Valve Seal Ring Joint Structure to Prevent Pressure-Induced Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve devices, such as butterfly valves, face issues where the annular seal ring can be deformed by fluid pressure, leading to potential detachment from the valve element, which hinders rotation and increases the risk of the seal ring or tension ring falling off, resulting in operational failures.
Innovation Solution
The valve device incorporates a seal ring with a joint design that allows radial expansion and contraction, featuring contact portions that release fluid pressure before the inner diameter reaches the outer diameter of the valve element, preventing detachment by maintaining a gap between these portions, and a tension ring that biases the seal ring to expand, further reducing the risk of falling off.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seal ring is made rigid to maintain sealing, then sealing performance is improved, but the seal ring cannot adapt to radial expansion/contraction and may detach from the valve element
Solution Approach 1:
The seal ring is designed with a joint structure that allows it to dynamically change its inner diameter through radial expansion and contraction. The joint includes contact portions that can separate and reconnect, enabling the seal ring to adapt its shape in response to fluid pressure changes while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the seal ring is allowed to expand radially to improve sealing contact, then sealing performance is improved, but the seal ring may detach from the valve element groove
Solution Approach 1:
The tension ring is installed on the seal ring in advance to apply a preliminary contracting force. This preliminary action ensures that even when fluid pressure causes radial expansion, the seal ring remains constrained within the groove and does not detach, while still allowing sufficient expansion for effective sealing contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension ring provides a counteracting force that balances the outward radial expansion force generated by fluid pressure. This counterweight mechanism prevents the seal ring from exceeding the groove boundaries while allowing controlled expansion for sealing purposes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the seal ring joint is designed to allow expansion, then adaptability is improved, but fluid pressure may cause detachment of contact portions
Solution Approach 1:
The contact portions of the joint are designed with intermediate overlapping regions that act as mediators during expansion and contraction. These intermediate portions ensure continuous contact and force transmission between the joint segments, preventing detachment while allowing the necessary radial expansion motion.
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 effectively suppresses fluid pressure on the seal ring, reducing the likelihood of it falling off from the valve element's groove and ensures the tension ring remains in place, enhancing the valve's operational reliability and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
The one-end joint forming portion and the other-end joint forming portion are slidably overlapped with each other so that the seal ring can radially expand and contract
Implementation Method 2
The tension ring has an arc shape extending in a circumferential direction of the seal ring and biasing the seal ring in a direction to radially expand the seal ring
Data Source
AI summary
A seal ring of a valve element includes a one-end joint forming portion and an other-end joint forming portion. The one-end joint forming portion includes a one-end first contact portion and a one-end second contact portion located on one side of the one-end first contact portion in an axial direction and extending in a circumferential direction beyond the one-end first contact portion. The other-end joint forming portion includes an other-end first contact portion and an other-end second contact portion located on the other side of the other-end first contact portion in the axial direction and extending in the circumferential direction beyond the other-end first contact portion. An inner diameter of the seal ring when the one-end first contact portion separates from the other-end second contact portion is less than an outer diameter of the valve element.