Pressure-Reducing Valve Seat Structure Without Rubber Baking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pressure-reducing valves require labor-intensive processes like adhesive application, rubber baking, and burr treatment, increasing manufacturing costs due to the use of rubber-baked valve seats.
Innovation Solution
A pressure-reducing valve design featuring a valve seat with an annular elastic member sandwiched between separate annular and inner peripheral portions, connected by a connecting portion, eliminating the need for rubber baking and reducing labor costs, with detachment prevention portions integrated to prevent fluid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rubber-baked valve seat is used, then sealing performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and labor costs increase due to adhesive application, rubber baking, and burr treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The valve seat is divided into separate components: an annular portion, an inner peripheral portion, and an elastic member. These segments are assembled together using a connecting portion and detachment prevention portions, eliminating the need for rubber baking while maintaining sealing performance through the elastic member's deformation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve seat combines different materials (metal or resin for structural portions, elastic body for sealing) in a composite structure. The elastic member is sandwiched between the annular and inner peripheral portions, creating a functional composite that achieves sealing without requiring adhesive bonding or thermal processing.
2Ease of manufacture
If integral molding is used for the valve seat, then manufacturing is simplified, but distortion occurs during welding affecting valve body abutting portion
Solution Approach 1:
The valve seat is segmented into separate portions that are connected rather than integrally molded. This segmentation allows each portion to be manufactured independently without welding-induced distortion, while the connecting portion joins them in a way that preserves the precision of the valve body abutting portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting portion acts as an intermediary element that joins the annular and inner peripheral portions. This intermediary connection method avoids direct welding of the entire integrated structure, preventing distortion from propagating to critical surfaces like the valve body abutting portion.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate portions are used instead of integral molding, then welding distortion is reduced, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While the valve seat is segmented into separate portions, the segmentation is designed to simplify assembly through features like the connecting portion and detachment prevention portions. These features guide the assembly process and reduce the need for complex alignment procedures, offsetting the inherent complexity of assembling multiple parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachment prevention portions are designed to automatically engage and secure the elastic member between the annular and inner peripheral portions during assembly. This self-securing mechanism reduces the need for additional fastening steps or complex assembly procedures, maintaining ease of assembly despite the segmented structure.
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 design reduces manufacturing costs and ensures effective fluid blocking without the distortion issues associated with integral molding, maintaining sealing properties while simplifying assembly and reducing the risk of fluid leakage.
Implementation Method 1
an annular elastic member (for example, an O-ring 42 of an embodiment and the same hereafter) that is made of an elastic body capable of abutting against the valve body
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure-reducing valve 1 includes a tubular valve body 3 movably accommodated in a housing 2, a valve seat 4 fixed inside the housing 2, and an urging member 5 that urges the valve body 3 in a direction separating from the valve seat 4. The valve seat 4 includes an annular elastic member (O-ring 42) capable of abutting against the valve body 3, an annular portion (inner ring portion 41b) that covers an outer periphery of the elastic member, an inner peripheral portion 43b disposed on an inner periphery of the elastic member, a connecting portion (closing plate portion 43a) that connects the annular portion and the inner peripheral portion 43b, and a detachment prevention portion provided in at least one of the inner peripheral portion 43b and the annular portion on a valve body side to prevent the elastic member from detaching from the annular portion.