Rotating Metal Sealing Disc for Ultra-High Vacuum Valves
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vacuum valves face challenges in achieving high sealability and durability, especially in high vacuum and high temperature environments, as rubber O-rings are unsuitable for these conditions and all-metal valves require increased closing force, leading to shortened service life and sealing surface degradation due to dimensional changes.
Innovation Solution
A sealing disc with a metal sealing plate that can rotate relative to the valve port, designed to withstand both internal closing force and external atmospheric pressure, featuring a bent, corrugated, or arcuate plate configuration with strategically angled wing plates to maintain vacuum closure without additional gaskets or spacers, and is treated for lubrication and polishing to enhance sealability and longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If rubber O-ring sealing elements are used in vacuum valves, then ease of manufacture and ease of operation are improved, but sealability in high vacuum systems and high temperature environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rubber to metal, and changes the sealing mechanism parameter from elastic deformation to rigid surface contact. This allows the valve to achieve high vacuum sealability while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized metal component production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite sealing structure combining metal sealing surfaces with gasket materials. The metal components provide structural integrity and temperature resistance, while the gasket materials fill micro-irregularities to enhance sealability in high vacuum environments.
2Reliability
If all-metal valve with metal layer abutting is adopted, then sealability in high vacuum systems is improved, but service life deteriorates due to increased closing force requirements and shear deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spherical sealing ball that contacts the valve seat at a point or small area. The spherical geometry allows for self-aligning contact and distributes the closing force more evenly, reducing shear deformation and extending service life while maintaining reliable vacuum sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a movable sealing ball that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation during valve operation. This dynamic capability allows the sealing surface to compensate for thermal expansion, manufacturing tolerances, and wear, thereby extending service life while maintaining sealability.
3Temperature
If metal layers are used for sealing surface, then temperature resistance is improved, but dimensional stability deteriorates due to thermal expansion and contraction causing relative movement and shear deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The movable sealing ball can dynamically adjust its position to compensate for dimensional changes in the metal valve body caused by thermal expansion and contraction. This dynamic adjustment prevents shear deformation at the sealing interface while maintaining temperature resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sealing interface from a large-area metal-to-metal contact to a point contact with a spherical ball. This parameter change reduces the sensitivity to dimensional changes caused by thermal effects, as the point contact can accommodate small displacements without creating shear stresses.
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 sealing disc achieves ultra-high vacuum closure, prevents outgassing, and extends service life by allowing compensating movement and maintaining contact between metallic surfaces, thus improving sealability and durability.
Implementation Method 1
the first sealing surface is capable of simultaneously rotating relative to the second sealing surface with the applied closing force and the atmospheric pressure to maintain vacuum closure of the valve port
Implementation Method 2
the sealing disc simultaneously bears a closing force applied from an inside of the vacuum valve and an atmospheric pressure applied from an outside of the vacuum valve in the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing disc for vacuum closure suitable for using in reciprocating movement to an open position or a closed position to open or seal a valve port of an all-metal valve is disclosed. A sealing plate of the sealing disc is formed with a first sealing surface. When the sealing disc is in the closed position, the first sealing surface directly abuts against the valve port of the all-metal vacuum valve. A vacuum sealability can be improved and a service lifetime can be prolonged through compensating movement and adjusting movement between two metallic sealing surfaces abutting each other.