Unitary Elastomeric Valve Sleeve Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow control valve sleeves face issues with limited sealing and chemical resistance due to a two-piece construction using different materials for the seat and support discs, leading to potential fatigue and failure under compression forces.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece valve sleeve with a unitary construction made from elastomeric material, featuring a flange portion and seat portion with homogenous material properties, including a support ring and annular support plate, to provide resilient sealing and support against compression forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a two-piece construction with different materials is used for the seat and support disc, then the support disc can provide structural support, but the sealing ability and chemical resistance are limited due to material dissimilarity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the seat and support disc into a single integrated valve sleeve component made from elastomeric material. This merging eliminates the interface between dissimilar materials, ensuring uniform chemical resistance and sealing properties throughout the component while maintaining structural support capabilities through the elastomeric material's inherent properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve sleeve is constructed from a single elastomeric material with homogeneous properties throughout, replacing the two-piece construction with dissimilar materials. This homogeneity ensures consistent chemical resistance, sealing ability, and fatigue resistance across the entire component, eliminating weak points at material interfaces.
2Strength
If a hard material is used for the support disc, then structural support is provided, but the ability to provide a tight seal and resist chemical corrosion is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from hard material to elastomeric material for the valve sleeve. This parameter change enables the material to simultaneously provide structural support through its strength properties while offering superior chemical resistance and sealing tightness through its elastomeric characteristics, including flexibility and chemical inertness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes elastomeric material as a composite solution that combines the benefits of flexibility, chemical resistance, and structural support in a single material system, replacing the need for separate hard support disc and elastomeric seat components.
3Ease of operation
If a separate support disc is used, then flange engagement is provided, but the component is susceptible to long term fatigue and cracking due to material dissimilarity and inelasticity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the support disc function into the integrated valve sleeve body, eliminating the separate component interface. This integration ensures that the elastomeric material uniformly distributes stress throughout the structure, preventing fatigue and cracking at material interfaces while maintaining effective flange engagement capabilities.
4Ease of manufacture
If a two-piece construction is used, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but the overall reliability and consistency of material properties are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple components into a single molded elastomeric valve sleeve, which can be manufactured as one integrated piece through molding processes. This merging maintains manufacturing efficiency while ensuring consistent material properties throughout the entire component, eliminating variations that would arise from assembling dissimilar materials.
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 sealing efficiency and chemical resistance, reducing the risk of fatigue and failure by ensuring consistent material properties throughout the sleeve, allowing for effective sealing and support under operational stresses.
Implementation Method 1
the valve sleeves also provide a support surface to engage the flange surfaces of the valve housing or other piping elements coupled to the valve housing... the support disc may not withstand or be resilient to over-compression by the flange bolts... A one-piece valve sleeve with a unitary construction made from elastomeric material... providing resilient sealing and support against compression forces
Data Source
AI summary
A valve assembly preferably including a housing having a recess and a flange face and a valve sleeve disposed within the recess. The sleeve preferably includes an annulus having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines a passageway about a central axis, the outer and inner surfaces being radially spaced from one another to define a wall. The wall has a first end portion and a second end portion axially spaced from the first end portion, and homogenous material properties from the first end portion to the second end portion. Preferably, the first end portion defines a lip for supporting the annulus in the recess and further defines a first chamber that encases at least a portion of a first support member. The second end portion preferably defines a flange portion along the outer surface for engaging the flange and further defines a second chamber that encases at least a portion of a second support member.