Fluid Valve Seal Arrangement for Temperature and Tolerance Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid valve seal arrangements fail to maintain long-term leak-tight sealing under varying temperature conditions and large displacement variations, particularly in the periphery of combustion engines and electric motors.
Innovation Solution
A seal arrangement comprising a first and second separate seal, and an elastically deformable intermediate piece with a concave and convex lateral surface configuration, which provides a favorable force-displacement characteristic curve, allowing for controlled deformation and tolerance compensation, thereby minimizing friction and electrical energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional seal arrangement is used, then the structure is simple, but the sealing reliability deteriorates under temperature variations and displacement changes
Solution Approach 1:
The seal arrangement is divided into multiple separate seals (first seal, second seal) and an intermediate piece, allowing each component to be optimized independently for its specific sealing function while maintaining overall system reliability under varying conditions
Solution Approach 2:
An elastically deformable intermediate piece is introduced between the first and second seals to compensate for dimensional changes and maintain sealing contact pressure under temperature variations and displacement changes, ensuring reliable sealing without increasing overall system complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the intermediate piece is made more deformable to compensate for tolerances, then the tolerance compensation improves, but the friction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate piece features localized concave and convex lateral surfaces that provide controlled deformability only in specific regions, allowing tolerance compensation where needed while maintaining rigidity in other areas to minimize friction during valve operation
Solution Approach 2:
The concave and convex lateral surfaces create curved geometries that distribute contact pressures more evenly, reducing peak friction forces while maintaining the elastic deformation capability necessary for tolerance compensation across wide temperature and displacement ranges
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 seal arrangement ensures long-term leak-tight sealing over a wide temperature range and length tolerance range, reducing friction and electrical energy consumption in fluid valves, particularly in vehicle cooling-water control systems.
Implementation Method 1
a separate, elastically deformable intermediate piece, which is arranged, in an axial direction of the seal arrangement, between a first wall of the first seal and a second wall of the second seal for elastically spacing apart the two seals
Implementation Method 2
there is additionally realized elastic bending of the axial section, or of a region around a cross-sectional center, of the intermediate piece by way of the concave lateral surface and convex lateral surface. Depending on the degree of the concavity and convexity of the respective lateral surface, the cross section of the intermediate piece describes at least substantially a pressure-activatable V-shape which, as such, increases its sealing action with increasing deformation
Data Source
AI summary
A seal arrangement for a fluid valve includes: a first seal for sealing abutment against a pivotably adjustable valve body of the fluid valve; a second seal for sealing abutment against a valve housing of the fluid valve; and a separate, elastically deformable intermediate piece arranged between a first wall of the first seal and a second wall of the second seal. The intermediate piece has at least one axial section whose cross section has, in relation to the seal opening, a first, radially outer lateral surface and an opposite, second, radially inner lateral surface, and the radially outer lateral surface is at least sectionally concave, and the radially inner lateral surface is at least sectionally convex.