Pneumatic Valve Body Gasket Insertion Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of pneumatic valves is hindered by gasket damage during insertion into the valve compartment, leading to quality issues and production slowdowns due to the need for cautious manual operation to avoid air leakage.

Innovation Solution

The design features support surfaces within the valve body with varying diameters to securely contain gaskets, along with spacers that allow for automated insertion, preventing contact with sharp edges and enabling efficient assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If gaskets are manually inserted with caution to prevent damage, then gasket integrity is maintained, but production speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegasket integrityVSAvoidproduction speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing downward and upward support surfaces in advance within the valve body compartment. These surfaces are positioned to receive and support the gaskets during automated insertion, preventing contact with sharp edges before damage can occur. The support surfaces are integrated into the valve body design, so they are already in place when automated insertion occurs, eliminating the need for manual caution while maintaining gasket integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If automated insertion is implemented to increase productivity, then production speed increases, but gasket damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction speedVSAvoidgasket integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses support surfaces as intermediary elements between the automated insertion mechanism and the gaskets. These surfaces act as a protective mediator that intercepts the gaskets during insertion, preventing direct contact with potentially damaging sharp edges of the compartment walls. The intermediary support surfaces allow automated high-speed insertion while maintaining gasket integrity by providing a safe insertion path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If support surfaces with varying diameters are provided, then gasket containment is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegasket positioningVSAvoidvalve body structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the support surfaces directly into the valve body structure, making them an integral part of the valve body rather than separate components. The downward and upward support surfaces are formed as continuous features within the compartment walls, combining the functions of structural support and gasket containment into a single integrated design. This reduces device complexity while maintaining precise gasket positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3123064B1Valve body of a pneumatic valve with sealing ring seats

Publication Date: 2018.01.03 AIGNEP SPA SOCIETA UNIPERSONALE

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AI summary

A valve body (12) of a pneumatic valve (10) includes a transversal compartment (20) for a shaft or spool (50) accessible according to an insertion direction (IN) for the insertion of annular gaskets (32a, 32b) for the seal with the shaft (50). The transversal compartment (20) has a downward support surface (30a) for a downward gasket (32a), and an upward support surface (30b) for an upward gasket (32b). The diameter of the upward support surface (30b) is greater than the diameter of the downward support surface (30a) for a convenient insertion of the downward gasket (32a).