A performance testing device for a knife gate valve

Abstract

This invention discloses a knife gate valve performance testing device in the field of knife gate valve airtightness testing technology. It includes a testing platform and further comprises: a sealing test mechanism disposed on the testing platform, including a fixed seat and a movable seat that can move on the testing platform; both the fixed seat and the movable seat have sealing discs on opposite sides for engaging with the knife gate valve flange; a drive mechanism for driving the movable seat to move along the testing platform to clamp or release the knife gate valve; and a valve body bearing rotation mechanism disposed on the testing platform between the fixed seat and the movable seat, including a rotatable support plate; the rotatable support plate has a knife gate valve placement seat for placing the knife gate valve body. By setting up the valve body bearing rotation mechanism, after completing the sealing performance test on one side of the knife gate valve, there is no need for manual disassembly and handling of the valve. The test on the other side can be directly performed by simply driving a second motor to rotate the support plate 180 degrees via the control system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of knife gate valve airtightness testing technology, and in particular to a knife gate valve performance testing device. Background Technology

[0002] Knife gate valves, as important fluid control components, are widely used in industrial pipeline systems such as chemical, power, papermaking, and mining industries to connect or disconnect the medium in the pipeline. To ensure the safe and reliable operation of knife gate valves before they leave the factory, rigorous performance testing is an essential part of the production process, with sealing performance being a key indicator of their quality.

[0003] When conducting a comprehensive sealing performance test on a knife gate valve, it is usually necessary to test its forward sealing performance and reverse sealing performance, that is, to apply pressure from both ends of the valve to check its leakage under different force directions.

[0004] Existing gate valve testing devices typically include a test bench with a fixed clamping mechanism and a movable clamping mechanism. The gate valve under test is clamped and fixed by moving the clamping mechanism. Then, pressure is applied to one side of the valve through an air source, and the pressure change is monitored on the other side to complete the unidirectional sealing test.

[0005] However, existing technologies of this type have the following drawbacks when performing complete forward and reverse sealing tests: After completing a sealing test in one direction, the operator must first release the clamp, laboriously remove the entire gate valve from the testing table, manually rotate it 180 degrees, and then place it back on the testing table for secondary alignment and clamping before performing a reverse sealing test. This series of operations is not only cumbersome and greatly increases the labor intensity of the operators, but the repeated disassembly and installation process also significantly reduces the overall testing efficiency, failing to meet the fast-paced testing requirements of large-scale production lines. Furthermore, the secondary manual alignment process can easily introduce positioning errors, potentially affecting the accuracy and consistency of the test results.

[0006] Therefore, how to simplify the operation process and achieve rapid switching between forward and reverse sealing performance without moving the valve body is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in the field of valve testing. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of the problems existing in the above-mentioned knife gate valve performance testing devices, the present invention is proposed.

[0008] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a knife gate valve performance testing device, which aims to solve the problems in the prior art where manual handling, disassembly, and flipping of the valve body are required when testing the forward and reverse sealing performance of knife gate valves, resulting in low testing efficiency, high labor intensity, and easy errors in secondary positioning.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a knife gate valve performance testing device, comprising a testing platform, and further comprising: A sealing test mechanism, located on the test platform, includes a fixed seat and a movable seat that can move on the test platform. Both the fixed seat and the movable seat have a sealing disc on their opposite sides for cooperating with the flange of the knife gate valve. A drive mechanism is also included to drive the movable seat to move along the test platform to clamp or release the knife gate valve. The valve body bearing rotation mechanism is located on the testing platform between the fixed seat and the movable seat, and includes a rotatable bearing plate. The rotatable bearing plate is provided with a knife gate valve placement seat for placing the knife gate valve body.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the gate valve performance testing device of the present invention, the driving mechanism includes a first motor mounted on the testing platform and a lead screw connected to the first motor for transmission, and the movable seat is threadedly connected to the lead screw via a moving block.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the gate valve performance testing device of the present invention, the valve body bearing rotation mechanism further includes a base and a second motor for driving the rotatable bearing plate to rotate. The rotatable bearing plate is disposed on the base, and the second motor is installed inside the base and is connected to the rotatable bearing plate in a transmission manner.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the gate valve performance testing device of the present invention, the base is provided with an annular groove, and the rotatable bearing plate is slidably connected to the annular groove by a slider to guide its smooth rotation.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the knife gate valve performance testing device of the present invention, the knife gate valve placement seat is further provided with a claw structure on both sides for clamping the knife gate valve body. The claw structure is driven by an electric push rod to realize clamping and releasing actions.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the knife gate valve performance testing device of the present invention, the claw structure includes a U-shaped clamping plate and clamping plates on both sides, and the inner side of the U-shaped clamping plate and the clamping plates are provided with arc-shaped grooves for fitting the shape of the valve body.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the gate valve performance testing device of the present invention, a spring is wound around the outer wall of the electric push rod, and the spring is located between the claw structure and the vertical plate supporting the electric push rod to provide cushioning.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment of the knife gate valve performance testing device of the present invention, the sealing disc is provided with a positioning protrusion that matches the flange hole of the knife gate valve body for assisting alignment.

[0017] As a preferred embodiment of the knife gate valve performance testing device of the present invention, the movable seat is provided with an air inlet end on the outside, and a barometer is installed on the outside of the fixed seat for filling the clamped knife gate valve with air and monitoring pressure changes.

[0018] As a preferred embodiment of the knife gate valve performance testing device of the present invention, the movable seat is further provided with a conical rubber sleeve, and the fixed seat is further provided with a sealing ring to enhance the airtightness with the flanges at both ends of the knife gate valve.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. By setting up a valve body bearing rotation mechanism, after completing the sealing performance test on one side of the gate valve, there is no need for manual disassembly and handling of the valve. The control system simply drives the second motor to rotate the bearing plate 180 degrees, allowing direct testing of the other side. This completely solves the problem of time-consuming and labor-intensive manual valve body rotation in existing technologies, significantly reducing worker workload and more than doubling the overall testing efficiency of a single valve, meeting the needs of assembly line operations.

[0020] 2. Traditional two-stage manual installation can easily lead to misalignment between the valve flange and the test bench sealing plate. This invention adopts a one-time clamping mode, where the relative position of the valve body on the base remains unchanged during rotation. Furthermore, the positioning protrusions on the sealing plate and the sliding self-adaptive function of the base ensure the coaxiality of the valve flange and the sealing plate during forward and reverse testing, improving the accuracy and consistency of the test results.

[0021] 3. To address potential casting tolerances or surface damage issues in the gate valve body, this invention incorporates a buffer spring between the jaw structure and the electric push rod, and an arc-shaped groove on the inner side of the jaw. This design not only accommodates minute dimensional deviations but also provides flexible buffering during clamping, preventing valve body deformation or surface damage due to excessive clamping force.

[0022] 4. By setting conical rubber sleeves and sealing rings on the movable and fixed seats respectively, and with the stable axial pressure provided by the screw drive, the micro-unevenness of the valve flange surface can be effectively compensated, ensuring the absolute sealing of the test chamber under high pressure air tightness test and avoiding misjudgment caused by tooling leakage. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. Wherein: Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a knife gate valve performance testing device according to the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a knife gate valve performance testing device according to the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a knife gate valve performance testing device according to the present invention. Figure 3 ; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a knife gate valve performance testing device according to the present invention. Figure 4 ; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a knife gate valve performance testing device according to the present invention. Figure 5 ; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a knife gate valve performance testing device according to the present invention. Figure 6 .

[0024] In the diagram: 1. Testing platform; 2. Fixed seat; 3. Movable seat; 4. Sealing plate; 5. Conical rubber sleeve; 6. Sealing ring; 7. Barometer; 8. Air inlet; 9. First motor; 10. Mounting groove; 11. Slide groove one; 12. Lead screw; 13. Base; 14. Second motor; 15. Annular slide groove; 16. Rotatable bearing plate; 17. Slide groove two; 18. Vertical plate; 19. Electric push rod; 20. Spring; 21. Knife gate valve placement seat; 22. Claw structure; 2201. U-shaped clamping plate; 2202. Clamping plate; 2203. Arc groove; 401. Positioning protrusion. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of the invention. However, the invention may also be practiced in other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0027] Secondly, the term "one embodiment" or "embodiment" as used herein refers to a specific feature, structure, or characteristic that may be included in at least one implementation of the present invention. The phrase "in one embodiment" appearing in different places in this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a single or selective embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0028] Secondly, the present invention is described in detail with reference to the schematic diagrams. When detailing the embodiments of the present invention, for ease of explanation, the cross-sectional views illustrating the device structure may be partially enlarged, not according to the usual scale. Furthermore, the schematic diagrams are merely examples and should not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. In addition, actual fabrication should include three-dimensional spatial dimensions of length, width, and depth.

[0029] Example 1 Please see Figures 1-6 This embodiment provides a knife gate valve performance testing device. The device includes a testing platform 1, a sealing testing mechanism for axial clamping and applying test pressure, and a valve body bearing rotation mechanism for bearing and rotating the valve body.

[0030] The sealing test mechanism is located on the test bench 1 and includes a fixed seat 2 and a movable seat 3 that can move on the test bench 1. The fixed seat 2 and the movable seat 3 are provided with a sealing disc 4 for cooperating with the flange of the knife gate valve on opposite sides; and a drive mechanism for driving the movable seat 3 to move along the test bench 1 to clamp or release the knife gate valve. The valve body bearing rotation mechanism is located on the test platform 1, between the fixed seat 2 and the movable seat 3, and includes a rotatable bearing plate 16. The rotatable bearing plate 16 is provided with a knife gate valve placement seat 21 for placing the knife gate valve body.

[0031] The drive mechanism includes a first motor 9 mounted on the test bench 1 and a lead screw 12 that is connected to the first motor 9 for transmission. The movable seat 3 is threadedly connected to the lead screw 12 via a moving block.

[0032] The valve body bearing rotation mechanism also includes a base 13 and a second motor 14 for driving the rotatable bearing plate 16 to rotate. The rotatable bearing plate 16 is disposed on the base 13, and the second motor 14 is installed inside the base 13 and is connected to the rotatable bearing plate 16 in a transmission connection.

[0033] An annular groove 15 is provided on the base 13, and the rotatable support plate 16 is slidably connected to the annular groove 15 through a slider to guide its smooth rotation.

[0034] The knife gate valve placement seat 21 is also provided with claw structures 22 on both sides for clamping the knife gate valve body. The claw structures 22 are driven by electric push rods 19 to achieve clamping and releasing actions.

[0035] The claw structure 22 includes a U-shaped clamping plate 2201 and clamping plates 2202 on both sides. The inner sides of the U-shaped clamping plate 2201 and the clamping plates 2202 are provided with arc-shaped grooves 2203 for fitting the shape of the valve body.

[0036] A spring 20 is wound around the outer wall of the electric push rod 19. The spring 20 is located between the claw structure 22 and the upright plate 18 that supports the electric push rod 19, and is used to provide cushioning.

[0037] The sealing disc 4 is provided with a positioning protrusion 401 that matches the flange hole of the gate valve body for assisting alignment.

[0038] The movable seat 3 has an air inlet 8 on its outer side, and the fixed seat 2 has a barometer 7 installed on its outer side, which is used to pressurize the clamped gate valve and monitor pressure changes.

[0039] The movable seat 3 is also equipped with a conical rubber sleeve 5, and the fixed seat 2 is also equipped with a sealing ring 6 to enhance the airtightness with the flanges at both ends of the knife gate valve.

[0040] The sealing test mechanism includes a fixed base 2 and a movable base 3, both mounted on the test table 1. The fixed base 2 is in a fixed position, while the movable base 3 can move horizontally on the test table 1. To drive the movable base 3, a first motor 9 is mounted on one side of the test table 1, and its output shaft is connected to a lead screw 12 via a coupling. The lead screw 12 is located in the mounting groove 10 of the test table 1, and the bottom of the movable base 3 is threadedly connected to the lead screw 12 via a moving block. When the first motor 9 rotates forward and backward, the lead screw 12 rotates accordingly, thereby causing the movable base 3 to move closer to or away from the fixed base 2.

[0041] To perform the airtightness test, sealing discs 4 are fixedly installed on the inner sides of both the fixed seat 2 and the movable seat 3. The outer side of the movable seat 3 is provided with an air inlet 8 for connecting to an air source (such as an air compressor) to apply test pressure to the inside of the valve. A barometer 7 is threadedly installed on the outer side of the fixed seat 2 to monitor pressure changes inside the valve in real time, thereby determining its sealing performance.

[0042] The valve body bearing rotation mechanism is located between the fixed seat 2 and the movable seat 3, and is used to place, fix, and rotate the gate valve to be tested. It includes a base 13, which is slidably connected to the slide groove 11 on the test bench 1 via a slider, allowing it to move as a whole. During the clamping phase of the sealing test, the base 13 is in a state where it can slide freely along the slide groove 11. When the sealing disc 4 on the movable seat 3 contacts the flange on one side of the gate valve, it will push the gate valve and the base 13 together to move towards the fixed seat 2 until the flange on the other side of the gate valve is tightly fitted with the sealing disc 4 on the fixed seat 2, achieving double-sided clamping.

[0043] A rotatable support plate 16 is mounted on the base 13. A second motor 14 is installed inside the base 13, and its output end is connected to the center of the rotatable support plate 16 through a bearing to drive the support plate 16 to rotate. To ensure smooth rotation, an annular groove 15 is also provided on the base 13, and the bottom of the rotatable support plate 16 slides in the annular groove 15 through a slider.

[0044] A knife gate valve placement seat 21 is fixedly provided on the upper end of the rotatable support plate 16. Vertical plates 18 are provided on both sides of the placement seat, and an electric push rod 19 is installed on each plate 18. The extended end of the push rod is fixed with a claw structure 22 for clamping the valve body of the knife gate valve from the side.

[0045] To ensure a secure grip without damaging the valve body, the jaw structure 22 includes a U-shaped clamping plate 2201 and two side clamping plates 2202. Both have arc-shaped grooves 2203 on their inner sides. The curvature of these grooves matches the shape of common knife gate valve bodies, increasing the contact area and making the clamping more stable. Simultaneously, a spring 20 is wound around the outer wall of the electric push rod 19 between the jaw structure 22 and the upright plate 18. When the electric push rod 19 pushes the jaws to clamp the valve body, the spring 20 provides a certain buffering force to prevent excessive clamping force from damaging the valve body, thus providing a flexible clamping effect. The rotatable support plate 16 also has a second sliding groove 17. When the jaw structure 22 moves, its bottom slider slides in connection with the second sliding groove 17, ensuring stability during movement.

[0046] To ensure the accuracy of the test, each sealing disc 4 has several positioning protrusions 401 machined on its end face to match the standard flange hole positions of the gate valve. These protrusions can be used to quickly and accurately align the valve flange before clamping. In addition, a conical rubber sleeve 5 is provided on the sealing disc on one side of the movable seat 3, and a sealing ring 6 is provided on the fixed seat 2 side. When the sealing disc 4 presses against the valve flange, these two elastic components can further fill any gaps that may exist, ensuring the absolute airtightness of the test chamber.

[0047] Example 2 Based on Embodiment 1, this device is also equipped with a PLC control system. The PLC control system is electrically connected to the first motor 9, the second motor 14, the electric push rod 19, and the barometer 7.

[0048] During operation, the operator only needs to set the test pressure parameters and holding time on the control panel. After pressing the start button, the device automatically executes the following logic: electric push rod clamps → first motor feeds and clamps the flange → automatic inflation → barometer monitors and holds pressure → automatic pressure release → first motor retracts → second motor rotates 180 degrees → repeats the above test steps.

[0049] By integrating automated control, errors from human reading and operation are eliminated, further improving the objectivity of the test data.

[0050] Example 3 In Example 1, the drive mechanism uses a lead screw 12 for transmission. In another feasible embodiment, the drive mechanism can also use a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder to directly drive the movable seat 3 to move. The hydraulic cylinder is fixedly installed on one side of the testing table 1, and its piston rod end is connected to the movable seat 3. The use of hydraulic drive can provide greater axial clamping force, which is suitable for the testing of large-diameter, high-pressure gate valves.

[0051] In addition, a high-friction rubber pad can be attached to the inner arc groove 2203 surface of the claw structure 22, which can not only prevent slippage, but also further protect the paint surface of the valve body.

[0052] Working principle: The operator first places a gate valve to be tested on the gate valve holder 21. Then, the control system is activated, driving the electric push rods 19 on both sides to move towards each other. The electric push rods 19 push the claw structure 22 to clamp the valve body of the gate valve, and the arc groove 2203 fits tightly with the valve body, achieving a stable lateral fixation.

[0053] Forward sealing performance test: Close the gate of the knife gate valve, start the first motor 9, and the lead screw 12 rotates, pushing the movable seat 3 and the valve body bearing rotation mechanism on it to move towards the fixed seat 2. During the movement, the positioning protrusion 401 is aligned with the valve flange hole until the sealing disc 4 of the movable seat 3 and the fixed seat 2 tightly presses the flange faces at both ends of the knife gate valve. The conical rubber sleeve 5 and the sealing ring 6 are compressed to form a sealed test chamber. Compressed air at a specified pressure is injected into one side of the valve through the air inlet 8. Observe the barometer 7 on the other side of the fixed seat 2. If the barometer reading does not drop significantly or the drop value is within the allowable range within the specified time, it indicates that the forward sealing performance of the knife gate valve is qualified. After the test is completed, first release the gas pressure in the test chamber. Start the first motor 9 in reverse to make the movable seat 3 move backward and release the axial clamp on the valve flange. Then, the second motor 14 installed in the base 13 is started, driving the rotatable support plate 16 together with the knife gate valve fixed thereon by the claw structure 22 to rotate 180 degrees.

[0054] Reverse sealing performance test: After rotating to the correct position, restart the first motor 9 and re-clamp the valve flange. At this point, since the valve has rotated 180 degrees, the original pressure outlet side is now directly opposite the air inlet end. Inject compressed air at the specified pressure again through the air inlet end 8; the pressure will now act on the other side of the gate. Observe the reading of the pressure gauge 7 again. If the pressure remains stable, it indicates that the reverse sealing performance of the gate valve is qualified. Release the pressure and restart the first motor 9 in reverse to retract the movable seat 3. Reverse start the electric push rod 19 to release the chuck structure 22 from the valve body. Remove the gate valve that has completed the test; a complete forward and reverse performance test process is now finished.

[0055] It is important to note that the constructions and arrangements of this application shown in several different exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative. Although only a few embodiments are described in detail in this disclosure, those who consult this disclosure will readily understand that many modifications are possible (e.g., changes in the size, dimensions, structure, shape, and proportions of various elements, as well as parameter values ​​(e.g., temperature, pressure, etc.), mounting arrangements, use of materials, color, orientation, etc.) without substantially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described in this application). For example, an element shown as integrally formed may be composed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be inverted or otherwise altered, and the nature or number or position of discrete elements may be changed or altered. Therefore, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be changed or rearranged according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any "device plus function" clause is intended to cover the structure described herein that performs the function, and not only structurally equivalent but also equivalent in structure. Other substitutions, modifications, alterations, and omissions may be made in the design, operation, and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, but extends to various modifications that still fall within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, for the purpose of providing a concise description of exemplary embodiments, not all features of actual embodiments (i.e., those features not relevant to the currently considered best mode for carrying out the invention, or those features not relevant to implementing the invention) may be omitted.

[0056] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for testing the performance of a knife gate valve, comprising a testing platform (1), characterized in that, Also includes: A sealing test mechanism is provided on the test bench (1), including a fixed seat (2) and a movable seat (3) that can move on the test bench (1). The fixed seat (2) and the movable seat (3) are provided with a sealing disc (4) for cooperating with the flange of the knife gate valve on opposite sides; and a drive mechanism for driving the movable seat (3) to move along the test bench (1) to clamp or release the knife gate valve. The valve body bearing rotation mechanism is located on the test platform (1) between the fixed seat (2) and the movable seat (3), and includes a rotatable bearing plate (16). The rotatable bearing plate (16) is provided with a knife gate valve placement seat (21) for placing the knife gate valve body.

2. The gate valve performance testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive mechanism includes a first motor (9) mounted on the test bench (1) and a lead screw (12) connected to the first motor (9) for transmission. The movable seat (3) is threadedly connected to the lead screw (12) via a moving block.

3. The device for testing the performance of a knife gate valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve body bearing rotation mechanism also includes a base (13) and a second motor (14) for driving the rotatable bearing plate (16) to rotate. The rotatable bearing plate (16) is disposed on the base (13), and the second motor (14) is installed inside the base (13) and is connected to the rotatable bearing plate (16) in a transmission connection.

4. The gate valve performance testing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The base (13) is provided with an annular groove (15), and the rotatable support plate (16) is slidably connected to the annular groove (15) through a slider to guide its smooth rotation.

5. The device for testing the performance of a knife gate valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The knife gate valve placement seat (21) is also provided with claw structures (22) on both sides for clamping the knife gate valve body. The claw structures (22) are driven by electric push rods (19) to achieve clamping and releasing actions.

6. The knife gate valve performance testing device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The claw structure (22) includes a U-shaped clamping plate and clamping plates on both sides. The inner sides of the U-shaped clamping plate and the clamping plates are provided with arc-shaped grooves for fitting the shape of the valve body.

7. The knife gate valve performance testing device according to claim 5, characterized in that: A spring (20) is wound around the outer wall of the electric push rod (19). The spring (20) is located between the claw structure (22) and the upright plate (18) supporting the electric push rod (19) to provide cushioning.

8. The device for testing the performance of a knife gate valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing disc (4) is provided with a positioning protrusion (401) that matches the flange hole of the gate valve body for assisting alignment.

9. The device for testing the performance of a knife gate valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The movable seat (3) is provided with an air inlet (8) on the outside, and the fixed seat (2) is provided with a barometer (7) on the outside, which is used to fill the clamped knife gate valve with air and monitor the pressure change.

10. The gate valve performance testing device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The movable seat (3) is also provided with a conical rubber sleeve (5), and the fixed seat (2) is also provided with a sealing ring (6) to enhance the airtightness with the flanges at both ends of the knife gate valve.

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