Vacuum Valve Control Mechanism With Roller Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum valve mechanisms face issues with high operational forces during closing and opening, and rolling elements can fall out due to interference, vibration, or pressure differences, leading to system failure and damage.
Innovation Solution
The mechanism features complementary grooves in the drive and adjacent plates with roller-shaped rolling elements that are secured against displacement, allowing for equal forces during sealing and lifting movements without the risk of rolling elements falling out, using freely guided rolling elements without additional mechanics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If open design guides with freely guided balls are used, then the valve mechanism allows smooth operation, but the rolling elements can fall out due to interference, vibration, or pressure differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (the closed groove system with retaining walls) that mediates between the freely guided rolling elements and the potential hazards of interference, vibration, or pressure differences. The retaining walls act as protective intermediaries that prevent ball discharge while preserving the smooth rolling operation.
2Reliability
If closed grooves with bolts and bearings are used, then the rolling elements are secured against falling out, but the bearings have to be kept relatively small and work hard at the limit of their resilience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bearing function from the groove structure itself and transfers it to the freely guided rolling elements. By removing the need for separate bearing components, the design eliminates the limitation of small bearing size and allows the rolling elements to operate with sufficient resilience under high loads.
3Force
If high pressing forces are applied during closing, then the seal is pressed against the seat, but the same pressure difference can work in the opposite direction and keep the plate closed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the guide grooves displaceable relative to each other during operation. The grooves transition from a closed, constrained configuration during closing (providing high sealing force) to an open, displaced configuration during opening (reducing restraint and allowing plate movement). This dynamic adjustment of groove positioning enables the system to adapt to different operational phases.
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 design enables high sealing and detachment forces, reducing the risk of rolling element displacement and system failure, and eliminates the need for return springs, as the rolling elements are positively guided in the grooves, ensuring reliable operation and reduced material costs.
Implementation Method 1
in the overlapping area between these two complementary grooves each have a roller-shaped rolling element is arranged
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~7
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Valve mechanics has one or more movable discs (4) for sealing a valve opening (2) in housing (1) and a gate guide is consist of control groove (23) in transmission disc (14). Complementary grooves (6) in movable discs are complementary and overlap each other whereby an area of overlap is arranged between grooves or cylindrical rolling elements (16).