Plug Valve Sealing Bush Structure for Wear-Free Port Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ball valves face challenges in maintaining effective sealing over time due to wear and deformation of seals caused by frictional movement, particularly at the junctions between the ball and valve ports, leading to imperfect sealing in both closed and open positions.
Innovation Solution
A ball valve design featuring an intermediate element with through orifices and a sealing joint positioned in compression between the intermediate element and the valve body, utilizing a frictional connection with the plug and an elastic connection with the valve body to maintain sealing without direct contact, ensuring continuous contact surfaces and elastic deformation to compensate for clearances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a circular seal (e.g., O-ring) is positioned in compression between the plug surface and the peripheral surface of an internal opening, then sealing is achieved, but the frictional movement causes wear and deformation of the seal leading to loss of sealing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate element (bush) as a mediator between the plug and the seal. This bush has a peripheral surface that contacts the plug and an internal surface that houses the seal. The bush absorbs the frictional movement from the plug, preventing direct contact between the seal and the moving plug surface. The seal only contacts the stationary internal surface of the bush, eliminating wear and deformation caused by frictional movement while maintaining effective sealing.
2Device complexity
If the plug has a cylindrical shape with curved surface, then the valve structure is simple, but perfect surface complementarity between the ball and ports is complex to achieve due to clearances
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate element (bush) acts as a mediator that bridges the clearance gap between the cylindrical plug and the valve body ports. The bush is positioned within the valve body and provides a precisely fitted interface with the plug while its outer surface complements the port geometry. This intermediate component absorbs the manufacturing tolerances and clearances, allowing the simple cylindrical plug design to achieve perfect sealing without requiring complex surface profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a seal element (such as an O-ring or similar elastomeric seal) that can deform elastically to fill the clearance gaps between the intermediate element and the valve body ports. This flexible seal compensates for manufacturing tolerances and ensures perfect surface complementarity even with simple cylindrical geometries, maintaining effective sealing without requiring precision-machined curved surfaces.
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 sealed connection by combining frictional and elastic connections, preventing deformation and maintaining effective sealing over time, even with clearances between valve parts, thus ensuring optimal fluid flow management.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing joint positioned in compression at the level of an orifice between the intermediate element and the valve body
Implementation Method 2
The invention relates to a ball valve... an intermediate element comprising at least two through orifices... the inner surface bearing at least one relief surrounding a through orifice being configured so that the top of the relief forms around the orifice at least one continuous contact surface bearing against the peripheral surface of the valve
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7
AI summary
The present invention relates to a plug valve, characterized in that it comprises: - a valve body (1) comprising an inner volume (11) and two communication orifices (121, 122), - a cylindrical plug (2) comprising a circuit (21) passing through between two orifices which are arranged to be positioned opposite orifices in the valve body (1), - an intermediate element (3) comprising at least two through-orifices (311, 321) opposite respective communication orifices (121, 122) in the valve body (1), the inner surface (32) of the intermediate element (3) bearing at least one relief (33) of which the top surrounds a through-orifice (321) and forms a continuous contact surface (331) bearing against the surface of the plug (2), - a seal (4) positioned in compression at an orifice between the intermediate element (3) and the valve body (1).