Telescoping Shuttle Valve Module for Easier Seal Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shuttle valves face challenges in maintaining seal integrity and ease of maintenance due to wear and degradation of deformable materials, particularly in high-use applications where frequent cycling and exposure to various fluids can lead to seal damage and increased removal resistance.
Innovation Solution
A shuttle valve module with a telescoping end cap and wedging member that allows for configuration change, reducing seal resistance and facilitating removal by increasing the distance between end walls, thereby minimizing seal damage and simplifying maintenance, using deformable seals like O-rings made from materials like acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If deformable seal materials are used to facilitate sealing, then seal formation is improved, but seal durability deteriorates due to degradation with use
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is divided into multiple segments or lobes that can independently deform and conform to the sealing surface. This segmentation allows the seal to maintain effective contact while distributing wear across multiple surfaces, thereby improving both seal formation and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is constructed from composite materials that combine the deformability needed for sealing with enhanced durability characteristics. This allows the seal to form effective seals while resisting degradation from frequent cycling and fluid exposure.
2Productivity
If frequent cycling is performed to maintain valve operation, then productivity is improved, but seal wear increases leading to reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to adapt its deformation during each cycling operation. The seal can deform during sealing operations and recover during non-operational phases, accommodating frequent cycling while maintaining seal integrity and reducing cumulative wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal design incorporates features that cushion and distribute the mechanical stresses of frequent cycling before they can cause damage. This includes compliant mounting structures and stress-distributing geometries that protect the seal from shock loads and fatigue.
3Reliability
If tight sealing is maintained to prevent fluid leakage, then reliability is improved, but removal resistance increases making maintenance difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed as a segmented structure that can be compressed against the sealing surface during operation to ensure tight sealing. During removal, the segments can be slightly separated or deformed to reduce friction and allow easier extraction, thus maintaining both sealing effectiveness and ease of maintenance.
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 seal durability and ease of maintenance by reducing seal resistance during removal, extending the lifespan of seal components and improving the overall reliability of the shuttle valve in high-pressure and high-cycle applications.
Implementation Method 1
A deformable material can degrade with use
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
A shuttle valve module assembly for fitting in a cavity (220) in a valve housing is disclosed, for controlling the flow of fluid between one of first (154) and second (156) primary housing ports and a secondary housing port (158). The assembly comprises: a shuttle valve module (2) having first (18) and second (10) end walls and a side wall, and an elongate chamber extending between the end walls, the end walls and the side wall having first (16), second (8) and third (1 1) openings which can communicate with first (154), second (156) and third (158) ports respectively in the valve housing; a seal member (36) which can move within the chamber between a first position in which it forms a seal which prevents flow of fluid between the first and third openings while allowing flow between the second and third openings, and a second position in which it forms a seal which prevents flow of fluid between the second and third openings while allowing flow of fluid between the first and third openings; and a wedging member (30). The module also comprises a body (4) and an end cap (6) which provides the end wall (18) of the module. The body and the end cap are arranged so that one can slide relative to the other telescopically, and so that the wedging member can be inserted between the body and the end cap to cause the end cap to be displaced relative to the body so as to increase the distance between the first and second end walls of the module.