Multi-Surface Valve Sealing with Staged Face Seal Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valves face challenges in achieving multi-surface sealing with multiple tolerance stackups, requiring significant loads to ensure all seal locations compress and fully seal, which can increase manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A valve design incorporating a stroking valve and a seal block with biasing members, face and radial seals, and ramp steps to facilitate sealing contact at different stages of the stroke, allowing for sealing within standard tolerances and reduced load requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If significant loads are applied to assure all seal locations compress and fully seal, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into multiple independent seal locations (first seal location between stroking valve and housing, second seal location between stroking valve and seal block). Each seal location has its own sealing element and biasing member, allowing independent compression and sealing action without requiring excessive load on the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs different biasing forces at different stages of the stroke. The first biasing member provides initial compression at the first seal location, while the second biasing member provides additional compression at the second seal location. This staged parameter change allows effective sealing with reduced overall load requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If very tight tolerances are utilized for multi-surface sealing, then sealing precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses biasing members to dynamically adjust compression parameters during operation, compensating for tolerance variations in seal locations. This allows standard tolerances to be used while maintaining effective sealing through controlled parameter changes during the stroking cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing members are pre-loaded to provide initial compression force on the sealing elements before the stroking valve reaches the closed position. This preliminary action ensures that sealing surfaces are already engaged with appropriate force, accommodating standard manufacturing tolerances without requiring tight tolerance stacks.
3Reliability
If multiple biasing members are used for multi-surface sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is segmented into functional modules: the stroking valve, the seal block, and multiple biasing members positioned at different locations. Each module performs a specific sealing function, and the modular design allows for straightforward assembly and maintenance while achieving multi-surface sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing members serve dual functions: they provide compression force for sealing at their respective locations and also assist in returning the stroking valve to the open position. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 achieves a drip-tight seal on multiple surfaces using standard tolerances and low spring forces, reducing manufacturing costs and improving reliability and manufacturability.
Implementation Method 1
A first biasing member is operatively connected between the housing and the stroking valve, biasing the stroking valve in a first direction toward the closed position
Implementation Method 2
A second biasing member is operatively connected between the housing and the seal block, biasing the seal block in a second direction opposite the first direction
Data Source
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AI summary
A valve includes a housing (102). A stroking valve (104) is operatively connected to the housing for valve stroking movement relative to the housing in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the housing. The stroking valve has an open position for flow through the housing and a closed position for blocking flow through the housing. The stroking valve is configured to make sealing contact with a second face seal (114) between a seal block (108) and the stroking valve after a first portion of a stroke from the open position to the closed position prior to making sealing contact with a first face seal (112) between the stroking valve and the housing.