Sealing Structure for Fluid Treatment Valve

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid treatment devices face challenges with inconvenient operation due to high friction and reduced sealing effectiveness, particularly in the valve plate and sealing member interactions, which shortens the device's service life and increases operational difficulties.

Innovation Solution

A manual switching mechanism with a valve core positioned on the side of the treatment device main body, allowing for reduced rotation distance and force, combined with a sealing structure that moves parallel to the cylinder instead of rotating, minimizing friction and abrasion, and an improved fluid treatment unit design with guide plates that lengthen the treatment path without increasing volume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the valve plate is rotated to switch operational modes, then the device can operate in different modes (normal use, backwash, flush, bypass), but the friction between the valve plate and sealing member degrades sealing and shortens service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational modesVSAvoidsealing effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional sealing approach by placing the sealing member on the stationary base rather than on the rotating valve plate. The sealing member remains fixed while the valve plate rotates, eliminating the relative rotation between sealing surfaces and preventing degradation of sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the valve plate has a larger section to match the housing, then it can effectively seal with the sealing member, but a larger force is required to rotate the valve plate making operation inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidrotation force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reverses the conventional design by making the sealing member stationary on the base rather than attached to the rotating valve plate. This allows the valve plate to have a smaller effective sealing section while maintaining effective sealing, thereby reducing the torque required for rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of manufacture

If the sealing member is rotated with the base during mounting, then the base and sealing member can be mounted together, but the frictional resistance is very large causing operational difficulties and potential injury to the sealing member

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting processVSAvoidmounting friction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the mounting sequence and relationship by fixing the sealing member to the stationary base first, then mounting the base assembly to the housing. During mounting, only the base rotates relative to the housing, while the sealing member remains stationary, eliminating the large frictional resistance that would occur if the sealing member itself had to rotate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 solution enhances operational convenience, reduces wear on components, extends the device's service life, and improves treatment efficiency by minimizing friction and optimizing fluid flow paths.

Implementation Method 1

the frictional coefficient between the support surface and supported surface is so low that the sealing cover is not rotated relative to the cylinder, but is merely moved in parallel relative to the cylinder when the support cover is rotated relative to the cylinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2543640B1Sealing structure
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 CHAU YIUCHAU
  • EP2543640B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2543640B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2543640B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sealing structure, a fluid treatment unit, a fluid treatment device and a manual switching mechanism therefor are provided. The sealing structure includes a cylinder, a sealing cover (31) and a support cover (32). The fluid treatment unit includes a chamber and guide plates. The manual switching mechanism includes a valve core (22) which is able to be manually operated. The valve core (22) is provided on the side of the treatment device main body, and is able to be manually operated so as to be located at two or more different positions which comprise a treatment position and a backwash position. The valve core (22) is connected to an inlet (17) and an intake passage (11) for fluid to be treated and blocks a backwash fluid discharge passage when the valve core (22) is located at the treatment position; the valve core (22) is connected to the inlet (17) and the backwash fluid intake passage so that the backwash fluid discharge passage is communicated with an outside of the fluid treatment device when the valve core (22) is located at the backwash position.