Pressure Valve Piston Equalizing Line Reduces Insertion Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure-maintaining valves require significant effort to insert an air line due to counterforces generated by pressure, which can be excessive at high pressures, leading to potential malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A pressure-maintaining valve with a movable piston and an equalizing line that reduces the counterforce by bypassing the sealant, allowing for a two-stage opening process with lower resistance, assisted by a spring device for enhanced sealing and a latching mechanism for secure air line connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealant is pressed against the basic body sealing surface to maintain pressure sealing, then pressure sealing is improved, but the counterforce increases making air line insertion difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing process is divided into two distinct phases: initial sealing phase where the sealant is pressed against the basic body sealing surface to create the pressure seal, and insertion phase where the equalizing line allows pressure equalization to reduce counterforce. This segmentation allows the same sealant to serve both sealing and insertion-assist functions at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The equalizing line acts as an intermediary mechanism that temporarily bypasses the sealant during the insertion process. By providing an alternative pressure equalization path, it mediates between the need for strong sealing and the need for low insertion force, allowing the air line to be inserted without overcoming the full sealing counterforce.
2Reliability
If high pressure is applied to maintain sealing force, then sealing reliability is improved, but the counterforce becomes excessive preventing insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The equalizing line is pre-configured within the piston structure to become active before the air line insertion is completed. This preliminary action of pressure equalization reduces the counterforce in advance, making insertion possible without requiring excessive force that would compromise the sealing integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the pressure parameter during the insertion process. By allowing pressure equalization through the equalizing line, the pressure differential across the sealant is temporarily reduced, which changes the counterforce parameter from a high value (preventing insertion) to a low value (allowing insertion), while maintaining the sealing function.
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
Facilitates cost-effective and simple insertion of the air line by reducing the counterforce required, ensuring pressure maintenance and efficient air flow while maintaining the valve's sealing functionality.
Implementation Method 1
an equalizing line arranged in the sealing piston is arranged in such a manner that it bypasses the sealant in a fluid-communicating manner
Implementation Method 2
a spring device which acts upon the piston with a spring force in the direction of its sealing position is arranged on the basic body
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure-maintaining valve for a reversible connection to an air line, having a basic body with an inlet opening, an outlet opening for accommodating the air line, and a fluid chamber which connects the inlet opening to the outlet opening in a fluid-communicating manner. A piston which is mounted movably between a sealing position, an equalizing position and a release position is arranged in the inlet opening, and the piston has an annular groove with a piston sealing surface and a piston release surface. In the sealing position, a sealant is arranged in a sealing manner between the piston sealing surface and a basic body sealing surface. In the equalizing position an equalizing line arranged in the sealing piston bypasses the sealant in a fluid-communicating manner. In the release position, the piston release surface lifts off the sealant from the basic body sealing surface.