Adjustable Sealing Ring Gate Valve for Zero-Leakage Shutoff

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valves, particularly large-sized and high-temperature valves, face significant challenges in achieving zero leakage due to factors like processing precision, deformation, erosion, and wear, leading to internal and external leaks, which are costly and hazardous, especially when handling flammable, explosive, or toxic media.

Innovation Solution

A gate valve design with a simple structure featuring symmetrical plates, sealing rings, and adjustable fastening mechanisms ensures reliable sealing by allowing external adjustment of pressing force on sealing rings, eliminating internal and external leaks through a streamlined design that omits complex structures and sealed cavities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional valve structures with valve seats and pressing mechanisms are used, then sealing performance can be improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing precision requirements become more stringent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the complex valve seat and internal pressing mechanism from the valve body. Instead of having these components inside the valve, the sealing ring is positioned externally on the valve body surface, eliminating the need for complex internal sealing structures and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining sealing functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing system is segmented into independent components: the sealing ring is separated from the valve body and pressing mechanism. The sealing ring can be independently installed, adjusted, and replaced on the valve body surface without disassembling the entire valve, simplifying the overall structure and enabling modular maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If processing precision and manufacturing accuracy are increased to achieve zero leakage, then sealing performance improves, but manufacturing cost and difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidprocessing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an adjustable pressing mechanism that allows dynamic adjustment of the sealing ring pressing force during operation. This dynamic adjustment capability compensates for variations in manufacturing precision and enables achievement of zero leakage without requiring extremely high initial processing accuracy, as the pressing force can be optimized after installation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the pressing force parameter of the sealing ring from a fixed value determined during manufacturing to an adjustable parameter that can be modified during operation. This allows optimization of sealing performance by adjusting the pressing force to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and wear, reducing the need for high manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If thermal insulation lining and annular valve seat are used in high-temperature occasions, then sealing performance can be maintained, but deformation from temperature and pressure during use increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoiddeformation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the sealing ring externally on the valve body surface before the medium reaches it. This preliminary positioning allows the sealing ring to be installed in a controlled environment away from high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, reducing the impact of thermal and pressure deformation on the sealing structure during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the sealing ring from the high-temperature and high-pressure zone by positioning it externally on the valve body surface rather than inside the valve body where thermal insulation lining and annular valve seats would be exposed to extreme conditions. This reduces deformation from temperature and pressure while maintaining sealing effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If water-sealed tanks or double-layer structure butterfly valves are used to achieve zero leakage, then sealing performance improves, but construction investment and use maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidconstruction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a simple sealing ring that can be easily replaced when worn or damaged, rather than using expensive complex structures like water-sealed tanks or double-layer butterfly valves. The sealing ring acts as a consumable component that is inexpensive to replace, reducing both construction investment and long-term maintenance costs while achieving zero leakage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex internal sealing structures that require expensive construction and maintenance, the patent inverts the approach by using a simple external sealing ring on the valve body surface. This simplified structure achieves the same zero leakage effect at much lower cost by reversing the conventional wisdom of complex internal sealing mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

5Reliability

If sealing air is heated above 100°C to achieve sealing, then sealing performance improves, but energy consumption increases and water formation causes corrosion and scaling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sealing function from the heated sealing air system and implements it through a mechanical sealing ring on the valve body surface. This eliminates the need to heat air above 100°C for sealing purposes, thereby reducing energy consumption and preventing the formation of water that would cause corrosion and scaling in the pipeline

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal sealing method (heating air above 100°C) with a mechanical sealing method (sealing ring with adjustable pressing force). This substitution eliminates the need for high-temperature heating, reducing energy consumption and avoiding the harmful effects of water formation from condensed sealing air while maintaining effective sealing performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 gate valve achieves reliable sealing performance by allowing external adjustment of the pressing force of the sealing ring, ensuring the sealing performance of the valve during use, and the reliability of use, and the reliability of use, and thus, all kinds of technical problems that have plagued the field of valves are effectively solved.

Implementation Method 1

sealing rings a are provided symmetrically on the inner surfaces of the two plates of the valve body... The valve plate is tightly sandwiched between the sealing rings a when the valve is closed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

A fastening structure is installed on the two plates of the valve body and clamps the two plates of the valve body and/or the sealing rings a around the radial peripheries of the sealing rings a

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP4299955B1valve
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 DALIAN CONSERVATION SCI & TECH CO LTD
  • EP4299955B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4299955B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4299955B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A valve comprises a valve body (200), a valve plate (420), and an actuation mechanism(100), wherein the valve body (200) includes two plates (211, 212) which are parallel to each other and symmetrical and on which medium access holes are correspondingly opened; sealing rings a (311, 312) are symmetrically provided on inner surfaces of the two plates (211, 212) of the valve body, and the medium access holes on the two plates (211, 212) of the valve body are completely located within circumferentially closed holes of the sealing rings a (311, 312); the valve plate (420) has a smooth surface and is tightly sandwiched between the sealing rings a (311, 312) when the valve is closed; a fastening structure is installed on the two plates (211, 212) of the valve body (200) and clamps the two plates (211, 212) of the valve body (200) and/or the sealing rings a (311, 312) around radial peripheries of the sealing rings a (311, 312); and at least a part of the fastening structure can adjust its clamping degree in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the valve body (200). The valve realizes convenient and timely adjustment of the pressing force of each corresponding part of the sealing ring outside the valve and replacement of the sealing ring outside the valve through a simple and reasonable structural design. The valve has no internal leakage and can replace a wide range of existing valves.