Arc-Shaped Valve Body for Flow-Undisrupted Boring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional branching units for flow-undisrupted boring require large valve housings, increased machine size, deeper earth covering, and complex operation due to the need for separate valve body accommodations and assembly from the rear side, leading to higher costs and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A branching unit with an arc-shaped valve body that rotates circumferentially between the sealing case and existing pipe, eliminating the need for a separate valve housing, featuring a gear mechanism for efficient assembly and operation, and using stainless steel for the driven gear to prevent corrosion and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a large valve housing is used to accommodate the valve body, then the valve body can move up and down to open/close the branch hole, but this increases the cost and the size of the boring machine
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is integrated directly into the branch pipe portion, eliminating the need for a separate valve housing. The arc-shaped valve body rotates between the sealing case and existing pipe, combining the valve function with the branch pipe structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving the valve body vertically up and down as in conventional designs, the valve body rotates circumferentially between the sealing case and existing pipe. This inversion of the movement direction eliminates the need for a large valve housing while maintaining operational functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the valve body moves up and down at a position away from the existing pipe, then the valve can function properly, but this increases the stroke by which the hole saw is advanced/retracted
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body movement is inverted from vertical up-down motion to circumferential rotation between the sealing case and existing pipe. This places the valve operation closer to the existing pipe, reducing the required boring stroke while maintaining proper valve function.
3Ease of operation
If the valve body moves up and down, then the valve can open/close the branch hole, but the valve operation cap is positioned high, requiring deeper earth covering
Solution Approach 1:
The valve operation is inverted from vertical movement to circumferential rotation, positioning the operation cap at a lower height on the sealing case. This reduces the required earth covering depth while maintaining full valve operational capability.
4Ease of operation
If the saddle becomes bigger to accommodate the valve body, then the valve can function properly, but it becomes necessary to install the valve body after installing the driving means from the rear surface, complicating the operation
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is merged with the branch pipe portion structure, eliminating the need for a separate large saddle. The compact integrated design allows the valve body to be installed through the upper opening along with the driving gear unit, greatly simplifying the assembly operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing case is divided into first and second separate cases, with the gear case portion formed integral with one of them. This segmentation allows the driving gear unit and valve body to be assembled through the upper opening, avoiding the need for complex rear-surface installation through a large saddle.
Data Source
AI summary
A gear case part (70), which has an upper aperture that opens upward and which forms a recess that houses a portion of a drive gear device (63) and for which the drive gear device (63) can be inserted from the upper aperture and assembled, is provided integrally on the upper part of a first or second divided case (21, 22); a cover (66) that blocks the upper aperture of the gear case part (70) is fastened to the gear case part (70); an operating part (67) protrudes upward from a through-hole (66a) that vertically penetrates the cover (66); and by removing the cover (66) from the gear case part (70), the drive gear device (63) can be extracted from the gear case part (70) through the upper aperture.