Fluid Valve Port O-Ring Retention via Segmented Seal Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid valve ports with standard O-rings face issues of premature wear, cutting, and jamming due to unsupported spans exceeding three O-ring diameters, exacerbated by dynamic forces and temperature fluctuations, requiring expensive custom machining and O-rings.
Innovation Solution
The optimized fluid valve port design features a standard O-ring seated in a simple rectilinear seal channel with an unsupported span limited to less than three O-ring diameters, supported by a web, maximizing fluid flow and minimizing wear while maintaining the O-ring in place without jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If an unsupported span of the O-ring exceeds about three diameters, then the O-ring can be seated in a simple rectilinear seal channel, but the O-ring tends to pop out, experience premature wear, cutting, or jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The seal channel is divided into multiple segments: a first portion with a first cross-sectional dimension and a second portion with a second cross-sectional dimension. This segmentation allows the O-ring to be retained in a simple rectilinear channel while preventing pop-out and wear by creating different functional zones within the channel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the seal channel are given different cross-sectional dimensions to serve different functions. The first portion has dimensions optimized for one aspect of O-ring retention, while the second portion has dimensions optimized for another aspect, allowing the overall system to achieve both ease of manufacture and reliability.
2Reliability
If undercut walls are used to prevent O-ring pop-out, then the O-ring is trapped in the seal channel, but expensive machining and custom O-rings are required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex undercut walls, the seal channel is segmented into two portions with different cross-sectional dimensions. This simpler segmented structure achieves O-ring retention through standard machining operations, eliminating the need for expensive undercut machining and custom O-rings.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables the use of standard, off-the-shelf O-rings instead of expensive custom O-rings. The segmented seal channel design achieves the same retention function with conventional components and manufacturing methods, significantly reducing cost.
3Reliability
If the O-ring span is limited to less than three diameters, then the O-ring is retained without wear or jamming, but the fluid flow area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The seal channel portions are positioned and dimensioned to provide O-ring retention and durability while minimizing interference with the fluid flow path. The different cross-sectional dimensions of the channel portions are optimized to maintain reliability without unnecessarily restricting fluid flow capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses the flow-reliability trade-off by utilizing the cross-sectional dimension of the seal channel rather than just the longitudinal dimension. By varying the cross-sectional dimensions of different channel portions, the design achieves reliable O-ring retention while preserving fluid flow area in the critical flow path.
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 configuration effectively retains a standard O-ring in the seal channel with minimal wear and jamming, allowing for efficient fluid flow while simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs by using off-the-shelf O-rings.
Implementation Method 1
Because the O-ring is compressed between a floor of the seal channel and the sidewall of the opposing valve body, a slidable seal is provided by the O-ring which prevents fluid leakage.
Implementation Method 2
age related reduction in O-ring elasticity
Data Source
AI summary
An optimized fluid valve port has the following features: 1) the seal is preferably a standard O-ring seated in a rectilinear seal channel of one of a first or second valve body, 2) the unsupported span of the O-ring during valve port crossing is limited to a length of less than approximately three O-ring diameters, the support being provided by a web disposed between port openings; and 3), within the area of the O-ring, the fluid flow area of the fluid valve port is maximized.