Gate Valve Seal Structure for Orthogonal Pipe Wall Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gate valve technologies face challenges in achieving effective sealing in reduced-thickness water pipes, requiring increased force and complexity, with insufficient seal member deformation leading to gaps and flow leakage, especially when the seal member needs to contact the inner wall orthogonal to the insertion direction.
Innovation Solution
A gate valve configuration featuring a valve body with an embedded core member made of a harder material, which distributes pressure to the seal member, allowing it to deform orthogonally and maintain close contact with the pipe wall without excessive force, using a movement mechanism that aligns with the pipe diameter direction and incorporates restriction walls to guide the seal member's deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seal member is pressed against the inner wall of the pipe with increased force to achieve close contact, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the required insertion force increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the seal member by embedding a core member made of harder material (e.g., stainless steel or hard resin) within the softer seal member material (e.g., rubber or thermoplastic elastomer). This composite structure allows the seal member to maintain high contact pressure for effective sealing while the softer outer material provides ease of insertion and elastic deformation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is constructed as a composite structure with a core member (harder material) embedded within the seal member material (softer material). This composite design combines the advantages of both materials: the hard core provides structural support and pressure distribution for reliable sealing, while the soft outer material enables easy insertion and elastic deformation to conform to the pipe inner wall.
2Ease of operation
If the seal member is made softer to facilitate insertion and deformation, then ease of installation is improved, but the ability to maintain consistent contact pressure decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is constructed as a composite structure with a core member (harder material) embedded within the seal member material (softer material). This composite design combines the advantages of both materials: the hard core provides structural support and pressure distribution for reliable sealing, while the soft outer material enables easy insertion and elastic deformation to conform to the pipe inner wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member has non-uniform material properties: the outer portion is softer for ease of insertion and deformation, while the embedded core member provides localized hard support areas that ensure consistent contact pressure distribution. This local quality variation allows different regions of the seal member to perform different functions optimally.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a guide portion is added to prevent seal member protrusion, then structural control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member itself acts as a flexible shell that can deform elastically during insertion and then conform to the pipe inner wall. This flexibility eliminates the need for rigid guide portions or restrictive structures, as the seal member's own elastic properties provide the necessary control and positioning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member's elastic deformation capability allows it to self-regulate its position and shape during insertion and sealing. The material naturally deforms to fit the pipe geometry and maintains contact pressure without requiring external guide structures or active control mechanisms, making the system self-sufficient.
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
This configuration ensures a simple and effective sealing mechanism that maintains close contact with the pipe wall orthogonal to the insertion direction, reducing the required force and preventing leakage, even in reduced-thickness pipes, by distributing pressure and guiding the seal member's deformation effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a seal member that is capable of undergoing elastic deformation and is provided on the valve main body in a region that covers a holding portion that protrudes in the insertion direction
Data Source
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AI summary
A gate valve is provided that the gate valve can favorably bring a seal member into close contact with even an inner wall of a fluid pipe that extends orthogonal to the insertion direction, without increasing the amount of force for bringing the seal member into close contact with the inner wall. The gate valve includes a valve body for insertion through a through-hole formed in the fluid pipe, and a movement mechanism for moving the valve body along the diameter direction, and the valve body includes a valve main body and a seal member that is capable of undergoing elastic deformation and is provided on a holding portion of the valve main body. A core member formed from a material harder than the seal member is embedded between an outer face of the seal member, which is on the lower side in the movement direction, and a leading end face on the protruding side of the holding portion.