Device for supporting and retaining gate of wedge valve during maintenance operations
By designing a device for supporting and retaining the valve gate, the problem of the gate jamming and the operator's hand injury during maintenance is solved, and safe and efficient valve maintenance operations are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380063309.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-09-01
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-11
AI Technical Summary
When maintaining isolation valves in industrial facilities, the gate is prone to mechanically jammed due to the complementary shape of the shape and seat, resulting in difficulty in removing, and the risk of damage to the valve. The operator needs to keep the gate with his hands, which poses a risk of hand injury.
A device is designed, which comprises two identical tools, each of which consists of a semi-disc plate, a through-cut and a handle, through which the tools can be positioned in the upper opening of the valve, forming a receptacle and a retaining portion to ensure that the gate is properly supported and held during maintenance.
The device ensures normal maintenance operations, avoids the operator's hand burden, reduces intervention time, and does not require modification of existing valves, especially for valve maintenance in radioactive discharge or contaminated areas.
Smart Images
Figure CN119816398A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The field of the invention is the maintenance of valves in industrial installations.
[0002] The invention more particularly relates to the maintenance of internal components and / or elements which ensure the sealing of the fluid flow circulating from upstream to downstream in an isolation valve, in particular a valve known as a “one-piece flexible wedge” valve. Background Art
[0003] Yes Figure 1 During maintenance operations on the upstream and downstream sealing members of a valve R of the type mentioned above, it is necessary to partially dismantle the valve by removing the upper part of the valve, which consists of:
[0004] - an actuator 1 and its operating rod 2 which allow the operation of the valve R;
[0005] - a yoke 3 , which is the part connecting the actuator 1 to the cover 4 of the valve R which ensures the external sealing of the valve;
[0006] - A gate 5 which ensures sealing from upstream to downstream of the body 6 of the valve R (when it is in the closed position, of course).
[0007] In most globe valve, parallel seat valve, ball valve, cage valve, butterfly valve, diaphragm valve technologies, the gate is securely held on the operating lever by a mechanical connection.
[0008] In the valve involved in the present invention, Figure 2 The gate 5 shown in detail in FIG. 1 is also called a "wedge" because its two large opposite lateral faces 50 form an acute angle α. The expression "large opposite faces" refers to the two faces that bear on the seat 60 of the body 6 of the valve, which seat itself is defined by two inclined sides that form an angle β substantially equal to α (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 3 ) in order to ensure perfect sealing of the valve in the closed position.
[0009] Such a gate is described as "flexible" because the two faces 50 provided with the sealing surface accept a certain flexibility in order to be able to fit perfectly on the sealing surface of the seat in the valve body. The gate is made of stainless steel and the central part of the gate between the above-mentioned faces is machined into a cylindrical shape in order to give it the required flexibility.
[0010] The front and rear end faces of the gate are matched to form an isosceles trapezoidal shape.
[0011] Furthermore, in these valves, the gate 5 is connected to the rod 2 by a sliding connection using a tenon 20-mortise 51 assembly, which is a through assembly 1, such as Figure 4shown.
[0012] like Figure 5 As shown, if during removal (that is to say taking out the above-mentioned elements 1 to 5 from the body 6 of the valve R), the gate 5 slips off its tenon 20 / mortise 51 connection and falls to the bottom 7 of the body 6 of the valve R, the gate may become mechanically stuck due to its shape and the complementary shape of the seat 60, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 As shown, this makes it very difficult to remove the gate, with a significant risk of damaging the valve.
[0013] Maintenance operations of these valves therefore require the operator to hold the gate 5 with their hands so that it does not slip out of its tenon / mortise connection with the rod 2, more specifically by positioning them under the cover 4 moved by a lifting device such as a crane.
[0014] Besides the fact that the gate 5 may become mechanically stuck in the bottom 7 of the valve R in the event of its fall, there is a further risk that the operator's hands may be crushed in the event of damage to the lid 4 lifting device.
[0015] Apart from the maintenance practices known and performed heretofore, which consisted in manually holding the gate on the rod during its removal, no tools are available to meet the need to protect personnel during maintenance operations.
[0016] Of course, a solution to avoid the practice of holding the gate by hand is to modify the type of connection connecting the gate to the rod 2 .
[0017] However, the design of the seal currently implemented makes the mortise / tenon through-connection preferred. In fact, it allows the gate to slide into the connection when it is inserted into the valve seat and it allows the gate to be positioned in the best possible way to ensure a perfect upstream / downstream seal of the valve on the industrial facility.
[0018] Even if a person skilled in the art modifies the rod-gate connection to avoid the above risks, two major disadvantages will arise from this, namely:
[0019] The operator of an industrial facility would, at best, have to modify the internal components of all valves in its fleet to accommodate the stem-gate connection and, at worst, would have to replace valves in the fleet, which would incur high costs.
[0020] Where possible, the first solution mentioned above also requires requalification of the operating conditions of the valve function, some of which are safety-critical, especially in nuclear power plants.
[0021] Documents US2005 / 086788, US4630347 and CN114227615 describe interesting state-of-the-art technologies in this field.
[0022] In any case, there remains a hitherto unmet need for a means of performing the above operations without risk to the operator and while preventing the gate from falling into the valve body.
[0023] The present invention is directed to meeting this need. Summary of the invention
[0024] The invention therefore relates to a device for supporting and holding the gate of a valve during maintenance operations on said valve, during which the actuator, the operating rod, the yoke, the cover and the gate of said valve have been previously separated from the body of said valve so as to make accessible the upper opening of said body of diameter M, said gate having a cross section fitting into an isosceles trapezoid positioned at the free end of said operating rod, characterised in that the device comprises two identical tools, each of which comprises: a semi-disc-shaped plate delimited by a substantially rectilinear edge and an arcuate edge, said plate comprising an upper face having a first radius r1, while a lower face of said plate, parallel to said upper face, has a second radius r2 less than said first radius r1, thus forming an arcuate peripheral shoulder; a through cut-out fitting into a rectangular shape seen from above and opening outwards towards said substantially rectilinear edge, said through cut-out being formed in the thickness of said plate, the side edges of said cut-out extending parallel to said substantially rectilinear edge being inclined and forming an acute angle with a perpendicular to said upper face,
[0025] The radii r1 and r2 and the acute angle are dimensioned so that the two identical tools can be positioned in the upper opening of the body by abutting their respective straight edges, the tools resting on the edge of the upper opening by means of the shoulders while their lower faces are engaged in the opening, the through cuts together forming a housing for receiving the gate, while the inclined side edges of the cuts form means for retaining the gate.
[0026] Due to the features of the device, normal maintenance operations can be ensured, since it is no longer necessary for the operator to place his hands under the load.
[0027] The gate is thus held in place without the risk of falling inside the valve body.
[0028] Furthermore, the structure of the device is such that it does not require any modifications to existing valves.
[0029] Furthermore, intervention times are significantly reduced and the time saving is even more desirable when the valve is fitted in areas with radioactive emissions or contamination.
[0030] According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the device, alone or according to a technically compatible combination of at least two of them:
[0031] - the side edges of the cutout extending perpendicularly to the substantially straight edge are perpendicular to the upper and lower faces;
[0032] - Each tool includes a grip and operating handle;
[0033] - said handle is connected to a fixing part which is fixed to said upper face of said tool;
[0034] - the position of the fixing part is adjustable, in particular by sliding it;
[0035] - The position of the handle relative to the fixed part is adjustable in terms of inclination and / or depth. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description that will now be given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which, for information purposes and not by way of limitation, represent at least one possible embodiment.
[0037] In these figures:
[0038] As mentioned earlier, Figure 1 is a front view of a "one-piece flexible wedge" valve known in the prior art;
[0039] Figure 2 Yes Figure 1 Front view of the gate of the valve,
[0040] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A front cross-sectional view of the body of the valve, intended to illustrate the seat against which the gate is positioned;
[0041] Figure 4 is a view similar to the preceding one, wherein the gate and its connecting rod are also shown;
[0042] Figure 5 is with Figure 1 a front cross-sectional view of a valve similar to that of FIG. 1 , showing the removal of several components of the valve prior to an operation aimed at checking the sealing of the valve;
[0043] Figure 6 is a view similar to the preceding one, showing the case where the gate of the valve has unfortunately been separated from its connecting rod;
[0044] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention formed from two identical tools shown adjacent to each other;
[0045] Figure 8 Here is a view of the same device from the side;
[0046] Fig. 9 yes Figure 7 A top view of a device, wherein the tools are shown at a distance from each other;
[0047] Fig.10 It is seen along the cutting plane XX Fig. 9 A cross-sectional view of the device, wherein the tool is shown as not adjacent;
[0048] Fig.11 It is a side view of one of the tools;
[0049] Fig.12 is a view similar to the preceding one, without showing the sheath of the handle which accompanies it;
[0050] Fig.13 yes Fig.11 A partial perspective view of a tool;
[0051] Fig.14 yes Fig.11 A first side view of the device, which is intended to illustrate how the handle is positioned in different orientations;
[0052] Fig.15 yes Fig.11 a second side view of the device, which is intended to illustrate how the handle is positioned in different orientations;
[0053] Fig.16 yes Fig.11 A third side view of the device, which is intended to illustrate how the handle is positioned in different orientations;
[0054] Fig.17 yes Fig.11 A fourth side view of the device, which is intended to illustrate how the handle is positioned in different orientations;
[0055] Fig.18 is a side elevational view of the handle of the tool of the previous figures and the fixed part to which the handle is attached;
[0056] Fig.19 is a view similar to the previous one, but from above;
[0057] Fig. 20 is a top view of a tool of the device according to the present invention;
[0058] Fig.21 is a side view of the device of the previous figure, which is intended to show how to adjust the above-mentioned fixing part;
[0059] Fig. 22is a first schematic diagram intended to illustrate the manner in which the device according to the invention may be arranged on a valve;
[0060] Fig.23 is another schematic diagram intended to illustrate the manner in which the device according to the invention may be arranged on a valve;
[0061] Fig.24 is a top view of a tool of the device according to the invention and a gate of a valve supported and held by said device;
[0062] Fig.25 is a schematic diagram of a cross section of a valve gate;
[0063] Fig.26 is similar to Fig.24 The gate and the device are seen from the side;
[0064] Fig. 27 is a third schematic diagram intended to illustrate the manner in which the device according to the invention can be arranged on a valve, the body of the valve being shown equipped with studs allowing the body of the valve to be fixed to a cover of the valve;
[0065] Fig.28 is a third schematic diagram intended to illustrate the manner in which the device according to the invention can be arranged on a valve, the body of the valve being shown equipped with studs allowing the body of the valve to be fixed to a cover of the valve;
[0066] Fig.29 is a view similar to the previous view, with the actuator / operating rod / yoke / cover assembly shown in a translated position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0067] A non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a device D according to the invention will be described below, in particular in Figures 7 to 21 middle.
[0068] Then, refer to Fig. 22 Below, the manner in which the device D can be used will be explained.
[0069] According to one characteristic of the invention, the device D comprises two identical tools, referenced 8 in the attached figures.
[0070] Under these conditions, a description given for one of the tools 8 also applies to the other of the tools, unless otherwise stated.
[0071] Each of the two identical tools comprises a thick plate 80 having the shape of a semi-circular disk delimited by a substantially rectilinear edge 800 and a curved edge 801 , more specifically an arc-shaped edge.
[0072] Advantageously, the plate is made of a non-ferrous composite material so as not to scratch parts of the valve when the plate is positioned on the valve (as will be explained below).
[0073] The upper face 802 of the plate has a first radius r1 . However, it should be noted that the lower face 803 of the plate, parallel to said upper face 802 , has a second radius r2 that is smaller than said first radius r1 , thus forming an arcuate peripheral shoulder 804 .
[0074] A through cutout 81 is formed in the thickness e of the plate 80 , the through cutout 81 being fitted into a rectangular shape when viewed from above and opening outwardly toward a substantially straight edge 800 .
[0075] The side edge 810 of the cutout 81 is inclined and forms an acute angle δ with the perpendicular to the upper face 802 (see in particular Fig.10 ), the side edges of the cutouts extend parallel to the substantially straight edge 800. As will be seen later, this angle is approximately equal to Figure 2 The angle α of the gate 5.
[0076] Advantageously, the other side edges 811 of the cutout 81 extending perpendicularly to the substantially rectilinear edge 800 are perpendicular to the upper face 802 and to the lower face 803 .
[0077] Reference Fig.10 , wherein the two tools are positioned in abutting relation to one another by means of their rectilinear edges 800 , the cutouts 81 together forming and delimiting a housing L for receiving the above-mentioned gate 5 . This aspect will be discussed later in the description.
[0078] Finally, it should be noted that Fig.10 , c1 refers to the dimension measured at the middle height of the receiving portion L. Again, this aspect will be discussed later in the description.
[0079] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, each tool 8 comprises a gripping and operating handle 82, for example made of metal, in particular Figures 7 to 11 Visible in.
[0080] Advantageously, the handle 82 is connected to a fixing portion 83 secured to said upper face 802 of the tool 8 .
[0081] As in Fig.13 and Fig. 20 It can be seen in particular that the fixing portion 83 has the shape of an elongated strip, which, in the position shown in the figure, extends just between the cutout 81 and the arcuate edge 801.
[0082] The fixing portion 83 is held by a pair of clips 84 fixed to the upper face 802 of the tool 8. The number of clips may vary. Figure 7 and Figure 8In the embodiment, there is only one clip.
[0083] According to one embodiment, one of the clamps is equipped with a non-detachable indexing finger 85 mounted on a spring.
[0084] In the position shown here, the finger 85 is engaged in one of the through holes 86 formed in the thickness of the fixing part 83 , thereby holding this fixing part in the fixed position.
[0085] However, by acting against the spring of the arming finger 85 on the finger, the fixing portion 83 can be made to slide, thereby being able to modify the spacing of the fixing portion relative to the edge 801. This is caused by Fig.21 The arrows l and m in the figure indicate.
[0086] In this way, the position of the handle 82 can be modified.
[0087] As in Fig.13 As can be seen in particular in FIG. 8 , the fixing portion 83 may comprise, at its proximal end, a U-shaped clip 87 having parallel wings 870 between which the small articulation axis of the handle 82 (indicated by the axis YY′) is mounted.
[0088] In one possible embodiment, the handle 82 can take different angular positions relative to the fixed portion 83 .
[0089] To this end, the free end of the wing 870 comprises a cutting side 871 .
[0090] In addition, and as in Fig.11 As can be seen in FIG. 8 , the handle 82 consists of a threaded rod 820 which is directly fixed to the articulated shaft mounted on the U-shaped clamp 87 , and a tapped sheath 821 which is dimensioned so as to be engaged on the rod 820 by screwing.
[0091] Therefore, from the initial position where the sheath 821 is fully tightened ( Fig.14 ) so that the sheath abuts against the same oriented side 871 of the wing 870 of the U-shaped clip 87, the sheath can be partially unscrewed ( Fig.14 Arrow f in the figure) to release the sheath from the U-clip 87 ( Fig.15 Arrow g).
[0092] Once the sheath is no longer in contact with the U-clip 87, the handle 82 can be given a different orientation, such as by Fig.16 As shown by the arrow h in .
[0093] Then, tighten the sleeve ( Fig.17 The new orientation of the handle 82 is “fixed” until the sheath 821 abuts against another pair of sides with the same orientation (arrows j and k in FIG. 8 ).
[0094] In general, the handle 82 can be given two extreme positions, in which it extends perpendicular to the U-shaped clip 87, and three intermediate positions given by the side 871. Of course, the number of sides is not fixed. In addition, other means for fixing the handle in a given orientation can be envisioned.
[0095] This makes it possible to adjust the orientation of the handle 82 according to the use configuration of the tool 8, in particular the available space near the handle. Furthermore, the possibility of sliding the fixed part 83 makes it possible to better adapt the use configuration presented to the user.
[0096] The following will refer specifically to Fig. 22 The following describes how the device D according to the invention may be used.
[0097] Therefore, refer to Fig. 22 , which is close to Figure 5 A situation, that is, the situation that the elements 1 to 5 of the valve have been taken out. Once the gate 5 is partially or completely taken out from the body 6 of the valve R, there will be a space a, which is used to set the device D according to the present invention.
[0098] M in Fig. 22 Middle refers to the diameter of the vertical upper opening 62 of the body 6 which notably receives the gate 5 and the rod 2 .
[0099] According to the invention, the above-mentioned radii r1 and r2 are selected so that when two tools 8 are formed to abut by their straight edges 800, the two tools can be positioned on top of the body 6, as shown in FIG. Fig.23 shown.
[0100] In practice, the diameter M is slightly greater than twice the radius r2, while it is less than twice the radius r1. The tool 8 thus rests, by means of the shoulder 804, on the edge of the upper opening 62 of the body 6, while its lower face 803 is engaged in said opening.
[0101] This allows the two tools 8 to be positioned and held relative to each other without any action other than their placement on the body 6 of the valve R.
[0102] Furthermore, the handle 82 and its adjustment possibilities allow the operator's hands to be freed from lifting the load and allow perfect positioning between the studs 63 which, under normal circumstances, allow the cover 4 to be assembled on the body 6 .
[0103] Furthermore, the through-cutouts 81 together form a receptacle for receiving the shutter 5 , while the inclined side edges 810 of these cutouts form means for retaining the shutter.
[0104] On each tool 8 , the inclined flank 810 is machined with an angle δ that corresponds to the angle α of the gate 5 .
[0105] Preferably, Fig.10 The dimension C1 at the mid-height of the inclined side 810 corresponds to the median thickness of the gate 5, as shown by Fig.25 The dimension C2 is defined so that the gate can be kept in the center of the valve body and thus prevented from falling when it is disengaged from the stem 2 of the valve R.
[0106] Furthermore, this ensures that the gate does not come into contact with any wall of the valve and suffer damage or cause damage to the valve.
[0107] Calculate the thickness e of the tool 8 ( Figure 8 ) so that these can bear the weight of the gate 5 and will not tilt in the body 6 of the valve.
[0108] like Figure 27 to Figure 29 As shown, once the device D according to the present invention is set up ( Fig.28 ), on which the gate rests, is sufficient to translate the cover 4 / yoke 3 / rod 2 assembly to release the gate 5 from the rod 2 ( Fig.29 ), and thus leave the gate in place on the tool.
[0109] The gate is then easily picked up without having to place the operator's hands under the suspended load.
[0110] The range of positioning of the tool 8 allows adaptation to all conditions and space requirements of the working area.
[0111] The device size can correspond to each valve size.
[0112] The device can be used for any intervention on the valve requiring in particular maintenance of the sealing surfaces of the internal parts and the openings of the valve body.
[0113] Among the advantages provided by the device according to the invention, in particular:
[0114] -Ensures maintenance operations without requiring the operator to place his hands under the load;
[0115] - Reduced intervention times. In fact, according to the prior art, it is necessary to place studs on the body of the valve for assembling the cover, to allow the upper part / stem / gate assembly to be translated out of the vertical axis of the valve. The overall time savings are estimated to be between 20 minutes and an hour. In addition, the time required to set up the device is about 5 minutes.
[0116] - Due to the reduction in intervention time, the cumulative radiological dosimetry of the operator is reduced for any valve installed in an area with radioactive emissions or contamination.
[0117] The device according to the invention may be of interest to all industries having processes using pressurized fluids.
Claims
1. A device (D) for supporting and holding a gate (5) of a valve (R) during maintenance operations on the valve (R), during which the actuator (1), the operating rod (2), the yoke (3), the cover (4) and the gate (5) of the valve (R) have been previously separated from the body (6) of the valve so as to make accessible an upper opening (62) of diameter M of the body (6), the gate (5) having a cross section fitted into an isosceles trapezoid, the gate being positioned at the free end of the operating rod (2), characterized in that The device comprises two identical tools (8), each of which comprises: a semi-disc-shaped plate (80) defined by a substantially straight edge (800) and an arcuate edge (801), the plate (80) comprising an upper face (802) having a first radius r1, and a lower face (803) of the plate parallel to the upper face (802) having a second radius r2 smaller than the first radius r1, thereby forming an arcuate peripheral shoulder (804); a through cut (81), the through cut fitting into a rectangular shape when viewed from above and opening outwardly towards the substantially straight edge (800), the through cut being formed in the thickness of the plate (80), the side edge (810) of the cut (81) extending parallel to the substantially straight edge (800) being inclined and forming an acute angle with a perpendicular to the upper face (802), The radii r1 and r2 and the acute angle are sized so that the two identical tools (8) can be positioned in the upper opening (62) of the body (6) so that the straight edges (800) of the two identical tools are adjacent, the tools (8) resting on the edge of the upper opening (62) via the shoulder (804) while the lower faces (803) of the tools are engaged in the opening (62), the through cuts (81) together forming a receptacle for receiving the gate (5), and the inclined side edges (810) of the cuts (81) forming parts for retaining the gate (5).
2. The device (D) according to claim 1, characterized in that The side edge (811) of the cutout (81) extending perpendicularly to the substantially straight edge is perpendicular to the upper face (802) and the lower face (803).
3. The device (D) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that Each tool (8) includes a gripping and operating handle (82).
4. The device (D) according to claim 3, characterized in that The handle (82) is connected to a fixing portion (83) which is fixed to the upper face (802) of the tool (8).
5. The device (D) according to claim 4, characterized in that The position of the fixing part (83) is adjustable, in particular by sliding it.
6. The device (D) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that The position of the handle (82) relative to the fixing portion (83) is adjustable in terms of inclination and / or depth.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Valve tooling system and method of employing same
US20050086788A1
Hydrant valve tool
US4630347A