Transition Pressure Ring for Non-Circular Diaphragm Valve Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diaphragm valve technologies face challenges in effectively sealing the diaphragm to the body exterior periphery, particularly when dealing with non-circular weir configurations, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased complexity in maintaining a reliable seal.
Innovation Solution
The use of a transition pressure ring with a bead on its bottom surface, which is congruent in shape and size to the body exterior seal periphery, applies pressure to the diaphragm assembly to ensure a secure seal, allowing for a circular bonnet inside diameter and simplifying the sealing process with a standard O-ring, even in non-circular configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a non-circular weir configuration is used in the body assembly, then the valve can handle complex flow patterns, but sealing the diaphragm to the body exterior periphery becomes difficult and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into distinct functional segments: the circular bonnet assembly, the transition pressure ring with non-circular bead, and the body exterior seal periphery. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its shape independently - the bonnet remains simple and circular while the transition ring adapts to the non-circular weir configuration, resolving the sealing complexity issue
Solution Approach 2:
The transition pressure ring acts as an intermediary element between the circular bonnet assembly and the non-circular body exterior seal periphery. Its dual-configuration design (circular top surface receiving uniform pressure, non-circular bottom bead for sealing) mediates the geometric mismatch, enabling effective sealing without complicating the bonnet design
2Ease of manufacture
If the bonnet assembly is made non-circular to match the weir configuration, then sealing becomes easier, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented from the bonnet assembly and placed in the transition pressure ring. This allows the bonnet to maintain a simple circular shape for easy manufacturing, while the sealing function is isolated in the transition ring which can be designed with the appropriate non-circular bead geometry
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the bonnet non-circular to match the weir (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by keeping the bonnet circular and introducing a transition ring with the non-circular sealing bead. This reverses the problem-solving strategy and achieves the same sealing goal with less complexity
3Ease of manufacture
If a standard O-ring is used for sealing, then cost and simplicity are reduced, but sealing effectiveness for non-circular configurations is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The transition pressure ring with its non-circular bead serves as an intermediary that adapts the circular O-ring's sealing capability to non-circular geometries. The bead's shape matches the body exterior seal periphery, allowing the simple circular O-ring to effectively seal complex non-circular configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The transition ring changes the geometric parameters of the sealing interface - the top surface maintains circular symmetry for O-ring compatibility while the bottom bead transforms to match the non-circular weir configuration, enabling standard components to work with complex geometries
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
This solution provides a reliable and efficient pressure seal around non-circular weirs, reducing costs and complexity by maintaining a circular bonnet diameter and utilizing a simple O-ring for sealing, while ensuring effective fluid control and flow management.
Implementation Method 1
the compressed spring washer applies a compression force to a top portion of a transition pressure ring
Implementation Method 2
the compression force applied to the top portion of the transition pressure ring presses the bead against the diaphragm assembly
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
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.