Sliding Ring Valve Sealing Using Matched Resin Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cooling systems, the valve and seat materials expand or contract differently with temperature changes, leading to sealing performance deterioration and increased drive unit size due to friction, which impairs flow control and reduces sealing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A valve device with a casing, joint, and sliding ring where the outer surface and sliding surface are composed of the same type of resin material, such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), minimizing thermal expansion differences and reducing wear, thus maintaining sealing performance across temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different materials are used for the valve and seat to satisfy different required characteristics, then the functional requirements are met, but the sealing performance deteriorates when temperature changes occur due to different dimensional change rates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses the same material (resin) for both the valve and the seat, ensuring they have identical thermal expansion characteristics. This homogeneity in material composition eliminates the sealing performance deterioration that occurs when temperature changes cause different dimensional changes in dissimilar materials.
2Reliability
If an elastic member is used for the sealing portion to absorb dimensional changes, then sealing performance is maintained, but the friction increases causing the drive unit to become massive
Solution Approach 1:
By using the same resin material for both valve and seat, the invention eliminates the need for elastic members to compensate for dimensional changes. The identical thermal expansion rates ensure continuous contact and sealing without requiring additional elastic components, thereby reducing friction and drive unit size.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical elastic member-based sealing system with a material-homogeneity-based sealing system. Instead of using elastic deformation to maintain sealing, the system relies on the identical dimensional change characteristics of the same material, eliminating the need for elastic members and their associated friction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the valve and seat are made of different materials such as PPS and PTFE, then the respective functional requirements are satisfied, but the friction becomes large requiring a massive drive unit
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses the same resin material for both the valve and seat, eliminating the high friction that occurs between different materials like PPS and PTFE. This material uniformity reduces the friction force, allowing for a more compact drive unit.
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 effectively suppresses sealing performance degradation due to temperature changes, allowing for compact and efficient cooling control with reduced fluid leakage and a smaller drive unit.
Implementation Method 1
when the temperature of the fluid to be circulated changes, the valve and the seat expand or contract, respectively, and the dimensions change
Data Source
AI summary
A valve device includes: a casing having an outflow port in which a fluid outlet opening is formed; a joint joined to an opening end surface of the outlet opening; a valve accommodated in the casing so as to be rotatable or slidable and in which a communication port that can communicate with the outlet opening is formed; and a sliding ring with a sliding surface for sliding on an outer surface of the valve while being accommodated in the outflow port and communicates the outlet and the communication port based upon a position of the valve. At least the outer surface of the valve includes a first resin material that contains a first resin, at least the sliding surface of the sliding ring includes a second resin material that contains a second resin, and the first resin and the second resin are the same type of resin.