Valve Disc Hold-Down Structure for Pressure Peak Sealing Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valve assemblies are not robust enough to maintain tightness and integrity under pressure increases or peaks, particularly in drain chambers, leading to potential detachment of the fixed disc and jamming of the rotating disc.

Innovation Solution

A valve assembly with a retainer system comprising longitudinal struts and connecting rings that axially support the fixed disc, preventing it from detaching from the housing projection and ensuring the sealing integrity, even under high hydraulic pressures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the fixed disc rests axially on a housing-fixed projection without additional support, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates under pressure increases or peaks in the drain chamber

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetightness and integrity under pressureVSAvoidstructure of fixed disc support
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer is pre-installed in the valve housing before the fixed disc is mounted. This preliminary action creates a pre-assembled support structure that immediately provides axial support to the fixed disc, preventing detachment issues before they can occur during operation under pressure peaks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The retainer acts as an intermediary component between the housing-fixed projection and the fixed disc. It transfers and distributes the support forces, providing stable axial support to the fixed disc while simplifying the overall mounting structure and improving reliability under pressure conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the fixed disc is held only by spring force and supply pressure, then the device complexity is minimized, but the reliability worsens when hydraulic back pressure exceeds spring force and supply pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixed disc positioning stabilityVSAvoidfixed disc retention mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer provides a mechanical counter-support force that opposes the hydraulic back pressure acting on the fixed disc. This counter-support mechanism ensures the fixed disc remains securely positioned even when the back pressure exceeds the combined forces of the spring element and supply pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Reliability

If the fixed disc can detach under pressure peaks, then the device complexity remains low, but the reliability and safety deteriorate due to potential disc displacement and jamming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of disc detachmentVSAvoidretainer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer is pre-installed in the valve housing before the fixed disc is mounted. This preliminary action creates a pre-assembled support structure that immediately provides axial support to the fixed disc, preventing detachment issues before they can occur during operation under pressure peaks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The retainer serves as a preventive measure that is already in place before pressure peaks occur. It provides continuous axial support to the fixed disc, cushioning against potential detachment forces and preventing disc displacement or jamming before they can happen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 retainer system maintains the sealing integrity and prevents disc displacement, enhancing the robustness of the valve assembly and expanding its applicability to systems with expected pressure variations.

Implementation Method 1

a spring element (29) that is held pre-tensioned between the rotating disc (13) and the cover (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the rotating disc (13) is axially pressed or compressed against the fixed disc (12) at its end face by means of a spring element (29)... the rotating disc faces the chamber where the supply pressure from a connection opening acting as an inlet prevails, so that the rotating disc is also pressed against the fixed disc by the supply pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP4327003B1Valve device having a hold-down element
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 MACK & SCHNEIDER
  • EP4327003B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4327003B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4327003B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a valve device (1), comprising: - a valve housing (2), which has at least two connection openings (8, 9, 10) leading into respective chambers (25, 26) of the valve housing (2) and which is closed by a cover (3); - at least one sealing disk unit (11), which separates the two chambers (25, 26) from each other and has, as sealing disks (12, 13), a fixed disk (12) non-rotatably held in the valve housing (2) and at least one rotary disk (13) mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation (15), wherein the sealing disks (12, 13), which lie one on the other axially, each have at least one throughflow opening (14, 24) in order to open a throughflow cross-section between the chambers (25, 26) when the throughflow openings (14, 24) are in at least one position of overlap with each other; and - a spring element (29), which is held, under preload, between the rotary disk (13) and the cover (3); wherein the underside of the fixed disk (12) facing away from the rotary disk (13) lies axially on a housing-fixed protrusion (17). According to the invention, a hold-down element (32) is disposed in the valve housing (2) and is axially seated against the fixed disk (12) on one side and against the cover (3) on the other side.