Vacuum Filter Distributor Valve Body Sealing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum filters, particularly rotational vacuum filters, face safety risks due to exposed moving parts and potential leakage, which can lead to contamination and operational hazards during the filtration process.

Innovation Solution

A distributor valve body that partially covers the rotating filter shaft, featuring a valve chamber with recesses for fluid management and a sealing system to direct fluids and vacuum away from personnel, reducing the risk of contamination and enhancing operational safety by preventing objects from getting stuck between moving parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the distributor valve body partially covers the rotating filter shaft, then operational safety is improved by reducing exposure to moving parts and directing leaks away from personnel, but device complexity increases due to the nested structural design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational safetyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The distributor valve body is designed to partially cover and nest around the rotating filter shaft, creating a protective enclosure that reduces exposure to moving parts while containing potential leaks. The valve body integrates the distributor function within the protective structure, eliminating the need for separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the distributor valve body nests the distributor end of the filter shaft, then harmful factors are reduced by directing leakage away from personnel, but manufacturing complexity increases due to the integrated design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage exposureVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The protective covering function and the fluid distribution function are merged into a single integrated distributor valve body component. This eliminates the need for separate protective housings and simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of parts that need to be assembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the valve chamber receives and covers the distributor end, then operational safety is enhanced by preventing objects from getting stuck between moving parts, but device complexity increases due to the integrated sealing system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational safetyVSAvoidsealing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve chamber is designed to receive and nest the distributor end of the filter shaft, creating a contained environment that prevents objects from entering the gap between stationary and rotating components. The sealing system is integrated into this nested structure, using the interface between the valve chamber and distributor end as the sealing location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3554669B1Distributor valve body for a vacuum filter, a combination and a vacuum filter having such a distributor valve body, and methods related thereto
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 OUTOTEC FINDLAND OY
  • EP3554669B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3554669B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~2A
  • EP3554669B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~3

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a distributor valve body (1) for a vacuum filter, said distributor valve body comprising a valve chamber (2) for receiving a distribution end (11) of a filter shaft (10). The valve chamber (2) has a base surface (3), when in use, arranged to cooperate with a face surface (12) on a distributor end (11) of said filter shaft (10), so as to form a sealing interface therewith, and a circumferential rim surface (4), when in use, concentric with said filter shaft (10), for cooperating with a circumference (13) of the distributor end (11) of a filter shaft (10), so as to form a circumferential interface therewith. The circumferential rim surface (4) extends from the base surface (3), when in use, towards the distributor end (11) of a filter shaft (10) so as to at least partially cover said distribution end (11). The disclosure also concerns a combination for a distributor valve, and methods for replacing and modernizing a distributor valve.