Gate Valve Sealing Control for Vacuum Integrity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gate valves do not control the amount of squeeze of sealing material effectively during manufacturing processes, leading to unnecessary deterioration and reduced service life, as they maintain the same level of vacuum sealing even when product manufacturing is in progress.
Innovation Solution
A gate valve with a servo motor and actuator-driven system, controlled by a device that adjusts the amount of squeeze based on manufacturing states, allowing for reduced sealing material compression during manufacturing and increased compression during vacuum maintenance, using specific position data and instructions to manage the sealing material's torque and duration of squeeze.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve body presses the sealing material against the valve seat with sufficient force to maintain vacuum, then vacuum sealing is achieved, but the sealing material deteriorates faster during manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the valve body position using a servo motor, allowing the pressing force on the sealing material to be adjusted based on operational mode. During manufacturing, the valve body is positioned to provide minimal sufficient sealing force, while during vacuum maintenance, it is positioned to provide full sealing force, thereby extending sealing material life without compromising vacuum reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the valve body relative to the valve seat based on operational conditions. By controlling the distance between the valve body and valve seat through servo motor positioning, the pressing force on the sealing material is optimized: reduced during manufacturing to prevent deterioration, and increased during vacuum maintenance to ensure sealing integrity
2Reliability
If the valve body is pressed against the valve seat with high torque, then sealing is ensured, but the sealing material wears out faster
Solution Approach 1:
During manufacturing operations, the system applies partial action by positioning the valve body to provide only the minimum necessary sealing force required to prevent process gas leakage, rather than applying full sealing torque. This reduces wear on the sealing material while maintaining adequate sealing for manufacturing conditions
3Reliability
If the same sealing force is applied during both manufacturing and vacuum maintenance, then vacuum integrity is maintained, but sealing material service life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the valve body position based on the operational state detected by the control device. During manufacturing, the valve body is positioned to apply reduced sealing force; during vacuum maintenance, it is positioned to apply full sealing force. This dynamic adaptation maintains vacuum integrity when needed while extending sealing material service life during manufacturing
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 allows for controlled sealing material compression, reducing wear and extending its service life by adjusting squeeze amounts according to operational states, while maintaining adequate vacuum integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a servo motor and an actuator connected to the valve body to drive the valve body by applying linear-motion force generated by translating rotative force from the servo motor
Data Source
AI summary
{Technical Problem}To provide a gate valve that can control the amount of squeeze of sealing material according to each of situations, that is, under the in-manufacturing or during vacuum-maintaining state; thereby, the invented gate valve is capable of suppressing deterioration of its sealing material and lengthening the service life of the sealing material used therein.{Solution to Problem}The gate valve 100 of the embodiment has the control device 11, which is comprised of the equipment control unit 12 that transmits an instruction either an in-manufacturing CLOSE instruction or a FULL CLOSE instruction and the storage means 13 that stores position date that corresponds to each of such instructions. The control device 11 receives either of such instructions and generates the position signal referring to the corresponding position data. The servo motor 4 of the driving device 2 receives the position signal and the rotative force of the servo motor 4, which corresponds to the received position signal, is translated into the movement of the activator 5. The sealing material 3 on the gate 1 is pressed against the valve seat 101 by the gate 1 driven according to each of the instructions and is maintained in the squeezed state.