Vacuum Safety Valve Control for Safe Reconnection Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum safety valves for rotary vane pumps automatically open based on pressure differences, potentially reopening in unsafe states, leading to unintended reconnection between the pump and recipient, which can cause contamination and operational issues.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum safety valve design that requires a deliberate pressure application to open, featuring a control element and membrane system where the closure element moves from a closed to open position only under controlled pressure conditions, ensuring safety by defining safe states before valve operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the valve opens automatically based on pressure difference, then the valve operation is simple and automatic, but the valve may open prematurely before the safe state is restored
Solution Approach 1:
The control element must perform preliminary actions (specific number of strokes in specific directions) before the valve can open. This ensures that the safe state is restored before the valve opens, preventing premature opening while maintaining automatic operation. The control element tracks the pump's operational state and only permits valve opening after the required preliminary operations are completed.
2Reliability
If the valve requires controlled pressure application to open, then the valve opening timing is accurate and safe, but the valve structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control element utilizes the pump's own operational movements to trigger valve opening. The control element is actuated by the pump's normal operation (strokes in specific directions), and the pump itself provides the pressure application needed to open the valve. This self-service approach reduces the need for external control systems while maintaining reliable timing.
3Speed
If the valve closes solely on pressure difference, then the valve response is fast and automatic, but the valve cannot ensure safe state before reopening
Solution Approach 1:
The control element provides feedback about the pump's operational state to the valve mechanism. The control element monitors the number and direction of pump strokes, and only allows valve opening when the feedback indicates that the safe state has been restored. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable safe state verification while maintaining fast automatic response.
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
Prevents premature opening of the valve, maintaining safety by ensuring the safe state is restored before reestablishing the flow connection, thus preventing contamination and ensuring reliable pump operation.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane separating a pressure side from an operating side is arranged, and a control element active between the membrane and the closure element, wherein the closure element is movable via the control element against a return force from the closed position into the open position by means of the membrane acted on at the pressure side
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vacuum safety valve for a vacuum pump, in particular for a rotary vane pump, comprising a housing having a flow path extending between an inlet and an outlet for a gas to be conveyed, a valve region that is disposed in the flow path and in which a valve closure element is arranged that is movable between a closed position and an open position, a control space that is associated with the valve region and in which a membrane separating the pressure side from an operating side is arranged, and a control element active between the membrane and the closure element, wherein the closure element is movable via the control element against a return force from the closed position into the open position by means of the membrane acted on at the pressure side and is movable back into the closed position on a removal of the membrane load due to the return force and is held in the closed position.