Vacuum Valve Seal Force Control via Dynamic Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum valve control methods do not allow for optimal adjustment of the pressing force on the elastic seal based on user-defined parameters, leading to suboptimal gas tightness and seal protection.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling a vacuum valve that allows the pressing force on the elastic seal to be set as a function of user-input parameters, such as seal material, geometry, operating mode, or automatically detected parameters, enabling optimized force and position control for enhanced gas tightness and seal protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed pressing force is applied to the elastic seal, then the valve structure is simple, but the gas tightness and seal protection are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing force on the elastic seal is made dynamically adjustable through a control device that can modify the force applied by the actuator. This allows the system to adapt the sealing force to different operating conditions, improving gas tightness without requiring a completely complex control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device changes the pressing force parameter based on user-defined inputs or automatically detected parameters. By adjusting this physical parameter, the system optimizes both gas tightness and seal protection while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
2Reliability
If high pressing force is applied to ensure secure sealing, then gas tightness is improved, but seal wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing force is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed at a high constant value. The control device can reduce the pressing force when maximum sealing is not required, thereby reducing seal wear and extending lifespan while maintaining adequate sealing when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressing force parameter based on operating conditions, using lower forces during normal operation to protect the seal and higher forces only when secure sealing is critically required, thus balancing seal integrity and lifespan.
3Reliability
If the pressing force is optimized for gas tightness, then leakage is reduced, but seal stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing force is dynamically adjusted based on actual sealing requirements rather than being constantly optimized for maximum tightness. This reduces unnecessary seal stress while maintaining adequate tightness through adaptive control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device modifies the pressing force parameter to achieve the minimum necessary force for adequate sealing, rather than continuously applying the force required for optimal tightness, thereby reducing seal stress while maintaining acceptable tightness.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If the pressing force is reduced to protect the seal, then seal lifespan is extended, but gas tightness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing force is dynamically adjusted to provide adequate sealing only when required, rather than maintaining a constantly reduced force. This extends seal lifespan by reducing overall stress while ensuring gas tightness is maintained during critical operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device changes the pressing force parameter based on operating conditions, using lower forces during non-critical periods to extend seal life and higher forces only when gas tightness is critically required, thus balancing both objectives.
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 approach allows for customizable sealing forces and positions, reducing seal wear and leakage, while ensuring secure sealing in service modes and protecting the seal in process modes, thereby extending the seal's lifespan and maintaining vacuum integrity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastic seal (4) is pressed with a pressing force (F) onto a seal face (35)
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling or regulating a vacuum valve that includes a valve body (1) with a valve opening (2), a closing member (3), an actuator (5) for moving the closing member (3), and a control device (9) by which the actuator (5) is triggered and by which the pressing force acting on the elastic seal (4) in the closed position of the closing member (3) is set. The setting of the pressing force acting on the elastic seal (4) is performed as a function of at least one parameter that can be input by a user.