Self-Aligning Valve Disk Assembly for Pressure Regulator Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure regulators often suffer from misalignment and offsetting of components due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to incomplete sealing, increased pressure build-up, and potential damage to the stem and regulator body.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of self-aligning valve disk assemblies that allow for pivoting and rotation of the disk to compensate for misalignment, featuring a through-hole with a hex feature for easy installation and maintenance, and a balance passage to manage pressure differentials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional fixed valve disk assemblies are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but misalignment and offsetting of components occur leading to incomplete sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The valve disk assembly is designed with dynamic adjustment capability through a spherical interface between the retainer and valve disk. The valve disk can pivot and rotate relative to the stem within the cavity, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to compensate for misalignment between manufacturing components, thereby achieving complete sealing despite tolerance variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve disk assembly is segmented into multiple components: a stem, a retainer with cavity, and a valve disk that can move independently within the cavity. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately with standard tolerances while the assembled mechanism achieves precise alignment through the movable valve disk design.
2Reliability
If rigid valve disk assemblies are used, then structural stability is maintained, but pressure build-up occurs causing potential damage to stem and regulator body
Solution Approach 1:
The valve disk is designed to pivot and rotate dynamically within the retainer cavity in response to pressure differentials. This dynamic movement allows the valve disk to self-align and distribute pressure evenly, preventing excessive pressure build-up that could damage the stem or regulator body while maintaining structural integrity.
3Manufacturing precision
If precision alignment of all components is required, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve disk assembly is designed to self-align during operation. The movable valve disk automatically adjusts its position relative to the seat opening through pivoting and rotating motions, eliminating the need for precision alignment during manufacturing. The assembly process is simplified while achieving effective sealing through the self-adjusting mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
Pressure regulators with self-aligning valve disk assemblies are disclosed. An example pressure regulator disclosed herein 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 defining a cavity, a retainer positioned in the cavity, the retainer including a first curved surface, and a disk positioned in the cavity and extending circumferentially around the first curved surface, a second curved surface of the disk complementary to the first curved surface such that the disk is pivotable and rotatable about the first curved surface to enable the disk to sealably engage the seat.