Pivotable Valve Disk Assembly for Pressure Regulator Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure regulators suffer from misalignment and misfitting of components due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to fluid leakage and potential damage from increased force and pressure build-up when the disk assembly is in the closed position.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable valve disk assembly with an alignment ring and pivotable disk that compensates for misalignment by allowing the disk to pivot and seal against the seat, reducing leakage and pressure build-up, and includes a through-hole for easy installation and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed disk assembly is used in pressure regulators, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but misalignment and misfitting of components occur due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to fluid leakage and potential damage from increased force and pressure build-up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the disk assembly pivotable rather than fixed. The disk can rotate about an axis within the disk holder, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to compensate for misalignment between the seat and stem assembly. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the disk to maintain proper sealing contact with the seat despite manufacturing tolerances, thereby improving sealing performance without requiring overly tight manufacturing controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by introducing a pivot angle as a variable parameter. The disk can change its angular position relative to the stem assembly, transforming from a fixed geometric configuration to one where the angle can vary within a range. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to misalignment conditions by adjusting the disk's orientation, thereby maintaining reliable sealing while accommodating manufacturing variations.
2Manufacturing precision
If manufacturing tolerances are tightened to prevent misalignment, then sealing performance improves, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on tight manufacturing tolerances to ensure static alignment, the patent introduces dynamic adaptability through the pivotable disk mechanism. The disk can rotate to compensate for alignment variations, allowing manufacturers to use more relaxed tolerances while still achieving proper sealing performance. This reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the required alignment quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable disk assembly performs self-alignment through its own mechanical design. When installed, the disk can automatically pivot to its correct orientation relative to the seat, without requiring precise pre-alignment during manufacturing. This self-adjusting capability eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures and tight tolerances, thereby improving ease of manufacture while ensuring proper component alignment.
3Reliability
If the disk assembly is made pivotable to compensate for misalignment, then sealing performance and reliability improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controlled degree of freedom through the pivotable disk mechanism. The disk can rotate about a specific axis within the disk holder, providing just enough mobility to compensate for misalignment while maintaining structural integrity. This limited dynamic capability improves operational reliability by ensuring consistent sealing contact, while the simplicity of the pivot mechanism prevents excessive complexity in the overall assembly.
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 pivotable valve disk assembly effectively seals the seat, reduces the risk of damage, and facilitates easy servicing by allowing the disk to return to its neutral position, thus improving the operational reliability and maintenance of pressure regulators.
Implementation Method 1
an alignment ring to provide a seal between the disk and the disk holder, the disk to compress the alignment ring when the disk pivots from a neutral position with respect to the disk holder
Data Source
AI summary
Pressure regulators with pivotable valve disk assemblies are disclosed. An example pressure regulator includes a valve body defining a fluid passageway between an inlet and an outlet, a seat positioned in the fluid passageway, a stem movable relative to the seat, and a disk assembly coupled to the stem, the disk assembly including a disk holder, an inner surface of the disk holder defining a cavity, a disk positioned in the cavity, the disk pivotable with respect to the disk holder to sealably engage the seat, and an alignment ring positioned between the inner surface and the disk, the alignment ring to provide a seal between the disk and the disk holder, the disk to compress the alignment ring when the disk pivots from a neutral position with respect to the disk holder, the alignment ring to bias the disk to the neutral position.