Area Valve Service Unit With Movable Access Panels for Local Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an area valve service unit (AVSU) that allows easy local isolation of individual portions or subsystems of a gas and vacuum system, particularly for medical applications, to facilitate installation, maintenance, and emergency shutdowns.
Innovation Solution
The AVSU includes a cabinet with movable access panels, shutoff valves, and flexible cover plates, allowing independent access and control of fluid flow, with overlapping pipe arrangements for compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fixed access panels are used in AVSU, then structural simplicity is maintained, but ease of access for maintenance and emergency shutdowns deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The access panel is divided into two independent parts: a fixed panel and a movable door. The fixed panel remains attached to the cabinet while the door can be independently opened, closed, and locked. This segmentation allows the door to be accessed and operated without removing the entire access panel, improving ease of access while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The access panel door is designed with movable hinges and locking mechanisms that allow it to transition between open and closed positions. This dynamic capability enables quick access to valves and components during maintenance or emergencies without requiring complete disassembly, thus improving operational ease while keeping the fixed panel structure intact.
2Ease of repair
If rigid cover plates are used over handwheels, then protection is improved, but ease of maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cover plate over the handwheel is made of flexible material that can be bent back during maintenance operations. This flexibility allows technicians to access the handwheel and valve components without completely removing the cover plate, maintaining protection when closed while enabling easy access when needed. The flexible nature provides both protective coverage and maintenance accessibility.
3Volume of moving object
If multiple pipes are routed separately through the cabinet, then installation simplicity is maintained, but device compactness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pipes are routed through a shared conduit or common pathway within the cabinet structure rather than through separate individual openings. This merging of pipe routes consolidates the space required for pipe installation and reduces the overall volume occupied by piping infrastructure, achieving compactness while maintaining reasonable installation accessibility through the shared access points.
4Ease of operation
If access panel doors are permanently fixed, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation for emergencies deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed with a breakaway feature that allows the door to be forcibly opened in emergency situations by applying excessive force that breaks the tether or releases the lock. Under normal conditions, the door remains securely locked for reliability, but in emergencies, the partial action of breaking the security feature enables rapid access for immediate valve operation and system shutdown.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A gas and vacuum system is disclosed, and, in particular, an area valve service unit configured to provide local isolation of individual parts of a gas and vacuum system that may be required for installation, maintenance, or in the event of an emergency. The area valve service unit can have one or more shutoff valves, each of which has an associated access panel with a movable access panel door.