Vacuum Valve Closure Member Alignment via Displaceable Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum valves face difficulties in achieving optimal alignment and sealing between the closure member and the valve seat due to low tolerances, which complicates ensuring a fully sealing closure.
Innovation Solution
The closure member is mounted displaceably on the drive unit in directions orthogonal or transverse to the closing direction, allowing for precise alignment and centering on the valve seat, thereby enabling an optimal sealing mechanism. This includes radial displaceability and the use of tapered cross-sectional areas and slide bearings to minimize friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the closure member is rigidly fixed to the drive unit, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easier, but alignment precision between the closure member and valve seat deteriorates due to tolerance accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The closure member is made displaceable relative to the drive unit support body through a bearing element, allowing dynamic adjustment during operation. This enables the closure member to automatically align with the valve seat by moving within the bearing element's play, resolving the alignment precision issue while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing element is designed with intentional play (clearance) in directions orthogonal to the closing direction. This parameter change allows the closure member to shift position to achieve optimal alignment with the valve seat, compensating for manufacturing tolerances without requiring ultra-precise manufacturing.
2Reliability
If the closure member is mounted displaceably to improve alignment, then sealing quality improves, but friction increases due to contact between the closure member and support body
Solution Approach 1:
A bearing element is introduced as an intermediary between the closure member and the support body. This bearing element specifically reduces friction during the displacement of the closure member, allowing smooth movement for alignment while maintaining the displaceable mounting benefit for sealing quality.
3Manufacturing precision
If tight tolerances are used for rigid mounting, then alignment precision improves, but manufacturing cost and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on tight rigid tolerances, the invention uses a displaceable mounting with a bearing element that provides adjustment capability. This allows standard manufacturing tolerances to be used while still achieving precise alignment through the mechanical adjustment provided by the bearing element's play.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing element is designed with intentional play (clearance) that provides the necessary alignment adjustment range. This parameter design allows the system to achieve high alignment precision without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances on the rigid components, thereby easing manufacturing.
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 ensures a fully sealing closure by allowing the closure member to be precisely aligned with the valve seat, reducing friction and maintaining optimal sealing even under varying conditions, particularly beneficial in vacuum engineering applications.
Implementation Method 1
the closure member, with the interposition of at least one slide bearing, is mounted displaceably on the support body of the drive unit
Data Source
AI summary
A valve (1), preferably a vacuum valve, is provided including at least one closure element (2), at least one valve seat (3), and at least one drive unit (4). The closure element (2) is pressed against the valve seat (3) in a closed position and is raised from the valve seat (3) in a raised position, and the closure element can be moved by a drive unit (4) in a closing direction (5) from the raised position into the closed position, in particular in a linear closing direction. The closure element (2) is mounted on a support body (6) of the drive unit (4) in a movable manner in at least one direction (7) orthogonally or transversely to the closing direction (5) in order to align the closure element (2) when pressing against the valve seat (3).