Gate Valve Lock Piston Detection for Hermetic Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing gate valve locking mechanism may fail to maintain a hermetically closed state if the lock spring breaks, making it difficult to determine if the lock cylinder is engaged with the piston, potentially leading to the valve plate becoming movable and unable to hermetically close the chamber.
Innovation Solution
A gate valve with a lock detection unit that includes a proximity sensor and target member to determine if the lock piston is engaged in the engagement hole, ensuring the valve plate is properly locked at the hermetically closed position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism with a lock spring is used to maintain the hermetically closed position, then the reliability of maintaining the closed state is improved, but the device complexity increases and the difficulty of detecting engagement status worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The lock detection unit is nested within the existing locking mechanism structure. The detection target is formed on the lock piston itself, and the proximity sensor is integrated into the housing, creating a compact nested arrangement that adds detection capability without significantly increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical spring-based detection method is replaced with a non-contact proximity sensor detection system. This substitution eliminates the need for additional mechanical linkages or contacts, maintaining simplicity while enabling reliable engagement status detection
2Reliability
If the lock spring breaks, then the ability to maintain hermetically closed position deteriorates, but adding detection capability increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The lock piston serves a dual function: it performs the locking action and simultaneously provides the detection target for the proximity sensor. This self-service approach allows the same component to be involved in both actuation and detection, eliminating the need for separate detection mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The proximity sensor acts as an intermediary between the lock piston position and the control system. It converts the physical engagement status into an detectable signal without requiring direct mechanical contact or complex sensing mechanisms
3Ease of operation
If a lock cylinder is slidably disposed in a housing with a lock spring, then the locking function is improved, but the ease of detecting engagement status worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The proximity sensor provides real-time feedback on the engagement status of the lock piston. This feedback mechanism allows the control system to immediately know whether the valve plate is properly locked, enabling monitoring and alarm functions without complicating the operation of the locking mechanism itself
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 can reliably determine if the lock piston is engaged, ensuring the valve plate remains hermetically closed, even if the lock spring fails, thereby maintaining the integrity of the vacuum processing chamber.
Implementation Method 1
a lock detection unit that includes a proximity sensor and target member to determine if the lock piston is engaged in the engagement hole
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A gate valve (1) includes a valve plate (4) that opens and closes a gate opening, a valve shaft (5) that is fixed to the valve plate (4), an air cylinder (20) that includes a drive rod, and a valve moving mechanism (29) that causes, by expanding and contracting movements of the drive rod, the valve plate (4) to move between a hermetically closed position at which the gate opening is hermetically closed by the valve plate (4) and a full open position at which the gate opening is fully opened. A cylinder housing (22) of the air cylinder (20) is provided with a locking mechanism that locks the valve plate (4) that has moved to the hermetically closed position and a lock detection unit that detects a locked state of the valve plate (4). The locking mechanism includes a lock piston that is capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the cylinder housing (22). A cam frame (32) that is fixed to the drive rod has an engagement hole (32c). The lock detection unit detects whether the lock piston is in a state of being engaged in the engagement hole (32c).