Pressure-Responsive Valve Sealing Assembly for Leak Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ball valve assemblies face challenges in maintaining a high-quality seal, especially at high fluid pressures, due to the inability of traditional sealing mechanisms to effectively prevent fluid leakage around the valve member, which can lead to undesirable fluid flow through unintended ports.
Innovation Solution
A valve assembly with a sealing arrangement that utilizes a deformable, incompressible medium contained around a sleeve within the fluid passageway, where the fluid pressure causes the sleeve to deform and apply a force to a sealing member, enhancing the seal by redirecting the pressure and increasing the sealing force as fluid pressure increases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring-biased seal is used to prevent leakage, then sealing is maintained, but the friction increases making valve operation more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic sealing system where the sealing force is not fixed but varies with operating conditions. The sealing member's contact force with the ball is dynamically adjusted by the fluid pressure acting on the sleeve, allowing the system to optimize between sealing quality and operational ease depending on the pressure conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system is self-regulating, using the fluid pressure itself to control the sealing force without requiring external actuation or complex control mechanisms. The system automatically adjusts the sealing member's contact force based on the fluid pressure, eliminating the need for separate actuation systems and reducing overall friction.
2Device complexity
If traditional sealing mechanisms are used, then the structure is simple, but fluid leakage occurs around the valve member at high pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sleeve as an intermediary element between the fluid and the sealing member. This sleeve acts as a mediator that converts the fluid pressure into a controlled sealing force, providing a more reliable seal compared to direct spring-biased mechanisms while maintaining reasonable structural 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
This solution ensures a high-quality seal at both high and low fluid pressures, reducing the need for tolerances in valve assembly design and allowing easier operation by minimizing friction, while also preventing fluid leakage around the valve member, even under high pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable, incompressible, medium contained around the sleeve and arranged such that, in use, a fluid within the sleeve exerts an outward pressure on the sleeve causing the sleeve to deform and act on the medium which applies a force to push the sealing member against the valve member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a valve assembly (2) comprising a valve body (4) comprising a first port (6), a second port (8) and a fluid passageway (10) extending therebetween. A valve member (12), comprising a through port (14), is arranged in the fluid passageway (10) and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. A sealing arrangement (15A) is arranged between the first port (6) and the valve member (12) and comprises a sealing member (16) arranged to seal against the valve member (12) such that fluid cannot flow around an outer surface (34) of the valve member (12). The sealing arrangement further comprises a sleeve (18) arranged in the fluid passageway (10) between the first port (6) and the valve member (12); and a deformable, incompressible, medium (20) contained around the sleeve (18) and arranged such that, in use, a fluid within the sleeve (18) exerts an outward pressure on the sleeve (18) causing the sleeve (18) to deform and act on the medium (20) which applies a force to push the sealing member (16) against the valve member (12).