Ball Valve Seal Mounting for Tolerance-Compensated Contact Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing assemblies for coolant valves in motor vehicles face a conflict between reliable attachment and secure sealing at low system pressure, and high resiliency with low friction torques, while also dealing with mounting and manufacturing tolerances that affect sealing performance.
Innovation Solution
A mounting system for a sealing apparatus that includes a housing device made of a hard component and a sealing means made of a soft component, utilizing a mounting tappet with closure and sealing stop faces to ensure consistent positioning and tolerance compensation, allowing for uniform contact pressure and secure sealing despite manufacturing tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing assembly uses a soft sealing element to ensure reliable sealing at low system pressure, then sealing reliability is improved, but friction torque increases and drive torque requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is designed with different local properties: a softer sealing lip region for reliable sealing contact, and a harder support section for structural integrity and reduced friction. This local differentiation allows the sealing face to be soft while the backing is stiff, resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and friction torque
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing assembly uses a composite structure combining a soft sealing element (e.g., elastomer) with a hard support section (e.g., plastic or metal carrier). This composite design enables the soft sealing surface to maintain reliable contact while the hard support reduces deformation and friction, balancing sealing reliability with acceptable drive torque
2Reliability
If a sealing assembly is designed for secure sealing at low system pressure, then sealing performance is improved, but resiliency decreases and avoidance increases at high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element features a soft, compliant sealing lip for excellent low-pressure sealing, while the integrated hard support section provides structural stability and resiliency at high pressure. This local quality differentiation allows the sealing assembly to perform well across both low and high pressure conditions without compromising overall stability
3Reliability
If sealing assemblies are designed to sealingly abut the closure body, then sealing is improved, but mounting and manufacturing tolerances cause sealing inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element uses material parameter changes - a soft, compliant material that can deform to accommodate mounting and manufacturing tolerances. This material compliance allows the sealing assembly to achieve consistent sealing performance despite variations in closure body dimensions and mounting precision
Solution Approach 2:
The soft sealing element acts as a cushioning element that compensates for tolerance variations before they affect sealing performance. The compliant material absorbs dimensional variations and misalignments, ensuring reliable sealing even when manufacturing tolerances are not perfectly tight
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 system enables reproducible and reliable sealing with uniform contact pressure, compensating for manufacturing tolerances and ensuring secure sealing without high drive torques, applicable to both rotationally symmetrical and eccentrically supported closure bodies.
Implementation Method 1
a housing device made of a hard component and a sealing means made of a soft component
Data Source
AI summary
According to the disclosure, a mounting system for a sealing apparatus of a ball valve apparatus is provided. It comprises a sealing apparatus, wherein the sealing apparatus comprises a housing device made of a hard component and a sealing means made of a soft component, a mounting apparatus having a mounting tappet extending in an axial direction, wherein the mounting tappet comprises a closure body stop face for abutting, in particular axially, against a closure body of a ball valve apparatus and a sealing stop face for abutting, in particular axially, against the sealing apparatus, such that the sealing apparatus can be arranged at a predefined distance from a closure body.