Pilot-Operated Three-Port Valve Self-Aligning Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pilot-operated three-port valves face issues with sealing performance due to slight errors in fabrication or assembly, leading to uneven contact between valve seats and the valve member, which accelerates wear and deteriorates sealing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A pilot-operated three-port valve design featuring ring-shaped flat seat surfaces and a short-cylindrical valve member with a degree of freedom in inclination, allowing for parallel and even contact between seal surfaces, even when seat surfaces are not perfectly parallel, coupled with a non-through rod fitting hole, O-ring, pin insertion hole, and locking pin for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rigid valve member with fixed orientation is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but sealing performance deteriorates due to uneven contact caused by fabrication or assembly errors
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member is designed with a degree of freedom to rotate about the rod axis, transforming it from a completely fixed rigid structure to a dynamically adjustable one. This rotation capability allows the valve member to self-align with the valve seats, ensuring uniform contact and sealing performance even when fabrication or assembly errors cause misalignment between the valve seats.
2Reliability
If the valve member is made adjustable to compensate for assembly errors, then sealing performance improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member is designed to automatically self-align with the valve seats through its rotation capability about the rod axis. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external adjustment devices, complex alignment systems, or additional components, thereby maintaining simplicity while achieving reliable sealing.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the valve member is constrained to fixed orientation, then the attachment structure is simple, but wear accelerates due to uneven contact
Solution Approach 1:
The connection structure between the valve member and rod is designed to permit rotation of the valve member about the rod axis. This dynamic freedom allows the valve member to continuously adapt its orientation to match the valve seats, ensuring uniform contact distribution that reduces localized wear and extends service life.
4Manufacturing precision
If high precision fabrication is used to ensure parallel valve seats, then sealing performance improves, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring high-precision fabrication to ensure parallel valve seats, the invention uses the rotation capability of the valve member to dynamically compensate for any misalignment. This approach shifts the solution from precision manufacturing to dynamic adaptation, significantly easing manufacturing and assembly requirements.
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
This design ensures high sealing performance by allowing the valve member to adjust for minor assembly errors, maintaining parallel contact and preventing fluid communication between ports, thereby enhancing the reliability of the sealing process.
Implementation Method 1
an end portion of the rod be inserted in the fitting hole with an O-ring therebetween airtightly
Implementation Method 2
a locking pin be inserted in this pin insertion hole, and the valve member be connected by this locking pin to the rod
Data Source
AI summary
A pilot-operated three-port valve includes three ports, two valve seats that are concentric and opposite each other, a poppet-type valve member that is disposed between these two valve seats, and a pilot operating portion that opens and closes the valve member using a rod. Seat surfaces of the two valve seats and a first seal surface and a second seal surface of the valve member are flat. The valve member is attached to an end of the rod coaxially with the rod and so as to have a degree of freedom of inclination from the axis of the rod.