Leak-Grooved Seal Ring Structure for Low-Torque Fire-Safe Valves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Valves used in flammable and explosive environments fail to maintain operability after a fire type-test due to high pressure differences causing the valve ball to tightly contact the metal fire-lip, making it impossible to manually open or close the valve.

Innovation Solution

A seal ring structure with a plurality of leak grooves on its periphery is introduced, which reduces the torque required to rotate the valve ball by creating a channel between the seal ring member and the valve ball, allowing for easier operation post-fire type-test.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metal fire-lip is used to maintain sealing after fire type-test, then fire resistance is improved, but the valve ball becomes stuck due to tight contact from high pressure difference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire resistanceVSAvoidvalve operability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fire-lip is segmented into multiple sections with leak grooves created between them. This segmentation allows the fire-lip to maintain sealing contact with the valve ball while the grooves provide channels for pressure equalization, preventing the valve ball from becoming stuck due to high pressure difference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The leak grooves act as intermediary channels between the high-pressure and low-pressure sides of the valve ball. These grooves allow fluid to pass through, equalizing the pressure difference that would otherwise cause tight contact and sticking of the valve ball to the fire-lip.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the valve ball contacts the metal fire-lip tightly under high pressure difference, then sealing performance is improved, but the torque required to rotate the valve ball increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidrotational torque

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The fire-lip is divided into segmented sections with leak grooves between them. This segmentation maintains the necessary contact pressure for sealing while the grooves provide pressure relief paths, reducing the cumulative force that would otherwise require excessive torque to overcome during rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The high pressure difference that causes tight contact and potential sticking is converted into a beneficial effect by providing pressure-driven flow through the leak grooves. This flow equalizes pressures and reduces the net force resisting rotation, turning the harmful high pressure difference into a mechanism that facilitates easier valve operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS11940060B2Seal ring structure for low torque valve fire-safe

Publication Date: 2024.03.26 METAL INDS RES & DEV CENT

AI summary

The present invention provides a seal ring structure, which comprises a seal ring member. The seal ring member includes a first ring opening on one side and a second ring opening on the other. A periphery of the first ring opening includes a plurality of leak grooves. When the seal ring member and the valve ball squeeze each other, the plurality of leak grooves can reduce the torque required to rotate the valve ball. A leak-groove length of the plurality of leak grooves is smaller than a seal-ring-member length of the seal ring member. The plurality of leak grooves do not penetrate the seal ring member for avoiding leakage of fluid.