Jet Valve Seal Seat Geometry for Small-Volume Viscous Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing jet valves struggle to efficiently dispense very small quantities of high viscosity media with a long service life due to limitations in seal seat geometry and surface tension, which restricts further reduction in metering volume and leads to inadequate sealing and damping issues.
Innovation Solution
A jet valve design featuring a spherically curved annular strip seal seat with a gap between the sealing element and surface contour, minimizing hydrodynamic damping and allowing for a small, efficient sealing surface, combined with a conically tapering aperture leading to a hollow cylindrical discharge passage, reduces metering volume and enables high viscosity media dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a small sealing surface is used to reduce metering volume, then the metering quantity can be reduced, but the downward movement of the sealing element is damped too greatly and jetting of high viscosity media is no longer possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spherical curvature to both the sealing element and the surface contour, creating a spherically curved annular strip seal seat. This curvature geometry minimizes hydrodynamic damping of the closing movement while maintaining a small effective sealing surface area, thereby enabling jetting of high viscosity media with reduced metering volumes.
2Quantity of substance
If the flow resistance at the sealing surface is greater than the flow resistance of the discharge nozzle, then the medium is pushed through the nozzle passage, but the metering quantity cannot be further reduced due to geometric constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the seal seat by introducing a spherically curved annular strip configuration with a specific gap distance. This parameter change creates optimal flow resistance characteristics that enable precise metering of very small quantities while maintaining the ability to jet high viscosity media through the discharge opening.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a pointed cone at the metering needle is used to seal at an edge of the valve seat, then geometrical flexibility is increased, but the service life is very limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pointed cone geometry with a spherical sealing element that contacts a spherically curved annular strip seal seat. This curved geometry distributes contact stresses more evenly, significantly increasing the service life while maintaining the ability to achieve proper sealing and centering.
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 design allows for precise, high-frequency dispensing of very small media volumes with reduced hydrodynamic damping and increased service life, enabling efficient jetting of high viscosity media by optimizing the sealing surface and discharge passage geometry.
Implementation Method 1
a very small volume is provided in the form of a spherical shell between the surface contour and the sealing element... a noticeable hydrodynamic damping of the closing movement of the sealing element is prevented
Implementation Method 2
An escape velocity has to be reached during jetting that is sufficient to overcome the surface tension of the medium
Data Source
AI summary
A jet valve has a medium passage that leads to a discharge opening and that is closable by a sealing element that can be set against a seal seat. The seal seat has a sealing surface in the form of an annular strip. The jet valve has a high service life and is suitable for metering very small quantities.