Media-Separated Valve Member Geometry for High-Pressure Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve arrangements face challenges in operating safely and reliably at high pressures with minimal leakage, especially under high dynamic loads, and struggle to maintain hermetic separation between the valve chamber and actuating unit.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a valve member with a connecting web that pivots about its longitudinal axis, minimizing deformations in the seal area, and features a round cross-section to reduce parasitic movements and enhance sealing, allowing for safe and leak-proof operation at high pressures and frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a valve member with connecting web is used to actuate the closing body, then the valve can achieve media separation between the valve chamber and actuating unit, but deformations in the seal area may occur leading to leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting web is designed with a round cross-section instead of a flat or angular shape. This curved geometry allows the connecting web to pivot smoothly about its longitudinal axis while minimizing parasitic movements and deformations in the seal area, thereby maintaining hermetic separation and preventing leakage during actuation
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot axis of the valve member is positioned offset towards the central plane through the seal, changing the geometric parameters of the actuation mechanism. This parameter change minimizes deformations in the passage area of the seal during pivoting motion, ensuring reliable sealing at high pressures
2Stress or pressure
If the valve is designed for high pressure operation, then the pressure handling capability is improved, but the likelihood of leakage increases under high dynamic loads
Solution Approach 1:
The round cross-section of the connecting web reduces stress concentrations and parasitic movements during actuation under high dynamic loads. This geometric feature maintains sealing integrity even when the valve operates at high pressures up to 50 bar or more
Solution Approach 2:
The offset positioning of the pivot axis towards the central plane through the seal is optimized for high pressure operation. This parameter configuration minimizes deformations in the seal passage area during actuation, ensuring leakage-free operation under high pressure and high dynamic load conditions
3Reliability
If the connecting web pivots about an offset axis, then the sealing performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The round cross-section of the connecting web naturally accommodates the offset pivot axis configuration. This simple geometric feature enables the connecting web to pivot smoothly about the offset longitudinal axis while minimizing deformations, achieving improved sealing performance without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting web serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural support element, a pivot mechanism for actuating the closing body, and a sealing element that minimizes deformations in the passage area. This merging of functions achieves offset pivot axis benefits without adding separate complex components
Data Source
AI summary
A device for regulating the flow of a fluid comprises a valve housing having at least two valve ports, at least one valve seat, a valve member having a closing body, and an actuating unit for actuating the closing body. The valve member further comprises an actuation section, which is connected via at least one connecting web to the closing body for moving the closing body. A surrounding seal extends between the closing body and the actuation section, and separates the closing body and the actuation section from one another. The at least one connecting web is arranged such that the closing body is pivotable upon actuation of the actuation section by the actuating unit to move the valve member and thus the closing body relative to the at least one valve seat. The valve member is arranged to minimize, during the movement of the closing body, deformations in a passage area of the seal through which the at least one connecting web extends. A valve arrangement is provided with a respective device for regulating the flow of a fluid.