor sealing
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible seal member is introduced between the disk and the conduit entrance. The seal member is radially expandable to engage the inner wall of the conduit entrance, creating an effective seal. When the disk rotates to the closed position, it actuates the seal member to expand and press against the conduit wall, preventing air leakage while maintaining a simple overall valve structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the conduit entrance is designed at an angled orientation, then the valve can be integrated into the vacuum cleaner housing, but the disk can only rotate in a single angular direction limiting operational flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed with an asymmetric structure that includes a radially expandable portion and a non-expandable portion. The radially expandable portion engages the inner wall of the conduit entrance to provide sealing, while the non-expandable portion is positioned to accommodate the angled orientation of the conduit. This asymmetric design allows the disk to rotate bidirectionally while maintaining effective sealing and proper integration into the vacuum cleaner housing.
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 provides an effective seal, preventing air leakage when the disk is in its closed position and enables bidirectional rotation of the disk, enhancing the operational flexibility and efficiency of the butterfly valve.
Implementation Method 1
The seal comprises a cap and two concentric tubular side walls which surround a longitudinal axis of the seal and are each connected at a first top end to the cap. The first inner tubular side wall is made from resiliently deformable material. When the disk is pressed against the inner wall by the solenoid, the inner wall flexes radially outwardly, the movement being accommodated by the reduction the size of the radial gap as the inner wall bends. The resilient nature of the material of the inner wall of the seal results in the inner wall urging against the periphery of the disk.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A butterfly valve assembly for a vacuum cleaner comprising: at least one conduit (935A, 935B, 940A, 940B) having an entrance (250) through which a fluid can pass; a seal (200). A seal for a butterfly valve assembly comprising: an end cap (206) an inner tubular side wall (202) attached at one end to the end cap (206); an outer tubular side wall (204) attached at one end to the end cap (206) and which surrounds the inner tubular side wall (202) and extends in the same direction as the inner tubular side wall (202) to provide a gap (214) between the inner tubular side wall (202) and outer tubular side wall (204); wherein at least the inner tubular side wall (202) is made from a resiliently deformable material, mounted in the entrance (250) of the conduit (935A, 935B, 940A, 940B) so that the end cap (206) abuts against an edge (254) of the entrance (250) and the inner tubular side wall (202) and outer tubular side wall (204) extend into the entrance (250) the outer tubular wall (204) abutting against an inner surface (260) of the entrance of the conduit (935A, 935B, 940A, 940B); a rotatable pivotal disk (1015A, 1015B) mounted inside the inner tubular side wall (202) of the seal (200) within the entrance (250) which can be rotated between a first position where the periphery of the disk (1015A, 1015B) engages the inner tubular side wall (202) of the seal (200) to seal the entrance (250) of the conduit (935A, 935B, 940A, 940B) and a second position where the disk (1015A, 1015B) is orientated at an angle relative to the entrance (250) of the conduit (935A, 935B, 940A, 940B), to disengage the periphery of the disk (1015A, 1015B) from the inner wall (202) in order to open the entrance and allow the fluid to pass through the conduit (935A, 935B, 940A, 940B).