Gate Valve Gasket Seal with Cutouts for Deflection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gate valves experience deflection and increased wear when in the closed or partially closed position, leading to reduced sealing capability over time due to typical gasket-type seals.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a gate valve with a movable gate and a gasket seal featuring a flange and body portion that compress between body halves, with cutouts allowing volume transformation under compression, and chest gate supports that constrain deflection, reducing wear and maintaining effective sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a typical gasket-type seal is used in a gate valve, then the initial sealing capability is provided, but the seal wears out over time and loses sealing capability due to deflection and wear when the valve is in closed or partially closed position
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket seal incorporates cutouts that change the physical parameters of the seal material under compression. These cutouts allow the material to densify and transform its volume distribution, creating a more compliant structure that adapts to deflection forces and maintains sealing pressure over time, thereby extending service life while preserving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket seal uses a composite structure combining a rigid outer framework with a compressible, elastomeric material containing cutouts. This composite design provides both structural integrity to resist deflection and material compliance to maintain sealing contact, solving the contradiction between initial sealing capability and long-term durability
2Ease of operation
If the gate valve is operated in closed or partially closed position, then flow control is achieved, but deflection increases causing increased wear on seal and components
Solution Approach 1:
The cutouts in the gasket seal enable parameter changes in the material's compressibility and density distribution. When the valve is in closed or partially closed position, these parameter changes allow the seal to absorb deflection forces through controlled material deformation, reducing wear on both the seal and gate components while maintaining flow control capability
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 effectively reduces wear on the gate valve components and maintains a secure seal by constraining deflection and allowing the gasket seal to transform under compression, enhancing the longevity and performance of the gate valve.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one cutout provides for volume transformation of the gasket seal under compression
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide a gate valve including a first body half that defines a first process fluid aperture, a first chest portion, and a first gate support recess that is formed in the first chest portion. A second body half defines a second process fluid aperture that is aligned with the first process fluid aperture, a second chest portion, and a second gate support recess that is formed in the second chest portion. A gate is movable relative to the first body half and the second body half, and a gasket seal includes a flange portion, a body portion, and at least one cutout. The flange portion and the body portion are sized to be compressed between the first body half and the second body half, and the at least one cutout provides for volume transformation of the gasket seal under compression.