Decompression Valve Seal Relocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing decompression valves require an O-ring for hermetic isolation, increasing component count and machining complexity, leading to higher costs.
Innovation Solution
A decompression valve design that eliminates the need for a seal member between the valve body and shaft by using an annular seal member between the guide member and valve body, allowing fluid circulation between chambers, and incorporating cutouts for a back pressure infeed path, reducing component count and simplifying shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an O ring is disposed between the valve body and the valve shaft to provide hermetic isolation, then sealing between the valve chamber and decompression chamber is improved, but the number of components increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is extracted from the interface between the valve body and valve shaft, and relocated to the interface between the guide member and valve body. This extraction eliminates the need for sealing at the valve shaft interface while maintaining hermetic isolation between chambers, thereby reducing component count and simplifying the valve shaft design.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member acts as an intermediary component that provides a mounting surface for the seal member. By introducing this intermediary structure, the sealing function is achieved at a different location where the guide member interfaces with the valve body, rather than requiring direct sealing between the moving valve shaft and valve body.
2Reliability
If an O ring is disposed between the valve body and the valve shaft, then sealing is improved, but the shape of the joining part becomes complicated and machining cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing requirement is extracted from the valve shaft assembly and relocated to the guide member-valve body interface. This allows the valve shaft to have a simpler, more easily manufacturable shape without grooves or complex features for accommodating seal members, thereby reducing machining complexity and cost.
3Reliability
If the seal member is disposed between the guide member and the outer periphery of the valve body, then sealing is maintained, but the space for seal member mounting is required
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member serves multiple functions: it guides the axial movement of the valve shaft and simultaneously provides a mounting surface for the seal member. By making the guide member multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate sealing structures or additional mounting features, thereby avoiding extra space requirements while maintaining reliable 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
This design reduces the number of components, lowers costs, simplifies machining, and minimizes the size of the valve while ensuring durability and effective sealing, particularly suitable for high-pressure applications like compressed natural gas decomposition.
Implementation Method 1
an annular seal member present between the valve chamber and the back pressure chamber is disposed between a guide member and the outer periphery of the valve body
Implementation Method 2
the valve body is fitted around the outer periphery of the valve shaft while allowing circulation of fluid between the valve chamber and the back pressure chamber via a space between the valve body and the valve shaft
Implementation Method 3
the guide member being fixed to the body so as to guide movement, in an axial direction, of the valve shaft
Data Source
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AI summary
In a decompression valve, a valve mechanism housed in a body has a valve body that can be seated on a valve seat facing a valve chamber into which high pressure fluid is introduced, and a valve shaft that has one end linked to a pressure receiving member operable in association with pressure of a decompression chamber communicating with a valve hole surrounded by the valve seat and that extends through the valve hole while having the other end facing a back pressure chamber communicating with the decompression chamber, and the valve body is fitted around the outer periphery of the valve shaft. The valve body (36) is fitted around the outer periphery of the valve shaft (35) while allowing circulation of fluid between the valve chamber (32) and the back pressure chamber (65) via a space between the valve body (36) and the valve shaft (35), and an annular seal member (46) present between the valve chamber (32) and the back pressure chamber (65) is disposed between the outer periphery of the valve body (36) and a guide member (30) fixed to the body (16) so as to guide axial movement of the valve shaft (35). Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a number of seal members for providing sealing between a valve chamber and a decompression chamber and thus to reduce the cost.