Transition Pressure Ring for Non-Circular Diaphragm Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Diaphragm valves face challenges in sealing the diaphragm to a body exterior seal periphery with non-congruent circular and non-circular shapes, requiring innovative solutions to ensure effective pressure sealing without altering the circular bonnet inside diameter.
Innovation Solution
A bonnet assembly with a transition pressure ring that includes a circular top portion and a bead on its bottom surface, where the bead projects out to match the non-circular body exterior seal periphery, allowing compression to press the diaphragm against the seal periphery for a secure seal, utilizing a spring washer and load plate mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a circular bonnet inside diameter is used, then manufacturing simplicity and cost are improved, but sealing effectiveness with non-circular body exterior seal periphery deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure ring is segmented into two distinct portions: a circular top portion that interfaces with the circular bonnet inside diameter, and a non-circular bottom portion with a bead that interfaces with the non-circular body exterior seal periphery. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific sealing interface, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure ring acts as an intermediary component between the circular bonnet assembly and the non-circular body assembly. It transforms the circular compression force from the bonnet into a non-circular sealing pressure distribution that matches the body exterior seal periphery, enabling effective sealing without modifying the circular bonnet design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bonnet assembly is designed with non-congruent circular and non-circular shapes, then sealing adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure ring exhibits local quality by having different geometries in different regions: the top portion maintains a simple circular cross-section for easy manufacturing, while the bottom portion features a non-circular bead profile that conforms to the specific sealing requirements of the body exterior seal periphery. This localized geometric variation provides sealing adaptability without requiring the entire assembly to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure ring utilizes dimensional transformation by transitioning from a two-dimensional circular cross-section at the top to a three-dimensional non-circular bead profile at the bottom. This dimensional change allows the component to adapt to different sealing geometries while maintaining manufacturing simplicity in the primary circular dimension.
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
Facilitates a secure pressure seal between the diaphragm and body assemblies, accommodating non-circular shapes while maintaining a circular bonnet inside diameter, reducing complexity and costs, and ensuring effective fluid control.
Implementation Method 1
The compressed spring washer may apply a compression force to a top portion of a transition pressure ring within the column
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies are described for devices and methods to seal a diaphragm to a body exterior seal periphery. The methods may comprise rotating a handwheel of a bonnet assembly to move a load plate to apply a compression force to a top portion of a transition pressure ring. The top portion of the transition pressure ring may have a circular cross section. A bottom portion of the transition pressure ring may include a bead that may project out from a bottom surface of the bottom portion and may have a congruent shape and size as the body exterior seal periphery. The body exterior seal periphery may not be congruent to the circular cross section of the top portion. The compression force may press the bead against a diaphragm assembly and the diaphragm against the body exterior seal periphery, to seal the diaphragm to the body exterior seal periphery.