Flexible Vacuum Valve Closure for Fast Gas-Tight Tube Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum transport systems face challenges in maintaining a consistent vacuum and ensuring rapid, reliable closure of transport tubes, particularly during emergencies, due to the large size and weight of closure elements in existing vacuum valves, which affect process efficiency and safety.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum valve design featuring a flexible closure element with adjustable sealing surfaces and a drive unit for quick opening and closing, integrated with a transport tube system, allowing for differential pressure-induced curvature and reduced mass for faster operation, along with multiple separation devices along the transport tube for emergency sealing and ventilation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large and massive closure element is used to close large openings in vacuum transport tubes, then the gas-tight closure of the opening is improved, but the time required to move the closure element increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is divided into multiple segments that can move independently. Each segment can be actuated separately by drive units, allowing the overall closure process to be parallelized. This segmentation maintains the gas-tight sealing capability while reducing the time required to close or open the entire valve by distributing the movement task across multiple smaller, concurrent operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure element is designed with flexible connections between segments, enabling dynamic movement and adaptation during the closing process. The flexible connections allow the segments to move at different speeds and positions, optimizing the closure sequence to minimize total operation time while maintaining reliable gas-tight sealing when all segments are in place.
2Reliability
If a large and massive closure element is used to ensure reliable sealing of large openings, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the mass that must be moved increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is divided into multiple smaller segments, each with its own drive unit. This segmentation reduces the mass of individual moving parts while maintaining the overall sealing capability through the coordinated action of all segments. The flexible connections between segments allow the system to achieve reliable sealing without requiring a single massive closure element.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the physical parameters of the closure system by using multiple lightweight segments instead of one heavy element. The flexible connections and coordinated actuation of segments create a system where the total mass to be moved is reduced, yet the sealing reliability is maintained through the collective positioning and sealing action of all segments.
3Speed
If multiple drive units are used to actuate segmented closure elements for faster operation, then the valve operation speed is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is segmented into multiple independently actuated sections, each with its own drive unit. This segmentation enables parallel operation of multiple segments, significantly increasing the overall valve operation speed. While the number of components increases, the modular nature of the segmentation allows for standardized drive units and simplified control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible connections between segments introduce dynamic capabilities that allow the system to adapt its configuration during operation. This dynamic design enables coordinated movement of segments to optimize closure speed while the control system manages the complexity of multiple drive units through centralized coordination, balancing speed improvement with manageable system complexity.
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 solution provides a reliable, rapid, and efficient gas-tight closure of transport tubes, enhancing safety and process efficiency by minimizing the time required for valve operation and ensuring effective emergency response through reduced mass and flexible sealing mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a spatial extension of the closure element in the closed position, in particular in a closed valve state, in a direction parallel to the opening axis A is variable as a function of an applied differential pressure
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a vacuum valve for substantially gas-tight closure of a first valve opening including a valve seat, a closure element for substantially gas-tight closure of the first valve opening, and a drive unit for providing a movement of the closure element relative to the valve seat. The closure element is designed to be flexible in such a way that a spatial expansion of the closure element in the closed position is variable in a direction parallel to the opening axis as a function of an applied differential pressure.