KR-102963407-B1 - GAS LEAK PREVENTION PRESSURE COMPENSATION DEVICE WITH AN INTELLIGENT COMPOSITE SEALING SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates to an industrial gas control device, and more specifically, to a pressure compensation device equipped with an intelligent composite sealing system that prevents gas leakage while stably controlling the pressure of gases such as oxygen and acetylene used in welding or cutting devices.

Inventors

• 주성호

Assignees

• 주식회사 대성

Dates

Publication Date

20260511

Application Date

20250513

Claims (6)

1. In a pressure compensation device mounted on the valve pin of a pressure regulator, The above pressure regulator is, A main body having a gas inlet and a gas outlet; Valve pin with a hollow portion formed inside; An annular groove formed at the tip of the valve pin; A double-sealed ring structure comprising an outer Teflon ring and an inner Teflon ring inserted into the annular groove by an interference fit; Includes, The above pressure compensation device is, A piston disposed within the above-mentioned hollow portion; A push rod coupled to one side of the piston and pressurizing the inner Teflon ring of the double sealing ring structure; and A compression spring coupled to the other side of the piston and providing elastic force to the piston; Includes, The above piston moves in the direction of pressure when gas pressure increases, and The above push rod applies pressure to the inner Teflon ring located inside the double sealing ring structure to increase the adhesion force between the outer Teflon ring and the contact surface of the main body, and The above compression spring is configured to return the piston and the push rod to their original positions when the gas pressure decreases. Pressure compensation device.
2. A pressure compensation device according to claim 1, wherein the piston is made of stainless steel with a diameter of 6 mm to 8 mm, the push rod is made of stainless steel with a diameter of 3 mm to 5 mm and a length of 10 mm to 15 mm, and the compression spring is made of stainless steel with a spring constant of 0.5 N/mm to 2.0 N/mm and a free length of 15 mm to 25 mm.
3. A pressure compensation device according to claim 1, further comprising a shape memory alloy element installed between the valve pin and the double sealing ring structure to automatically adjust the sealing force of the double sealing ring structure by expanding or contracting according to temperature changes.
4. In paragraph 3, the pressure compensation device, wherein the shape memory alloy element is a disc-shaped structure made of nitinol (NiTi) alloy with a thickness of 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm and a diameter of 8 mm to 12 mm.
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Description

Gas Leak Prevention Pressure Compensation Device Equipped with an Intelligent Composite Sealing System The present invention relates to an industrial gas control device, and more specifically, to a pressure compensation device equipped with an intelligent composite sealing system that prevents gas leakage while stably controlling the pressure of gases such as oxygen and acetylene used in welding or cutting devices. In industrial settings, welding and cutting operations require the safe handling of various types of gases, and proper pressure control is critical for flammable and support gases, such as oxygen, acetylene, hydrogen, and propane, as it is directly related to life. In these working environments, pressure regulators are key devices that reduce high-pressure gases to a pressure suitable for the task; although they have undergone technological advancements over decades, safety issues related to gas leaks continue to be reported. Pressure regulators currently used in industrial settings are broadly classified into diaphragm and piston types. While diaphragm types primarily provide high precision in low-pressure ranges, piston types deliver stable performance even in high-pressure environments. However, both types carry a risk of leakage due to the sealing structure between the valve pin and the seat. In particular, in systems where a metal valve pin (such as brass or stainless steel) comes into direct contact with a metal seat, wear due to friction is inevitable; this leads to the formation of minute gaps over long-term use, becoming a major cause of gas leakage. To address these issues, attempts have been made since the 1980s to apply elastic materials to the tips of valve pins, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, also known as Teflon) has been widely adopted due to its advantages such as chemical resistance, heat resistance, and a low coefficient of friction. However, the initial single Teflon ring method revealed limitations in actual working environments where temperature and pressure vary significantly. For example, at sub-zero temperatures, the elasticity decreases due to the hardening of Teflon, reducing sealing performance, while at high temperatures, the sealing structure can be damaged due to excessive deformation. According to a 2021 report by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency investigating the conditions of welding and cutting sites, approximately 65% of accidents related to pressure regulators involved fires and explosions caused by gas leaks; of these, more than 40% occurred in environments with severe temperature fluctuations (outdoor workplaces, winter work, etc.). Additionally, accidents occurring under working conditions with significant pressure swings accounted for 35% of the total. These statistics clearly demonstrate the need for improved technology capable of maintaining consistent sealing performance in diverse work environments. Recently, sealing systems utilizing composite materials or dual structures are being developed. Some products attempt to provide sealing performance that adapts to various pressure conditions by using two layers of Teflon material with different elastic moduli. Additionally, technological attempts are being made to actively respond to temperature changes by utilizing smart materials such as shape memory alloys (SMAs); however, these approaches have only developed independently and have not yet been implemented as integrated systems. Meanwhile, gas leak detection technology has also evolved into independent, separate devices. Traditional leak detection methods primarily involved checking for bubbles using soapy water or using gas detectors; however, these are all reactive detections that do not provide preventive functions. Recently, visual leak detection technology using colorimetric substances is being researched, but this too is not yet implemented in a form integrated into the pressure regulator itself. According to a report by a global market research firm, the industrial gas pressure regulator market is growing at an average annual rate of 4.5%, with demand for intelligent products featuring enhanced safety features increasing rapidly. These market trends reflect the industry's demand for integrated systems capable of actively responding to temperature and pressure changes while also detecting leaks in advance. In summary, existing pressure regulator sealing technology has problems such as limitations of single materials, passive response to environmental changes, and the absence of leak detection capabilities, and an integrated approach to solve these issues is urgently required. In particular, the development of an intelligent composite sealing system equipped with a pre-leak detection function while maintaining stable sealing performance even in extreme temperature ranges (-30℃ to +70℃) and wide pressure conditions (0.5MPa to 20MPa) is an important technical challenge that can bring about a groundbreaking improvement in industrial