Dual-Seal Assembly for Pressurized Container Valve Stem
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spraying devices require significant force to activate aerosol containers, leading to potential damage and leakage due to misalignment or wear of seals, especially in pressurized containers with hazardous chemicals, where precise sealing is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A dual-seal assembly with a first seal portion for the end face and a second seal portion for the side wall of the valve stem, both made from elastomeric materials like Viton®, providing perpendicular sealing forces and redundancy to prevent fluid escape even if one seal is damaged, along with a spacer for expansion and a cap for support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single gasket is used to seal the valve stem, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of sealing deteriorates due to wear and damage from misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly is divided into two distinct seal portions: a first seal portion that seals with the end face of the output section and a second seal portion that seals with the side wall of the output section. This segmentation allows each seal to independently perform its sealing function, so that if one seal fails due to wear or misalignment, the other seal continues to prevent fluid leakage, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing approach transitions from a single-plane seal to a two-dimensional sealing configuration by adding a seal portion on the side wall in addition to the end face seal. This dimensional expansion creates redundant sealing paths, ensuring that misalignment in one plane does not compromise the overall sealing integrity.
2Reliability
If tight tolerances are controlled to prevent lateral movement damage, then the reliability improves, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-seal configuration acts as a protective measure against misalignment damage. By providing two independent sealing surfaces (end face and side wall), the system compensates for lateral movement and misalignment that would otherwise damage a single seal or the valve stem. This beforehand protection reduces the need for extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.
3Device complexity
If a single seal is used, then the device complexity is low, but the lifespan of the seal is reduced due to continual use and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into two separate seal portions that share the wear and operational stress. Each seal portion experiences reduced individual wear compared to a single seal performing all sealing duties, thereby extending the overall lifespan of the sealing system. The first seal and second seal can wear at different rates, providing a more distributed wear pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-seal design allows one seal to continue functioning while the other may be worn, effectively extending the operational life of the sealing system. The seals can be independently replaced or maintained, optimizing the lifespan utilization of each seal component.
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 dual-seal assembly ensures robust and reliable sealing, reducing the risk of leakage and extending the lifespan of the seals, while accommodating various valve stem diameters and providing a failsafe mechanism against misalignment and wear, ensuring minimal fluid loss and safety in hazardous chemical containers.
Implementation Method 1
The first seal and an end face of the output section are preferably adapted to be in a substantially coplanar alignment in use. The first seal portion comprises a flat gasket... adapted to deform slightly to allow the output section to cause an indentation therein
Implementation Method 2
The first seal portion and/or the second seal portion is manufactured from any suitable elastomer such as silicon and carbon based elastomeric polymers
Data Source
AI summary
A seal assembly for a pressurised container 2 comprising a first seal portion 16 and a second seal portion 18. The first seal portion 16 is adapted to form a seal with an output section 14 of the pressurised container 2 and an end face 26 thereof, and the second seal portion 18 is adapted to form a seal with a side wall 28 of the output section 14.