Blind plate lifting mechanism with self-adjusting function

Abstract

A blind plate lifting mechanism with a self-adjusting function belongs to the field of lifting mechanisms, is used for switching a blind plate between a first valve body and a second valve body, and comprises a first pressing block and a second pressing block which are fixedly connected to two sides of the first valve body; the mounting plate is fixedly connected to the same ends of the first pressing block and the second pressing block; the valve rod connecting plate is positioned on one side of the mounting plate; the first lifting beam and the second lifting beam are connected between the mounting plate and the valve rod connecting plate; the first lifting beam and the second lifting beam are located between the first pressing block and the second pressing block, the outer edge of one of the first lifting beams is tangent to the inner edge of the first pressing block, and the outer edge of one of the second lifting beams is tangent to the inner edge of the second pressing block; the lifting nut is rotationally connected to the valve rod connecting plate; the valve rod penetrates through the lifting nut and is in threaded connection with the lifting nut; and the blind plate is connected to the end part of the valve rod. The strength of the lifting mechanism is improved, distance deviation caused by blind plate displacement and machining accumulated errors can be compensated, universality is better, and safety and reliability are higher.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the technical field of lifting mechanisms and relates to a blind plate lifting mechanism with self-adjusting function. Background Technology

[0002] Due to space constraints, pivot-type blind flange devices often require vertical blind flange switching, which necessitates overcoming the blind flange's own weight to pull it out. When the blind flange is large, workers cannot support its weight by hand alone, and there is a risk of it falling.

[0003] The lifting mechanism connects the blind flange to the valve body, solving the aforementioned problems that arise when the blind flange is pulled vertically. Traditional blind flange lifting mechanisms cannot compensate for displacement when the blind flange shifts along the valve body's axial direction. Furthermore, due to factors such as accumulated machining errors, the clearance between the lifting mechanism and the blind flange cannot be guaranteed to be appropriate during initial installation. This not only makes operation more laborious but also poses a risk of leakage at the sealing surface. Therefore, traditional blind flange lifting mechanisms lack versatility; even products of the same specifications often require matching and rework, significantly delaying the production cycle. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem solved by this application is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a blind flange lifting mechanism with self-adjustment function. The traditional blind flange lifting mechanism has been optimized in a limited layout space. It not only significantly improves the strength of the lifting mechanism, but also compensates for the distance deviation caused by blind flange displacement and cumulative processing errors. It has better versatility and is safer and more reliable.

[0005] The technical solution provided in this application is as follows:

[0006] A blind flange lifting mechanism with self-adjusting function, used for switching blind flanges between a first valve body and a second valve body, comprising:

[0007] The first pressure block and the second pressure block are fixedly connected to both sides of the first valve body;

[0008] The mounting plate is fixedly connected to the same end of the first and second pressure blocks;

[0009] Valve stem connecting plate, located on one side of the mounting plate;

[0010] The first lifting beam and the second lifting beam are connected between the mounting plate and the valve stem connecting plate; the first lifting beam and the second lifting beam are located between the first pressure block and the second pressure block, and the outer edge of one of the first lifting beams is tangent to the inner edge of the first pressure block, and the outer edge of one of the second lifting beams is tangent to the inner edge of the second pressure block;

[0011] The lifting nut is rotatably connected to the valve stem connecting plate;

[0012] The valve stem passes through the lifting nut and is threadedly connected to the lifting nut.

[0013] A blind flange is attached to the end of the valve stem.

[0014] Furthermore, the valve stem connecting plate is provided with a mounting hole, and a flange is provided in the mounting hole. The flange includes an integrally connected annular flange and a cylindrical part. One end of the cylindrical part is connected to the inner ring of the annular flange. The cylindrical part passes through the mounting hole. The annular flange is connected to the valve stem connecting plate by bolts and nuts. The outer circular surface of the lifting nut is provided with an annular groove, and the cylindrical part is stuck in the groove.

[0015] Furthermore, the flange includes a semi-circular first limiting flange and a second limiting flange, which are assembled into a complete flange.

[0016] Furthermore, the inner diameter of the flange is larger than the diameter of the groove, and the outer diameter of the flange is larger than the outer diameter of the lifting nut.

[0017] Furthermore, the end of the valve stem is connected to the blind plate connecting plate via an elastic cylindrical pin, and the other side of the blind plate connecting plate is connected to the blind plate via connecting screws.

[0018] Furthermore, the valve stem connecting plate and the first lifting beam are connected by connecting ribs, and the valve stem connecting plate and the second lifting beam are connected by connecting ribs.

[0019] Furthermore, the first lifting beam, the second lifting beam, the first pressure block, and the second pressure block are located on the same plane, which is perpendicular to the axis of the first valve body.

[0020] Furthermore, the valve stem surface has a trapezoidal thread that mates with the trapezoidal thread in the inner hole of the lifting nut.

[0021] In summary, this application includes at least the following beneficial technical effects:

[0022] The blind flange lifting mechanism with self-adjusting function described in this application allows one person to easily pull the blind flange vertically. The lifting mechanism uses mechanical limiters, does not rely on the operator's experience, and has the advantages of strong overload resistance, better versatility, and inherent safety.

[0023] This application discloses a self-adjusting blind flange lifting mechanism, suitable for use in shaft-shifting blind flange devices during vertical blind flange switching. This lifting mechanism overcomes the weight of the blind flange, allowing for effortless switching by a single person. In the same layout space, it offers higher strength and versatility compared to traditional blind flange lifting mechanisms, does not rely on operator experience, and will not cause visible deformation even in case of operational errors. The blind flange lifting mechanism can self-adjust its relative position to the blind flange, resulting in better versatility, avoiding reduced operability and potential leakage risks, thus achieving inherent safety. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 A front view schematic diagram of the blind flange lifting mechanism.

[0025] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the side structure of the blind flange lifting mechanism.

[0026] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the blind flange lifting mechanism.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0028] 1-Valve stem; 2-Handwheel; 3-Valve stem connecting plate; 4-First lifting beam; 5-First pressure block; 6-Second pressure block;

[0029] 7-Mounting plate; 8-Screw; 9-Second lifting beam; 10-Elastic cylindrical pin; 11-Nut; 12-Bolt;

[0030] 13-First valve body; 14-Second valve body; 15-Blind plate; 16-Connecting screw; 17-Firming plate;

[0031] 18-First limiting flange; 19-Blind flange connecting plate; 20-Second limiting flange; 21-Lifting nut. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments disclosed in this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] This application discloses a blind flange lifting mechanism with self-adjusting function, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a blind plate 15 is used for switching between the first valve body 13 and the second valve body 14.

[0034] The blind plate 15 is located between the opposite ends of the first valve body 13 and the second valve body 14. The first pressure block 5 and the second pressure block 6 are fixedly connected to both sides of the first valve body 13 by welding. The first pressure block 5 and the second pressure block 6 are connected to a clamping mechanism. When the clamping mechanism clamps, it drives the second valve body 14 to move tangentially towards the first valve body 13 along its own axis, so that the first valve body 13 and the second valve body 14 clamp the blind plate 15 to achieve a seal. When the clamping mechanism is released, the second valve body 14 can move away from the first valve body 13, so that the first valve body 13 and the second valve body 14 release the clamping of the blind plate 15, and the blind plate 15 has enough space to switch.

[0035] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3As shown, the blind flange lifting mechanism mainly consists of a valve stem 1 for driving, a handwheel 2, a lifting nut 21, a first limiting flange 18 and a second limiting flange 20 that restrict the degree of freedom of the lifting nut 21, a first lifting beam 4 and a second lifting beam 9 that bear the thrust load, and a mounting plate 7 that connects to the first valve body 13.

[0036] like Figure 3 As shown, the first valve body 13 is fixed to the first pressure block 5 and the second pressure block 6 by welding. The mounting plate 7 of the lifting mechanism is connected to the first pressure block 5 and the second pressure block 6 by a total of 4 screws 8. The first lifting beam 4 and the second lifting beam 9 are fixed together with the mounting plate 7, the valve stem connecting plate 3, and the stiffening plate 17 by welding. The stiffening plate 17 connects the valve stem connecting plate 3 and the first lifting beam 4. The first limiting flange 18 and the second limiting flange 20 are assembled into a complete flange, which is locked in the groove of the lifting nut 21. The first limiting flange 18 and the second limiting flange 20 are connected to the valve stem connecting plate 3 by bolts 12 and nuts 11. The surface of the valve stem 1 has a trapezoidal thread, which mates with the trapezoidal thread in the inner hole of the lifting nut 21. One side of the blind plate connecting plate 19 is connected to the valve stem 1 by an elastic cylindrical pin 10, and the other side is connected to the blind plate 15 by a connecting screw 16, realizing the force transmission process from the valve stem 1 to the blind plate 15. The handwheel 2 is welded to the lifting nut 21.

[0037] The lifting mechanism described in this application achieves its function as follows: by driving the handwheel 2, the lifting nut 21 is rotated and the valve stem 1 moves in the vertical direction, converting the input torque into a thrust for lifting the blind plate 15, thereby overcoming the gravity of the blind plate 15 and vertically switching the blind plate 15.

[0038] Before moving the blind plate 15, the swivel-shifting blind plate device needs to be operated to loosen the blind plate 15. After moving the blind plate 15 into place, the swivel-shifting blind plate device needs to be operated to clamp the blind plate 15. These two processes are accompanied by changes in the gap between the blind plate 15 and the first valve body 13 and the second valve body 14. The blind plate 15 will move along the valve body axis, leaving a certain amount of space on both sides.

[0039] The mechanism of this application has a pre-reserved gap in the groove between the lifting nut 21 and the first limiting flange 18 and the second limiting flange 20, allowing the lifting nut 21 and the valve stem 1 to move along the valve body axis. This automatically adjusts the relative position of the valve stem 1 and the blind plate 15, avoiding the internal stress caused by misalignment between the valve stem 1 and the blind plate 15 during the loosening and clamping of the blind plate 15 in the rotating shaft displacement type blind plate device, which would affect the normal use of the lifting mechanism. This gap can also automatically adjust the positional deviation between the lifting mechanism and the blind plate caused by accumulated machining errors, improving the versatility of the lifting mechanism.

[0040] When the blind flange 15 is switched into position, the blind flange connecting plate 19 fits against the first valve body 13 and the second valve body 14, and the blind flange 15 can no longer move. If, due to misoperation, the handwheel 2 is still forcefully turned at this point, the thrust of switching the blind flange 15 will act on the lifting mechanism, acting as a bending moment on the first lifting beam 4 and the second lifting beam 9, and as a torque on the mounting plate 7. Due to the limited space for the rotating shaft shifting blind flange device, these two structural points are the main weak points in the entire lifting mechanism. The blind flange lifting mechanism described in this application has a stronger load-bearing capacity than traditional structures. The outer edges of the first lifting beam 4 and the second lifting beam 9 are tangent to the inner edges of the first pressure block 5 and the second pressure block 6 on the first valve body 13, respectively. This preserves the installation space for the screw 8 while minimizing the torsional length of the mounting plate 7, thus significantly reducing torsional deformation. Therefore, even if the handwheel 2 is still forcefully turned after the blind flange 15 is switched into position, no visible structural deformation will occur. This structure is inherently safe and does not rely on the operator's experience.

[0041] Compared to traditional structures, the blind flange lifting mechanism proposed in this application significantly improves structural strength, which is determined by the arrangement of the two lifting beams. The two lifting beams are respectively arranged on both sides of the mounting plate, and in the vertical direction, the outer edges of the two lifting beams coincide with the inner edges of the two pressure blocks, which minimizes the torque arm of the valve stem thrust transmitted to the mounting plate and greatly increases the load-bearing capacity.

[0042] The cross-sectional shape of the lifting beam is not limited to square steel; it can also be made of I-beams, channel steel, or a combination of plates and reinforcing ribs welded together.

[0043] This application uses two semi-circular limiting flanges to restrict the vertical lifting nut's freedom of movement, converting the torque provided by the handwheel to the valve stem into a thrust for switching the blind flange. When the swivel-shifting blind flange device loosens the blind flange in preparation for switching, or when it is ready to clamp after switching, the blind flange will move a certain distance along the valve body axis to create or eliminate the gap for pulling the blind flange. A horizontal clearance is reserved between the limiting flanges and the lifting nut, allowing the valve stem to move horizontally and automatically adjusting to compensate for vertical misalignment between the valve stem and the blind flange caused by blind flange movement and machining tolerances, thus avoiding internal stress and protecting the device's safety.

[0044] As a vulnerable component of the rotating shaft-shifting blind flange device, the sealing ring needs to be inspected and replaced regularly. The gap between the two lifting beams allows for maximum observation of the overall condition of the sealing ring on the blind flange surface, facilitating on-site maintenance.

[0045] This application does not use rolling bearings inside its structure, thus avoiding the need for regular bearing maintenance.

[0046] The self-adjusting blind flange lifting mechanism described in this application is used in a pivot-shifting blind flange device, a novel type of pipe shut-off equipment used to replace traditional figure-eight blind flanges, enabling rapid switching of the blind flange from open to blind or from blind to open. When horizontal installation space is limited and vertical switching of the blind flange is required, this lifting mechanism can overcome the blind flange's own weight, avoiding the risk of the blind flange falling due to gravity during vertical switching. Furthermore, no other tools are needed, allowing for effortless blind flange switching by a single person.

[0047] It can be widely used in industries or facilities such as oil refining, chemical industry, offshore oil and gas exploration, and long-distance pipelines for boundary isolation, material isolation, periodic maintenance, and frequent switching.

[0048] The contents not described in detail in this application specification are common knowledge to those skilled in the art.

[0049] The present application has been described in detail above with reference to specific embodiments and exemplary examples; however, these descriptions should not be construed as limiting the present application. Those skilled in the art will understand that various equivalent substitutions, modifications, or improvements can be made to the technical solutions and implementation methods of the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application, and all such modifications and improvements fall within the scope of the present application. The scope of protection of the present application is determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A blind flange lifting mechanism with self-adjusting function, characterized in that, Switching of the blind plate (15) between the first valve body (13) and the second valve body (14) includes: The first pressure block (5) and the second pressure block (6) are fixedly connected to both sides of the first valve body (13); Mounting plate (7) is fixedly connected to the same end of the first pressure block (5) and the second pressure block (6); Valve stem connecting plate (3) is located on one side of mounting plate (7); The first lifting beam (4) and the second lifting beam (9) are connected between the mounting plate (7) and the valve stem connecting plate (3); the first lifting beam (4) and the second lifting beam (9) are located between the first pressure block (5) and the second pressure block (6), and one outer edge of the first lifting beam (4) is tangent to the inner edge of the first pressure block (5), and one outer edge of the second lifting beam (9) is tangent to the inner edge of the second pressure block (6); Lifting nut (21) is rotatably connected to valve stem connecting plate (3); The valve stem (1) passes through the lifting nut (21) and is threadedly connected to the lifting nut (21); A blind flange (15) is connected to the end of the valve stem (1).

2. The blind flange lifting mechanism with self-adjusting function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve stem connecting plate (3) is provided with a mounting hole, and a flange is provided in the mounting hole. The flange includes an integrally connected annular flange and a cylindrical part. One end of the cylindrical part is connected to the inner ring of the annular flange. The cylindrical part passes through the mounting hole. The annular flange is connected to the valve stem connecting plate (3) by bolts (12) and nuts (11). The outer circular surface of the lifting nut (21) is provided with an annular groove, and the cylindrical part is stuck in the groove.

3. The blind flange lifting mechanism with self-adjusting function according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flange assembly includes a semi-circular first limiting flange (18) and a second limiting flange (20), which are assembled into a complete flange assembly.

4. The blind flange lifting mechanism with self-adjusting function according to claim 2, characterized in that: The inner diameter of the flange is larger than the diameter of the groove, and the outer diameter of the flange is larger than the outer diameter of the lifting nut (21).

5. The blind flange lifting mechanism with self-adjusting function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end of the valve stem (1) is connected to the blind plate connecting plate (19) by an elastic cylindrical pin (10), and the other side of the blind plate connecting plate (19) is connected to the blind plate (15) by a connecting screw (16).

6. The blind flange lifting mechanism with self-adjusting function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting stiffener (17) between the valve stem connecting plate (3) and the first lifting beam (4) and the connecting stiffener (17) between the valve stem connecting plate (3) and the second lifting beam (9).

7. The blind flange lifting mechanism with self-adjusting function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first lifting beam (4), the second lifting beam (9), the first pressure block (5) and the second pressure block (6) are located on the same plane, which is perpendicular to the axis of the first valve body (13).

8. A blind flange lifting mechanism with self-adjusting function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve stem (1) has a trapezoidal thread on its surface, which mates with the trapezoidal thread in the inner hole of the lifting nut (21).

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