Low-Friction Multi-Port Valve Seal for Tolerance Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid valve seals fail to provide effective tolerance compensation and cost-effective solutions for a wide range of valve connections, leading to increased wear and assembly complexities.
Innovation Solution
A seal with a cylindrical, resilient base member featuring multiple sealing portions and layers with reduced friction coefficients, allowing for use in various fluid valves with different connections, and a method for mounting the fluid valve that simplifies assembly and reduces wear by using a single seal for multiple connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single seal design is used for fluid valves with different numbers of valve connections, then versatility and cost-effectiveness are improved, but manufacturing precision and tolerance compensation become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is segmented into a modular structure with a base member containing multiple sealing openings and separate sealing portions that can be positioned independently. This segmentation allows each sealing portion to be optimized for specific valve connection configurations while maintaining a unified base structure, enabling both versatility across different valve types and precise tolerance compensation for each sealing interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal design incorporates multiple sealing openings and configurable sealing portions within a single base member, enabling one seal component to serve multiple valve connection configurations. This multi-functional design allows the same seal to adapt to fluid valves with different numbers of connections while maintaining manufacturing precision through the resilient base member's ability to compensate for tolerance variations.
2Ease of manufacture
If the base member material is used directly for sealing contact with the valve body, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but friction and wear during operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal employs a composite structure where the base member is made from one material (e.g., elastomer) and the sealing portions or contact surfaces are made from or coated with low-friction materials. This composite approach combines the manufacturing simplicity and sealing properties of the base material with the low-friction, wear-resistant properties of the secondary material at the critical contact interfaces with the valve body.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal design applies different material properties to different regions: the base member provides structural support and sealing compliance, while the sealing portions or contact surfaces are specifically engineered with low-friction coatings or materials. This local differentiation of material quality reduces friction and wear at the valve body interface while maintaining the overall simplicity of the seal structure.
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 enables cost-effective production and tolerance compensation across a wide range, reducing friction and wear in fluid valves, while simplifying the mounting process and ensuring effective sealing across various valve configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a first layer which has a sliding friction coefficient which is less with respect to the valve body and/or static friction coefficient which is less than the base member
Implementation Method 2
a or at least one cylindrical, resilient base member
Data Source
AI summary
A seal for use in a fluid valve, or multi-path fluid valve, has a cylindrical, resilient base member, a plurality of first sealing portions arranged at an outer side of the base member for sealing abutment against a valve housing of the fluid valve, and a plurality of second sealing portions, arranged at an inner side of the base member, for sealing abutment against an adjustable valve body of the fluid valve. A respective first sealing portion and respective second sealing portion are arranged circumferentially around a respective sealing opening of the base member. There is arranged at the inner side of the base member a first layer having a sliding friction coefficient which is less with respect to the valve body and/or static friction coefficient which is less than the base member, and which is at least partially in contact with the valve body during use of the seal.