Side-Entry Ball Valve Lug Coupling for Fast Corrosion-Resistant Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional ball valves in oil and gas applications face issues with corrosion, leakages due to exposed fasteners, and time-consuming assembly processes, as well as high costs for corrosion protection and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A side entry ball valve system utilizing a coupling mechanism with lugs and openings that allow for axial and rotational alignment without external fasteners, enabling rapid coupling and decoupling, and reducing exposure to corrosive environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional bolted connections are used to join body end to tail end, then the valve structure is secure and reliable, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and the fasteners are exposed to corrosive environments
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented into a body end and a tail end that can be quickly assembled and disassembled. The coupling mechanism features segmented lugs with openings that allow for rapid engagement without requiring multiple fasteners, reducing assembly time while maintaining connection integrity through the interlocking lug design
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism is pre-designed with lugs and openings positioned to automatically align during assembly. The lugs are shaped and positioned to guide the tail end into the correct position relative to the body end, enabling quick connection without time-consuming alignment procedures
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional bolted connections are used to join valve components, then the structure is stable, but the fasteners are exposed to corrosive environments requiring expensive protection
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the traditional external fasteners (bolts) from the valve assembly. Instead, the coupling mechanism uses integrated lugs with openings that interlock directly between the body end and tail end, removing the fasteners that would otherwise be exposed to corrosive environments and requiring protective measures
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism merges the functions of fastening and structural connection into a single integrated design. The lugs with openings serve both as structural elements maintaining valve integrity and as the fastening mechanism itself, eliminating the need for separate exposed fasteners
3Reliability
If multiple bolted connections are used for valve assembly, then the connection is secure, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is segmented into discrete lugs with openings on both the body end and tail end. This segmentation allows for a simplified assembly process where the lugs interlock directly, eliminating the need for multiple separate bolted connections and reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining secure attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The lugs are pre-configured with openings positioned and shaped to guide automatic alignment during assembly. This preliminary design of the coupling geometry ensures that components self-align when brought together, eliminating time-consuming manual alignment procedures and reducing assembly complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A valve for regulating a fluid flow includes a body portion, a tail portion, and a coupling mechanism joining the body portion to the tail portion. The coupling mechanism includes a plurality of body portion lugs, each body portion lug being separated from an adjacent body portion lug by a body portion opening. The coupling mechanism also includes a plurality of tail portion lugs, each tail portion lug being separated from an adjacent tail portion lug by a tail portion opening. In operation, each body portion lug is adapted to axially move through a corresponding tail portion opening to transition an axial position of the tail portion relative to the body portion, at least one of the tail portion or the body portion being rotatable axially a body portion lug with a tail portion lug to block axial movement of the tail portion relative to the body portion.