Valve Cock Seal Insert for Leak-Tight Small Valves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valve cocks, especially in small-sized valves, face issues with maintaining fluid-tightness due to loosening of external members, leading to potential leakage and compromised sealing functions.

Innovation Solution

A cock design featuring a body with a movably mounted seat, equipped with a seal fastened by an insert that holds the seal under compression, ensuring reliable fastening and prevention of leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an external member is used to hold the gasket in position, then the sealing function is improved, but the external member may loosen after prolonged use, compromising the sealing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidposition stability of external member
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the problematic external member from the sealing assembly and replaces it with an integrated insert that is part of the cock body. The insert is designed with a geometry that automatically retains the gasket through compression and geometric constraints, eliminating the loosening issue of external members while maintaining sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The insert is merged with the cock body as an integrated component, combining the functions of gasket retention and structural support. This integration ensures that the retention mechanism cannot loosen independently, as it is structurally unified with the body, thereby resolving the position stability issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the clearance between valve body and rotatable cock is minimized, then fluid-tightness is improved, but the sealing function is compromised in small-sized valves due to loosening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid-tightnessVSAvoidsealing mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insert acts as an intermediary component between the cock body and the gasket, providing a reliable retention mechanism that does not require complex external members. The insert's design allows for simple integration while effectively maintaining the gasket in position, thus improving fluid-tightness without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a gasket is provided on the cock to prevent leakage, then sealing is improved, but the gasket position may change or the external member may protrude radially, affecting long-term sealing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidmaintenance difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the gasket retention function from the external member and transfers it to the insert integrated in the cock body. This design prevents gasket position changes and radial protrusion by providing a stable, integrated retention mechanism, thereby improving long-term sealing reliability and ease of maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The solution effectively prevents leakage by ensuring the seal is reliably fastened to the body, maintaining fluid-tightness even in small-sized valves, and allowing for easy replacement of worn seals.

Implementation Method 1

the insert holds at least a portion of the seal under compression load

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP4092296B1A cock for a valve and a valve comprising such cock
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 ALFA LAVAL MOATTI SNC
  • EP4092296B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4092296B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4092296B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A cock (100) for a valve having at least one opening for passage of fluid, the cock comprising a body (110) configured to be movably mounted in a seat of the valve, at least one seal (130) fastened to the body (110) and configured to variably open or close the opening according to a position of the cock within the valve seat, wherein the seal (130) is fastened to the body (110) by an insert (140) fitted between the seal (130) and the body (110). A valve, in particular a three-way valve and/or a changeover valve, comprising such a cock.