Control Valve Metal Seal Structure for Multi-Directional Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control valve mechanisms fail to ensure appropriate sealing performance in directions other than the axial direction, limiting their effectiveness due to fixed positional relationships between the valve element and metal seal.
Innovation Solution
A control valve design featuring a tubular flow passage forming portion, a rotatable valve element, and a metal seal with a gap in a crossing direction, allowing displacement of the seal in that direction to maintain contact and ensure sealing performance, supported by flexible supports that exert resilient forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal seal is fixed in position relative to the valve element, then the sealing performance in the axial direction is maintained, but the sealing performance in directions other than the axial direction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The metal seal is designed with a gap between its outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the flow passage forming portion, allowing the seal to dynamically displace in radial directions while maintaining contact with the valve element. This dynamic capability enables the seal to adapt to valve element displacement in various directions, resolving the contradiction between fixed positioning and multi-directional sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameter of the metal seal by introducing a controlled gap, transforming it from a fixed position to a movable position. This parameter change allows the seal to adjust its location relative to the flow passage forming portion, enabling effective sealing in directions other than the axial direction while maintaining axial sealing performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the metal seal is allowed to displace in crossing directions, then the sealing performance in multiple directions is improved, but the positional stability of the seal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The metal seal incorporates a flexible support structure that allows controlled displacement in radial directions while maintaining overall structural stability. The flexibility enables the seal to follow the valve element's movement, while the support structure prevents excessive or uncontrolled displacement, thus balancing adaptability with positional stability.
3Device complexity
If a fixed positional relationship is maintained between the valve element and metal seal, then the structural simplicity is preserved, but the operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the relationship between the metal seal and the flow passage forming portion by introducing a gap, separating them into independent movable components. This segmentation allows each component to move independently, improving operational efficiency without requiring complex coupling mechanisms, thus maintaining relative structural simplicity.
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
This design enhances sealing performance by enabling the metal seal to displace and maintain contact with the valve element in various directions, improving the control valve's operational efficiency and sealing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
flexible supports that exert resilient forces
Data Source
AI summary
A control valve includes: a port, which is shaped in a tubular form; a valve element; and a metal seal, which contacts the valve element. A gap is formed between a tubular portion of the metal seal and the port in a perpendicular direction that is perpendicular to an axial direction of a flow passage of the port. Thereby, when the valve element is displaced in the perpendicular direction, the valve element urges the metal seal to displace the metal seal in the perpendicular direction in the state where the metal seal contacts the valve element.