Dome Valve Top Plate Adjustment for Precise Seal Gap Setting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dome valves for pneumatic conveying of particulate materials require time-consuming and physically demanding processes to set the seal gap, which can lead to premature failure due to incorrect settings during maintenance, especially in larger valves.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a rotatable closure member with a convex sealing surface and a resilient sealing ring, where the circumferential gap is adjustable using movable adjustors without disassembling the valve, allowing for precise adjustment of the seal gap without removing the upper plate, and an intermediate plate for easy inspection and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gasket shims are used to adjust the seal gap in conventional dome valves, then the seal gap can be adjusted, but the adjustment process requires disassembling the valve upper plate and is time-consuming and physically demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces static gasket shims with dynamic adjustable means (such as adjustable positioning elements or mechanisms) that allow the seal gap to be adjusted without disassembling the valve upper plate. This enables the seal gap to be modified in situ, significantly reducing adjustment time and physical effort while maintaining the ability to precisely control the gap between the closure member and valve body.
2Adaptability or versatility
If gasket shims are used to adjust the seal gap, then the seal gap size can be changed, but the process requires removing and refitting multiple components including the upper plate, inflatable seal, and intermediate plate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the adjustment function from the main valve assembly by providing independent adjustable positioning elements that can be modified separately. This allows the seal gap adjustment to be performed on a modular basis without requiring disassembly of the entire valve structure, thereby reducing operational complexity while preserving full adjustability of the seal gap.
3Reliability
If the seal gap is incorrectly set during maintenance, then premature failure of the sealing ring can occur, but conventional adjustment methods increase the risk of incorrect settings due to the complex disassembly and reassembly process
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables maintenance personnel to independently and easily adjust the seal gap using simplified adjustment mechanisms that do not require complex disassembly. This self-service capability reduces the risk of incorrect settings by making the adjustment process more intuitive and accessible, thereby improving reliability of the sealing ring while maintaining ease of maintenance.
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 simplifies the adjustment of the seal gap, reducing the time and effort required, ensuring accurate settings and extending the lifespan of the sealing ring, while allowing for easier maintenance and retrofitting to existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient sealing ring extending around the fluid passage between the inlet and the outlet; and, when the closure member is in the closed position, the sealing ring is attached to the valve upper plate, and is moveable between a first configuration in which the sealing ring forms a seal around a circumference of the convex sealing surface
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of movable adjustors capable of adjusting the size of the circumferential gap between the convex sealing surface and the sealing ring by displacing the valve upper plate relative to the valve body
Data Source
AI summary
A valve with a valve upper plate defining an inlet, a valve body defining an outlet, and a fluid passage. A closure member is disposed in the fluid passage between the inlet and the outlet and has a convex sealing surface and is rotatable between a closed position in which the closure member extends across the fluid passage with the convex sealing surface oriented towards the inlet and an open position in which fluid is able to flow through the fluid passage from the inlet to the outlet. A resilient sealing ring, when the closure member is in the closed position, is moveable between a first configuration in which the sealing ring forms a seal around a circumference of the convex sealing surface and a second configuration in which the valve comprises a circumferential gap between the convex sealing surface and the sealing ring.