Ball Valve Integrated Seat Piston Effect Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ball valves experience deformation under loading conditions, leading to leakage and improper seals due to the lack of effective sealing mechanisms, especially at high pressures and flow rates.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a valve seat within the ball body utilizing 'piston effect' techniques and annular seats that maintain contact with the bore, even when the ball body is not completely spherical, reducing actuation torque and enabling sealing at higher pressures without the need for special tools or multiple sealing elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ball valve design is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but leakage occurs under loading conditions due to sphere deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The ball body is segmented into a spherical portion and a cylindrical portion with distinct functions. The spherical portion maintains sealing contact with seats, while the cylindrical portion provides structural support and trunnion mounting, allowing independent optimization of each section for its specific role
Solution Approach 2:
The valve seat is integrated directly into the ball body to form an annular seat structure. This merging eliminates the interface between separate ball and seat components, preventing leakage paths that would exist at their junction while maintaining sealing performance under load
2Stress or pressure
If high pressure operation is enabled, then flow control capability improves, but sphere deformation increases causing improper seals
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the ball body are given different properties: the spherical portion has optimized geometry for maintaining uniform contact pressure with seats under high operating pressure, while the cylindrical portion provides structural rigidity to resist deformation, allowing each region to perform its specific function optimally
Solution Approach 2:
The ball body incorporates a composite structure with a spherical portion and cylindrical portion made from materials optimized for their respective functions, combining the properties needed for sealing contact and structural support to maintain integrity under high pressure loads
3Reliability
If multiple sealing elements are used, then sealing performance improves, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve seat is merged with the ball body to form an integrated annular seat structure, eliminating separate seat components and their associated sealing elements. This single integrated structure provides the necessary sealing function without requiring multiple discrete sealing components that would complicate maintenance
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution significantly reduces leakage, allows for compact and maintainable ball valve designs, and supports operation at various pressure and flow conditions without damage from welding heat, meeting stringent ISO and other specifications.
Implementation Method 1
The integration of a valve seat integrated in the ball body capable of reducing or eliminating leakage through the bore-to-seat interface. The valve seat is disposed in the ball body and includes a geometry and 'piston effect' techniques suitable for sealingly maintaining contact with the bore
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 4
AI summary
The disclosed embodiments include ball valves (10, 70) having integrated seats (38, 39, 76, 78, 80, 82). The integrated seats are included in a ball body assembly (28, 72, 74) of a valve body (22, 88). The ball body assembly (28, 72, 74) may rotate with respect to the valve body (22, 88) to open or close the valve (10, 70). The integrated seats (38, 39, 76, 78, 80, 82) may contact walls of a bore (40, 42, 96, 98) to sealingly close the valve (10, 70).