Valve Diaphragm Spring Element for Stable Clamping Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve diaphragms in diaphragm valves lack a precise and secure clamping mechanism, leading to potential sealing issues due to material settling and reduced clamping force over time.
Innovation Solution
A valve diaphragm design incorporating a separately designed elastic force transmission element, with a higher spring rate and modulus than the membrane layer, is used to provide a preload parallel to the actuating axis, ensuring secure clamping and homogeneous tensioning through complementary spring mounts and receptacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional membrane structure is used without a separate force transmission element, then the device complexity is reduced, but the clamping precision and sealing reliability deteriorate over time due to material settling
Solution Approach 1:
The diaphragm is segmented into distinct functional zones: a wet-side diaphragm layer for sealing, a dry-side diaphragm layer for structural support, and a separate elastic force transmission element for maintaining clamping force. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, ensuring reliable sealing while managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic force transmission element acts as an intermediary component between the diaphragm layers and the valve body. It transmits and maintains the necessary clamping force independently of material settling, thereby ensuring consistent sealing reliability without requiring the entire diaphragm structure to be redesigned.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the force transmission element is integrated into the diaphragm layer, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to tailor properties independently deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the force transmission element from the diaphragm layer, each component can be independently designed and optimized. The wet-side diaphragm layer can be optimized for sealing properties, the dry-side layer for structural integrity, and the elastic force transmission element for maintaining clamping force, achieving superior adaptability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the diaphragm assembly are assigned different material properties and functions: the wet-side layer uses materials optimized for chemical resistance and sealing, the dry-side layer uses materials for structural support, and the elastic force transmission element uses materials with specific elastic properties for force maintenance, allowing local optimization of each component.
3Force
If a rigid clamping mechanism is used, then the clamping force is strong, but the ability to compensate for material settling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic force transmission element provides dynamic clamping capability, allowing the system to adapt to changes in diaphragm thickness and positioning over time. The elastic nature enables continuous force transmission and compensation for material settling, maintaining consistent clamping force without requiring a rigid, fixed mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic force transmission element changes its physical parameters (deformation, compression) in response to material settling and operational conditions, thereby maintaining constant clamping force. This parameter adaptation allows the system to compensate for changes in the diaphragm structure while preserving stable sealing.
4Ease of repair
If the spring mount is not accessible, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of repair and replacement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mount is designed as a separate, extractable component from the diaphragm assembly. This allows the elastic force transmission element to be removed and replaced independently without disassembling the entire valve, significantly improving ease of repair while adding minimal complexity through a modular mounting design.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mount design enables maintenance personnel to service and replace the elastic force transmission element themselves without requiring specialized tools or extensive disassembly. The accessible design allows for simple insertion and removal, making the system self-serviceable for routine maintenance.
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 achieves a precise and stable clamping of the valve diaphragm to the valve body, maintaining sealing integrity and facilitating easy assembly and replacement of the force transmission elements.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastic force transmission element arranged on or in the tensioning section, which is designed separately from the diaphragm layer, for tensioning the valve diaphragm on a valve body of the diaphragm valve
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4(A)~4(E)
AI summary
The invention relates to a valve diaphragm (12) for a diaphragm valve (10), the valve diaphragm (12) comprising: a diaphragm layer (14, 16) with a tensioning section (18) and a functional section (20) surrounded by the tensioning section (18), wherein the functional section (20) is displaceable along an actuating axis (24); and at least one elastic force transmission element (32) arranged on or in the tensioning section (18), which is designed separately from the diaphragm layer (14, 16) for tensioning the valve diaphragm (12) on a valve body (28) of the diaphragm valve (10).