Dual Gate Valve Support Bar for Even Vacuum Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dual gate valve configurations face challenges in evenly opening and closing two valve openings in a vacuum chamber due to long distances between the gates, leading to difficulties in aligning and operating the valve plates.
Innovation Solution
A dual gate valve design featuring two valve plates supported by a support bar and connected to a valve rod via elastic members, ensuring even pressing force distribution and alignment, allowing for simultaneous and uniform opening and closing of the valve openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two separate gate valves are used to control two gates in a vacuum chamber, then each gate can be controlled independently, but the cost increases and space requirements make it difficult to attach the valves side by side
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate gate valve functions into a single integrated valve unit. One valve rod controls both valve plates through a shared support bar structure, reducing the number of independent valve units from two to one while maintaining the capability to control two separate gates in the vacuum chamber
2Device complexity
If two valve plates are attached to a single valve rod to control two gates simultaneously, then the number of valve units is reduced, but when the distance between gates is long, the valve plates cannot open and close evenly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the support structure by introducing a support bar with distinct support portions for each valve plate. The first support portion supports the first valve plate while the second support portion supports the second valve plate, allowing each valve plate to be positioned and controlled independently despite being part of the same valve unit
Solution Approach 2:
The support bar acts as an intermediary structure between the single valve rod and the two valve plates. It transmits and distributes the operating force from the valve rod to both valve plates while maintaining proper alignment and spacing, ensuring even opening and closing motion despite the long distance between gates
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 design ensures even sealing of the valve openings by preventing oblique force application on the valve plates, maintaining consistent operation and reducing the likelihood of dust generation due to minimal part interaction.
Implementation Method 1
one and the other of the two valve plates are tiltably attached to one end and the other end in the long direction of the support bar via elastic members, respectively
Data Source
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AI summary
To obtain a gate valve for opening and closing two openings of a valve box with two valve plates. A dual gate valve includes two valve plates 4, 4 that open and close two openings 3, 3 of a valve box 2, a support bar 5 that supports the two valve plates 4, 4, a valve rod 6 connected to the support bar 5, and an operation unit 7 that performs an open and close operation of the two valve plates 4, 4 via the valve rod 6. The support bar 5 and the valve plate 4 linearly and elongatedly extend in a lateral direction perpendicular to a central axis L of the valve rod 6. The valve rod 6 is connected to a central portion in the long direction of the support bar 5, and one and the other of the two valve plates 4, 4 are tiltably attached to one end and the other end in the long direction of the support bar 5 via elastic members 12, 12, respectively.