Ball Valve Assembly With Mechanical Seat Loading for Robust Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ball valve assemblies rely on fluid pressure to compress annular seats against the ball, which may not provide sufficient force under certain operational conditions, leading to ineffective sealing.
Innovation Solution
A ball valve assembly design that utilizes mechanical force through a drive plate and bearing elements to compress annular seats against the ball, enhancing sealing efficacy by rotating rotatable and non-rotatable rings to increase the compression force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If fluid pressure is used to compress annular seats against the ball, then the sealing mechanism is simple, but the sealing force is insufficient under certain operational conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism is divided into two independent systems: a simple fluid pressure system and a mechanical drive plate system. The drive plate is segmented into multiple sections that can independently apply mechanical force to the annular seats, allowing the complex force application to be broken down into manageable components while the overall mechanism remains relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two sealing force generation methods: fluid pressure compression and mechanical drive plate compression. Both systems work simultaneously to compress the annular seats against the ball, merging the simplicity of fluid pressure with the high force capability of mechanical systems to achieve both simple operation and sufficient sealing force
2Reliability
If mechanical force is applied through drive plate and bearing elements to compress annular seats, then sealing efficacy is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Bearing elements are introduced as intermediary components between the drive plate and the annular seats. These bearing elements facilitate the transfer of mechanical force from the drive plate to the annular seats, enabling reliable sealing while simplifying the direct mechanical connection and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The drive plate is designed to be rotatable, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and apply compression force to the annular seats during valve operation. This dynamic capability enhances sealing reliability by maintaining consistent contact and compression throughout the valve's operational cycle, while the rotatable design is simpler than a fully complex mechanical actuation system
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
The mechanical force applied by the drive plate and bearing elements ensures robust sealing, allowing the valve assembly to operate effectively in conditions where fluid pressure alone is insufficient, thereby expanding its applicability.
Implementation Method 1
bearing elements configured to drive the rotatable ring and the non-rotatable ring away from one another to compress the annular seat against the ball in response to rotation of the rotatable ring
Data Source
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AI summary
A ball valve assembly includes a ball configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position. The ball valve assembly also includes an annular seat configured to engage the ball and a rotatable ring having a first engagement feature. In addition, the ball valve assembly includes a non-rotatable ring positioned adjacent to the rotatable ring. The ball valve assembly also includes a drive plate non-rotatably coupled to the ball. The drive plate includes a second engagement feature, and the second engagement feature is configured to engage the first engagement feature to drive the rotatable ring to rotate in response to rotation of the drive plate. Furthermore, the ball valve assembly includes a bearing element configured to drive the rotatable ring and the non-rotatable ring away from one another to compress the annular seat against the ball in response to rotation of the rotatable ring.