Front-Loaded Valve Seat Sealing for High-Pressure Gate Movement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow control devices face challenges in maintaining effective seals under high pressure and temperature conditions, leading to potential leaks and inefficiencies in fluid flow control.
Innovation Solution
A flow control device with a valve body, ports, a gate, and a seat that forms both circumferential and face seals, utilizing a sealing assembly and wave spring for continuous pressure application to maintain seals during gate movement, and a collar for transmitting forces to maintain the sealing assembly's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional seal design is used in high pressure applications, then the device can operate under pressure, but the seal effectiveness deteriorates leading to leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic seal mechanism where the sealing member is biased by a spring to maintain continuous contact with the seat. As pressure increases, the sealing member can move dynamically to compensate for deformation, maintaining seal effectiveness. The collar structure allows the sealing member to shift position under load, adapting to pressure changes rather than remaining static.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the sealing system by introducing a compliant sealing member that can deform under pressure. The spring constant and material properties are selected to allow controlled deformation that maintains sealing contact. The collar geometry is designed to distribute loads and modify the pressure distribution across the sealing interface.
2Reliability
If a tight seal is maintained under high temperature conditions, then leak prevention is improved, but the complexity of maintaining seal integrity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing assembly is designed to be self-adjusting through the spring-biased sealing member that automatically maintains contact with the seat. The collar structure allows the seal to self-compensate for thermal expansion and material deformation without external intervention. This self-service mechanism maintains seal integrity under temperature variations without requiring complex control systems or frequent manual adjustments.
3Stress or pressure
If the sealing assembly is designed for high pressure operation, then pressure resistance is improved, but extrusion of the sealing assembly worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible sealing member that can deform elastically under pressure rather than maintaining a rigid structure. This flexible membrane-like component conforms to the seat geometry and distributes pressure evenly, resisting extrusion by flexing rather than breaking. The collar provides structural support while allowing the sealing member to deform in a controlled manner.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing assembly combines multiple materials with different properties - a compliant sealing member material for flexibility and pressure distribution, a spring material for elastic recovery, and a collar material for structural support. This composite structure allows the weak point (sealing member) to be compensated by the stronger components, enabling high pressure resistance without excessive extrusion of the sealing assembly.
4Ease of operation
If the gate moves freely to control fluid flow, then flow control capability is improved, but seal maintenance during movement worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the sealing function from the gate by introducing a dedicated sealing member that remains stationary relative to the gate while the gate moves. The collar structure decouples the sealing assembly from the gate body, allowing the gate to move freely for flow control while the sealing member maintains constant contact with the seat through the spring bias. This segmentation allows independent optimization of flow control and sealing functions.
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 enables reliable fluid flow control by maintaining seals under high pressure and temperature conditions, reducing leaks and improving service life through precise assembly and reduced extrusion of the sealing assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a returning member, such as a wave spring, ensures a consistent face seal between the seat and the gate
Implementation Method 2
receiving, by a sealing assembly forming a circumferential seal between a seat and a valve body, a first force from a collar disposed on the seat in response to a first movement of a gate
Data Source
AI summary
A flow control device includes a valve body, a first port disposed on the valve body, a second port disposed on the valve body, a gate disposed within the valve body and configured to control a flow of a fluid between the first port and the second port, and a seat disposed between the gate and the valve body, the seat including a first surface configured to form a circumferential seal with the valve body and a second surface configured to form a face seal with the gate. A method includes receiving, by a sealing assembly forming a circumferential seal between a seat and a valve body, a first force from a collar disposed on the seat in response to a first movement of a gate, and moving, in response to receiving the first force, the sealing assembly in a first direction of the first force.