Subsea valve assembly

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of valves, and discloses an underwater valve assembly, which comprises an interface support, a mounting portion, an operating shaft, a valve body and a gear box, the interface support is detachably connected with the first box body, the interface support can be prepared in multiple height specifications, in this way, the height of the mounting portion can be adjusted according to the height design requirements of different underwater manifolds, and the interface support that is suitable can be selected flexibly, so that the height of the mounting portion can be adjusted. The operating shaft is detachably connected with the transmission assembly, and the operating shaft can be prepared in multiple height specifications, so that the length of the operating shaft can be adjusted correspondingly when the interface support is adjusted, and the docking with the operating interface can be realized. When the height of the mounting portion needs to be adjusted, the interface support and the operating shaft with the corresponding height specifications only need to be replaced, and the entire underwater valve assembly does not need to be replaced, so that the range of replacement of parts and the workload of design changes are greatly reduced, and the design cycle is significantly shortened and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of valve technology, and more particularly to an underwater valve assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Subsea valve assemblies are a collective term for all valves used in underwater pipeline systems, primarily in underwater manifolds and pipelines of offshore oil and gas projects. A subsea valve assembly includes the subsea valve itself and the actuator connected to it. The actuator controls the switching of the subsea valve between opening and closing. Due to the high stability and reliability of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), they are often used as actuators connected to the subsea valves.

[0003] Underwater valves are typically installed underwater via manifolds, requiring a unified arrangement of multiple valves during installation. Changes in the underwater manifold design result in varying requirements for valve operating height (i.e., the installation height of the ROV interface for the underwater valves). When installing underwater valves on the manifold, it is crucial to ensure that the ROV operating interface heights of all valves are consistent, allowing the underwater robot to operate multiple valves from the same working plane.

[0004] However, different underwater manifolds have different height design requirements, resulting in the same type of valve needing to be adapted to different ROV interface heights in different projects. Currently, adjusting the ROV operating interface height of an underwater valve requires replacing the entire underwater valve, which not only increases the design cycle and manufacturing costs but also causes inconvenience for on-site installation and commissioning.

[0005] Therefore, the above problems urgently need to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an underwater valve assembly that allows for adjustments to the height of the operating interface without replacing the entire underwater valve assembly, significantly reducing the scope of component replacements and the workload of design changes, thereby significantly shortening the design cycle and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0007] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: The underwater valve assembly includes: Interface bracket; The mounting section is located at the other end of the interface bracket and is used to support the operating interface of the actuator. An operating shaft is rotatably disposed inside the interface bracket, and one end can extend into the mounting part for docking with the operating interface; Valve body; A gearbox includes a first housing and a transmission assembly disposed inside the first housing. The interface bracket is sealed and connected to the first housing, and the two are detachably connected. The transmission assembly is driven between the valve body and the operating shaft, and the operating shaft is detachably connected to the transmission assembly. The interface bracket and the operating shaft are each of a plurality of height specifications.

[0008] Preferably, the underwater valve assembly further includes a pressure balancing mechanism that communicates with the interior of the first housing and is configured to dynamically adjust the pressure inside the first housing based on external pressure.

[0009] Preferably, the pressure balancing mechanism includes: The balancing shell is sealed and connected to the first housing, and forms an interconnected balancing channel at the connection point; A diaphragm bladder is disposed inside the balance housing, and the opening of the diaphragm bladder is connected to the outside of the balance housing; A separator is slidably disposed in the balance channel and can abut against the bottom of the diaphragm bladder to increase the pressure inside the first chamber when the diaphragm bladder expands; A relief valve is provided at the opening; An elastic element, disposed between the separator and the balance channel, is used to drive the separator to return to its original position when the diaphragm bladder shrinks, thereby reducing the pressure inside the first chamber.

[0010] Preferably, the transmission assembly includes: The first drive shaft is rotatably disposed inside the first housing, with a sleeve at one end for connecting to the operating shaft and a bevel gear at the other end; The second drive shaft is rotatably disposed inside the first housing, and the axis of the second drive shaft is perpendicular to the axis of the first drive shaft. One end of the second drive shaft is provided with a bevel tooth portion that meshes with the bevel gear. The second drive shaft is driven by the valve body through a worm gear structure.

[0011] Preferably, the valve body includes: The valve body has internal fluid channels; The valve cover is fitted onto the valve body; A pressure flange is sealed between the first housing and the valve body; The valve seat is located inside the fluid passage; The valve disc is adapted to seal the valve seat. The valve stem is rotatably connected to the valve body, with one end connected to the valve disc and the other end connected to the transmission assembly, so that the valve disc can switch between a sealed state and an open state.

[0012] Preferably, the valve stem is provided with a first stepped surface, and the gland flange is provided with a second stepped surface, with the first stepped surface and the second stepped surface being disposed opposite to each other; A compression spring is provided between the valve stem and the valve body to push against the first stepped surface and the second stepped surface to form a hard contact seal.

[0013] Preferably, a plurality of first sealing elements are provided at intervals between the valve stem and the gland flange; The gland flange is provided with a first detection channel. One end of the first detection channel can be connected to the sealing interface between the valve stem and the gland flange, and the other end is detachably provided with a first sealing plug.

[0014] Preferably, a plurality of second sealing elements are provided at intervals between the gland flange and the valve body; The gland flange is provided with a second detection channel. One end of the second detection channel can be connected to the sealing interface between the valve body and the gland flange, and the other end is detachably provided with a second sealing head.

[0015] Preferably, the valve disc is a ball, and the ball is provided with a central cavity. The central cavity has an open state that is coaxially arranged with the fluid channel and a sealed state that is interposed with the fluid channel. The valve seat includes a double-piston effect valve seat and a single-piston effect valve seat. The double-piston effect valve seat is located on the downstream side of the ball, and the single-piston effect valve seat is located on the upstream side of the ball.

[0016] Preferably, the underwater valve assembly further includes a second housing and an indicator component disposed inside the second housing. The second housing is sealed between the mounting portion and the interface bracket, and the three are detachably connected. The indicating component is connected to the operating shaft and is used to indicate the status of the valve body in real time.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are: This invention proposes an underwater valve assembly with a detachable connection between the interface bracket and the first housing. This allows for flexible selection of a suitable interface bracket to meet the height design requirements of different underwater manifolds, thereby adjusting the height of the mounting section. The operating shaft is detachably connected to the transmission assembly, and multiple height specifications of the operating shaft are available. This allows for corresponding adjustment of the operating shaft length when adjusting the interface bracket, enabling docking with the operating interface. When the height of the mounting section needs to be adjusted, only the interface bracket and operating shaft of the appropriate height specification need to be replaced, without replacing the entire underwater valve assembly. This significantly reduces the scope of component replacement and design change workload, thereby significantly shortening the design cycle and reducing manufacturing costs. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the underwater valve assembly in this invention; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of a portion of point A in the middle; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the interface bracket, valve body, and pressure balancing mechanism in this invention; Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Enlarged view of section B in the middle.

[0019] In the picture: 1. Interface bracket; 2. Mounting part; 3. Operating shaft; 4. Valve body; 41. Valve body; 411. Fluid passage; 42. Valve cover; 43. Gland flange; 431. Second stepped surface; 441. Double piston effect valve seat; 442. Single piston effect valve seat; 45. Valve disc; 46. Valve stem; 461. First stepped surface; 47. Compression spring; 48. First seal; 49. First detection channel; 4010. Second seal; 4011. Second detection channel; 5. Gearbox; 51. First housing; 52. Transmission assembly; 521. First drive shaft; 5211. Sleeve; 5212. Bevel gear; 522. Second drive shaft; 5221. Bevel tooth section; 5222. Worm gear structure; 6. Pressure balancing mechanism; 61. Balancing housing; 62. Diaphragm bladder; 63. Separator; 64. Relief valve; 65. Elastic element; 7. Second housing; 8. Indicator assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to the present invention, and not all of the structures.

[0021] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0022] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0023] In the description of this invention, the term "and / or" describes a relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, a centrifugal vortex magnetic pump and / or a centrifugal vortex magnetic pump can represent: the existence of only one centrifugal vortex magnetic pump, the simultaneous existence of one centrifugal vortex magnetic pump and a centrifugal vortex magnetic pump, or the existence of only one centrifugal vortex magnetic pump. Additionally, the character " / " in this application generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "and / or" relationship.

[0024] In the description of this invention, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," and "right," etc., refer to the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for ease of description and simplification of operation, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used merely for distinction in description and have no special meaning.

[0025] Please see Figures 1 to 4This embodiment proposes an underwater valve assembly, which includes an interface bracket 1, a mounting part 2, an operating shaft 3, a valve body 4, and a gearbox 5. The mounting part 2 is located at the other end of the interface bracket 1 and is used to carry the operating interface of the actuator. The operating shaft 3 is rotatably disposed inside the interface bracket 1, and one end can extend into the mounting part 2 for docking with the operating interface. The gearbox 5 includes a first housing 51 and a transmission component 52 disposed inside the first housing 51. The interface bracket 1 is sealed and docked with the first housing 51, and the transmission component 52 is driven between the valve body 4 and the operating shaft 3. It can be understood that the operating interface of the actuator can dock with the operating shaft 3 and can control the operating shaft 3 to rotate around its axis. Under the action of the gearbox 5, it can control the valve body 4 to switch between a sealed state and an open state.

[0026] The mounting part 2 has a receiving groove for accommodating the operation interface. The receiving groove is adapted to the shape of the operation interface, and one end of the operation shaft 3 can extend into the receiving groove and dock with the operation interface in the receiving groove. The end is provided with a cut or the cross-section of the end is square to ensure that the operation shaft 3 and the operation interface rotate synchronously.

[0027] Furthermore, the interface bracket 1 and the first housing 51 are detachably connected. The detachment method can be a bolt or similar structure, and the interface bracket 1 can be prepared in multiple height specifications. This configuration allows for flexible selection of the appropriate interface bracket 1 according to the height design requirements of different underwater manifolds, thereby adjusting the height of the mounting part 2. The operating shaft 3 is detachably connected to the transmission assembly 52, and the operating shaft 3 can be prepared in multiple height specifications. This allows for corresponding adjustment of the length of the operating shaft 3 when adjusting the interface bracket 1, thus achieving docking with the operating interface. It can be understood that the modular, detachable design of the interface bracket 1 and the operating shaft 3 ensures that the operating interfaces of all valves in the underwater manifold are on the same operating plane, facilitating the unified operation of the actuators.

[0028] Similarly, it is understandable that when the height of the mounting section 2 needs to be adjusted, only the interface bracket 1 and the operating shaft 3 of the corresponding height specifications need to be replaced, without replacing the entire underwater valve assembly. This greatly reduces the scope of parts replacement and the workload of design changes, thereby significantly shortening the design cycle and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0029] The underwater valve assembly operates in a high-pressure seawater environment. The external pressure of the first housing 51 increases sharply with the increase of water depth. If the internal pressure of the first housing 51 is kept at normal pressure, it will not only easily deform the first housing 51, but also easily cause the failure of the sealing structures on the first housing 51, which will lead to seawater seepage and easily cause corrosion or jamming of its internal transmission components 52.

[0030] Therefore, in this embodiment, the underwater valve assembly also includes a pressure balancing mechanism 6, which is connected to the interior of the first housing 51. The pressure balancing mechanism 6 is configured to dynamically adjust the pressure inside the first housing 51 based on the external pressure, so that the internal pressure of the first housing 51 and the external pressure are always basically balanced, which greatly reduces the pressure differential load on each sealing structure on the first housing 51 and ensures the sealing safety of the gearbox 5 during long-term underwater operation.

[0031] Furthermore, when the internal and external pressure difference of the first housing 51 is too large, the pressure difference force will act on the operating shaft 3 and the transmission assembly 52, generating additional axial or radial resistance, increasing the operating torque required for the actuator to drive the valve body 4 to open and close. By dynamically balancing the internal and external pressure through the pressure balancing mechanism 6, the additional mechanical resistance caused by the pressure difference can be eliminated, enabling the actuator to complete the drive of the operating interface with a smoother and smaller torque. This not only improves the success rate and response speed of the actuator operation, but also avoids damage to the transmission assembly 52 due to excessive torque. For example, the pressure balancing mechanism 6 includes a balancing housing 61, a diaphragm 62, a separator 63, a relief valve 64, and an elastic element 65. The balancing housing 61 is sealed and connected to the first housing 51, forming an interconnected balancing channel at the connection point. The diaphragm 62 is disposed inside the balancing housing 61, and its opening is connected to the outside of the balancing housing 61. The separator 63 is slidably disposed in the balancing channel and can abut against the bottom of the diaphragm 62 to increase the pressure inside the first housing 51 when the diaphragm 62 expands. The relief valve 64 is disposed at the opening. The elastic element 65 is disposed between the separator 63 and the balancing channel, and is used to drive the separator 63 to reset when the diaphragm 62 shrinks, thereby reducing the pressure inside the first housing 51.

[0032] Understandably, when the entire valve assembly is placed below the water surface, seawater can enter the diaphragm bladder 62 through the opening, causing it to expand continuously. This expands the diaphragm bladder 62, thereby pressurizing the separator 63 and reducing the internal volume of the first housing 51. Consequently, the internal pressure of the first housing 51 increases. Once the internal pressure of the first housing 51 exceeds a set threshold, the relief valve 64 automatically opens to discharge the excess seawater. The diaphragm bladder 62 shrinks, and under the action of the elastic element 65, the separator 63 moves back to its initial position, increasing the internal volume of the first housing 51 and reducing the internal pressure. This design ensures that the internal pressure of the first housing 51 accurately follows changes in the external environment, preventing the first housing 51 from being constantly under pressure due to response lag, thus improving safety performance.

[0033] The separator 63 has a T-shaped structure, including a vertically arranged horizontal part and a vertical part. The vertical part is adapted to slide with the balance channel and fits against the inner wall of the balance channel to form a dynamic seal between the two, ensuring the sealing of the first box 51. The horizontal part is located inside the balance shell 61. The elastic element 65 is preferably a return spring. The return spring is sleeved on the vertical part, and its two ends abut against the bottom of the horizontal part and the balance shell 61, respectively.

[0034] The transmission assembly 52 includes a first transmission shaft 521 and a second transmission shaft 522. The first transmission shaft 521 is rotatably disposed inside the first housing 51 via a rolling bearing, and one end of the first transmission shaft 521 can extend into the interior of the interface bracket 1. This end is provided with a sleeve 5211 for connecting with the operating shaft 3. A detachable structure, such as a snap-fit ​​structure or a pin structure, is provided between the sleeve 5211 and the operating shaft 3.

[0035] The second drive shaft 522 is rotatably mounted inside the first housing 51 via a rolling bearing, and the axis of the second drive shaft 522 is perpendicular to the axis of the first drive shaft 521. A sealing ring is provided between the second drive shaft 522 and the inner wall of the first housing 51. With the dynamic sealing cooperation between the sealing ring and the vertical part and the balance channel, the first housing 51 can form a closed space to facilitate the adjustment of its internal pressure.

[0036] A bevel gear 5212 is provided at one end of the first drive shaft 521, and a bevel tooth portion 5221 that meshes with the bevel gear 5212 is provided at one end of the second drive shaft 522. The interaction between the bevel gear 5212 and the bevel tooth portion 5221 enables a 90° power reversal, allowing the opening and closing drive directions of the operating shaft 3 and the valve body 4 to be arranged perpendicularly. This reduces the lateral footprint of the valve assembly, facilitating the centralized arrangement and installation of multiple valves on the manifold and improving the utilization of underwater space. Furthermore, the transmission ratio between the bevel gear 5212 and the bevel tooth portion 5221 can be adjusted according to different needs to increase the output torque of the actuator.

[0037] The second drive shaft 522 has a thread in the middle to form a worm. A worm wheel is installed on the valve stem 46 of the valve body 4. The worm wheel meshes with the worm to form a worm wheel and worm structure 5222, which drives the valve stem 46 to rotate around its axis. Because the worm wheel and worm structure 5222 has a self-locking characteristic, after the actuator completes the operation and is withdrawn, even if it is subjected to external disturbances such as seawater impact, pipeline vibration or fluid pressure fluctuation, the valve body 4 can still be stably maintained in a sealed or open state, and will not drift or malfunction. This significantly improves the safety and reliability of the underwater valve assembly.

[0038] The valve body 4 includes a valve body 41, a valve cover 42, a gland flange 43, a valve seat, a valve disc 45, and a valve stem 46. The valve body 41 has an internal fluid passage 411. The valve cover 42 covers the valve body 41. The gland flange 43 is sealed between the first housing 51 and the valve body 41. The valve seat is located inside the fluid passage 411. The valve disc 45 is fitted and sealed to the valve seat. The valve stem 46 is rotatably connected to the valve body 41, with one end connected to the valve disc 45 and the other end connected to the transmission assembly 52, allowing the valve disc 45 to switch between a sealed and open state. Under the action of the operating shaft 3 and the transmission assembly 52, the valve stem 46 can rotate around its own axis, thereby rotating the valve disc 45 and achieving the switching of the valve body 4 between a sealed and open state. The gland flange 43 is sealed between the first housing 51 and the valve body 41, establishing two independent sealing interfaces between the gearbox 5 and the valve body 4. When maintenance and repair of the transmission component 52 inside the gearbox 5 are required, it is only necessary to disconnect the connection between the gland flange 43 and the first housing 51, without disassembling the sealing connection between the gland flange 43 and the valve body 41. This avoids damaging the sealing performance between the valve body 4 and the gland flange 43, ensuring that the valve body 4 and the gland flange 43 remain sealed during maintenance and repair of the transmission component 52, reducing on-site operation risks and secondary pressure testing costs.

[0039] Multiple second seals 4010 are spaced apart between the gearbox 5 and the gland flange 43, and between the valve body 41 and the gland flange 43. Each second seal 4010 can be a metal octagonal ring, O-ring, or rectangular sealing ring, forming multiple independent static sealing barriers. Even if one of the second seals 4010 fails due to long-term compression creep, corrosion, or installation damage, the remaining second seals 4010 can still independently maintain the sealing function, improving the sealing performance of the underwater valve under extreme high-pressure conditions.

[0040] In addition, a second detection channel 4011 is provided on the gland flange 43. One end of the second detection channel 4011 can be connected to the sealing interface between the valve body 41 and the gland flange 43, and the other end is detachably equipped with a second sealing head. In practical applications, the operator can remove the second sealing head and connect a leak detection device (such as a helium gas spectrometer or a pressure decay detection system) to quantitatively test the sealing performance of the static sealing interface.

[0041] As the service life of underwater valves continues to increase, the valve stem 46 will experience slight wear due to rotational friction during frequent opening and closing operations, or undergo axial thermal expansion and contraction under changes in water temperature and pressure fluctuations. This can cause the valve stem 46 to drift axially, which can easily lead to a phase difference between the rotation angle of the transmission component 52 and the actual rotation angle of the valve disc 45, resulting in misoperation. More seriously, the axial drift of the valve stem 46 can cause leakage of the medium in the fluid passage 411, creating a safety hazard.

[0042] Therefore, in this embodiment, a first stepped surface 461 is provided on the valve stem 46, and a second stepped surface 431 is provided on the gland flange 43. The first stepped surface 461 and the second stepped surface 431 are arranged opposite to each other. A compression spring 47 is provided between the valve stem 46 and the valve body 41 to push against the first stepped surface 461 and the second stepped surface 431 to form a hard contact seal. Both the valve stem 46 and the gland flange 43 are preferably made of metal, preferably stainless steel, nickel-based alloy, or duplex stainless steel. The compression spring 47 can provide static preload to continuously apply axial thrust to the first stepped surface 461, ensuring it always tightly abuts against the second stepped surface 431 of the gland flange 43. Even if the first stepped surface 461 and the second stepped surface 431 experience slight wear or dimensional changes, the preload of the compression spring 47 can automatically compensate for the gap, ensuring that the hard contact sealing surface maintains sufficient contact pressure over a long period, significantly extending the effective life of the valve stem 46 seal, preventing media leakage due to wear accumulation, and improving safety performance.

[0043] For example, the first step surface 461 faces away from the second step surface 431, and the valve body 41 is provided with a mounting groove. The compression spring 47 is compressed and disposed between the first step surface 461 and the bottom of the mounting groove.

[0044] In addition, multiple first seals 48 are spaced apart between the valve stem 46 and the gland flange 43; each first seal 48 is preferably a metal wear-resistant pad, O-ring, or lip seal, etc., forming multiple independent dynamic sealing barriers. Even if one of the first seals 48 fails due to wear, aging, or accidental damage during long-term service, the remaining first seals 48 can still independently maintain the sealing function, effectively avoiding the catastrophic consequences of seawater intrusion or leakage of internal media caused by the failure of a single sealing structure, and significantly improving the safety performance of the underwater valve assembly under unattended operating conditions.

[0045] In addition, the first sealing element 48 can further ensure the sealing performance of the first housing 51.

[0046] Furthermore, a first detection channel 49 is provided on the gland flange 43. One end of the first detection channel 49 can connect to the sealing interface between the valve stem 46 and the gland flange 43, and the other end is detachably provided with a first sealing plug. In practical applications, operators can remove the first sealing plug and connect leak detection equipment (such as a helium gas spectrometer or pressure decay detection system) to quantitatively test the sealing performance of the dynamic sealing interface.

[0047] Preferably, the valve disc 45 is a ball with a central cavity. The ball can rotate with the valve stem 46 so that the central cavity has an open state coaxial with the fluid channel 411 and a sealed state staggered with the fluid channel 411. The valve seat includes a double-piston effect valve seat 441 and a single-piston effect valve seat 442. The double-piston effect valve seat 441 is located on the downstream side of the ball, and the single-piston effect valve seat 442 is located on the upstream side of the ball. It can be understood that the downstream side adopts a double-piston effect (DPE) valve seat, which can form a bidirectional seal. Regardless of whether the medium pressure comes from the upstream (forward) or the downstream (reverse), it can push the valve seat tightly against the ball, ensuring that the valve body (4) has the same level of zero leakage cutoff capability under both forward flow and reverse flow conditions. The upstream side adopts a single-piston effect (SPE) valve seat, which can form a unidirectional seal. That is, only the pressure is allowed to push the valve seat against the ball from the upstream side. When the valve body 4 is in a sealed state, the medium enclosed in the central cavity may generate abnormally high pressure due to the rise in external temperature. If the pressure is not released in time, it may cause permanent deformation of the valve body 41, damage to the valve seat seal, or even the ball to be pressed and stuck, making the valve inoperable. When the pressure in the middle cavity exceeds the pressure in the upstream pipeline, the pressure in the middle cavity can push the upstream valve seat away from the surface of the ball in the opposite direction, so that the high-pressure medium can be released along the direction of the upstream pipeline until the pressure in the middle cavity is balanced with the pressure in the upstream pipeline, thereby improving safety performance.

[0048] In this embodiment, the underwater valve assembly also includes a second housing 7 and an indicating component 8 disposed inside the second housing 7. The second housing 7 is sealed between the mounting part 2 and the interface bracket 1, and the three are detachably connected. This configuration allows for quick disassembly and assembly of the second housing 7, the mounting part 2, and the interface bracket 1 when different height specifications of the interface bracket 1 and the operating shaft 3 need to be replaced, and adapts to the new interface bracket 1. The indicating component 8 is driven by the operating shaft 3 and is used to indicate the real-time status of the valve body 4. The indicating component 8 can be a pointer or color-coded dial, as in the prior art, and can be driven by a gear pair with the operating shaft 3, accurately reflecting the actual position of the valve disc 45 and improving the fail-safe capability of the underwater valve assembly.

[0049] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to make various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively describe all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An underwater valve assembly, characterized in that, include: Interface bracket (1); The mounting part (2) is located at the other end of the interface bracket (1) and is used to carry the operating interface of the actuator; The operating shaft (3) is rotatably disposed inside the interface bracket (1), and one end can extend into the mounting part (2) for docking with the operating interface; Valve body (4); The gearbox (5) includes a first housing (51) and a transmission assembly (52) disposed inside the first housing (51). The interface bracket (1) is sealed and connected to the first housing (51), and the two are detachably connected. The transmission assembly (52) is driven between the valve body (4) and the operating shaft (3), and the operating shaft (3) is detachably connected to the transmission assembly (52). The interface bracket (1) and the operating shaft (3) are any one of multiple height specifications.

2. The underwater valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The underwater valve assembly also includes a pressure balancing mechanism (6) which is connected to the interior of the first housing (51) and is configured to dynamically adjust the pressure inside the first housing (51) based on external pressure.

3. The underwater valve assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pressure balancing mechanism (6) includes: The balancing shell (61) is sealed and connected to the first box (51), and forms an interconnected balancing channel at the connection point; A diaphragm bladder (62) is disposed inside the balance housing (61), and the opening of the diaphragm bladder (62) is connected to the outside of the balance housing (61); The separator (63) is slidably disposed in the balance channel and can abut against the bottom of the diaphragm bladder (62) to increase the pressure inside the first box (51) when the diaphragm bladder (62) expands; A relief valve (64) is provided at the opening; An elastic element (65) is disposed between the separator (63) and the balance channel, for driving the separator (63) to reset when the diaphragm bladder (62) shrinks, so as to reduce the pressure inside the first box (51).

4. The underwater valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission assembly (52) includes: The first drive shaft (521) is rotatably disposed inside the first housing (51), with a sleeve (5211) for connecting to the operating shaft (3) at one end and a bevel gear (5212) at the other end; The second drive shaft (522) is rotatably disposed inside the first housing (51), and the axis of the second drive shaft (522) is perpendicular to the axis of the first drive shaft (521). One end of the second drive shaft (522) is provided with a bevel tooth (5221) that meshes with the bevel gear (5212). The second drive shaft (522) is driven by the valve body (4) through a worm gear structure (5222).

5. The underwater valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve body (4) includes: The valve body (41) has a fluid passage (411) inside; The valve cover (42) is closed to the valve body (41); A pressure flange (43) is sealed between the first housing (51) and the valve body (41); A valve seat is disposed inside the fluid passage (411); The valve disc (45) is adapted to seal the valve seat; The valve stem (46) is rotatably connected to the valve body (41), with one end connected to the valve disc (45) and the other end connected to the transmission assembly (52) so that the valve disc (45) can switch between a sealed state and an open state.

6. The underwater valve assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The valve stem (46) is provided with a first stepped surface (461), and the gland flange (43) is provided with a second stepped surface (431). The first stepped surface (461) and the second stepped surface (431) are arranged opposite to each other. A compression spring (47) is provided between the valve stem (46) and the valve body (41) to push against the first step surface (461) and the second step surface (431) to form a hard contact seal.

7. The underwater valve assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, A plurality of first sealing elements (48) are provided at intervals between the valve stem (46) and the gland flange (43); The gland flange (43) is provided with a first detection channel (49). One end of the first detection channel (49) can be connected to the sealing interface between the valve stem (46) and the gland flange (43), and the other end is detachably provided with a first sealing plug.

8. The underwater valve assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, A plurality of second sealing elements (4010) are provided at intervals between the gland flange (43) and the valve body (41); The gland flange (43) is provided with a second detection channel (4011). One end of the second detection channel (4011) can be connected to the sealing interface between the valve body (41) and the gland flange (43), and the other end is detachably provided with a second sealing head.

9. The underwater valve assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The valve disc (45) is a sphere, and the sphere is provided with a central cavity. The central cavity has an open state coaxially arranged with the fluid channel (411) and a sealed state intersecting with the fluid channel (411). The valve seat includes a double-piston effect valve seat (441) and a single-piston effect valve seat (442), the double-piston effect valve seat (441) being located on the downstream side of the ball, and the single-piston effect valve seat (442) being located on the upstream side of the ball.

10. The underwater valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The underwater valve assembly also includes a second housing (7) and an indicator component (8) disposed inside the second housing (7). The second housing (7) is sealed between the mounting part (2) and the interface bracket (1), and the three are detachably connected. The indicator component (8) is connected to the operating shaft (3) for real-time indication of the status of the valve body (4).

Images