Ball Valve Seat Assembly with Life-Sustaining Flow Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ball valves only provide two operating positions, 'flow' and 'no flow,' lacking a position that maintains life-sustaining fluid flow when closed, which is essential for applications like water supply lines.
Innovation Solution
A ball valve design with a third operating position that allows fluid to leak through a secondary passage when closed, maintaining a small percentage of the full flow capacity, achieved by a ball member with first and second internal passages and seat rings that permit fluid flow and sealing engagement, enabling fluid to flow past the upstream seat and through the secondary passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve is closed to block fluid flow, then flow control function is improved, but life-sustaining flow capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The internal passage is segmented into a main passage for full flow control and a secondary passage for life-sustaining flow. The ball member contains both passages, allowing independent flow paths that can be selectively activated based on operational requirements
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the ball member have different flow characteristics. The main passage provides full flow capacity when open, while the secondary passage provides restricted life-sustaining flow. The seat rings create different sealing qualities at different locations to enable these distinct flow modes
2Adaptability or versatility
If a third operating position is added to maintain life-sustaining flow, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ball member serves multiple functions: it acts as both the flow control element and the structural component containing both the main and secondary passages. The same ball member enables all three operating positions (full flow, closed, and life-sustaining flow) without requiring additional separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary passage is merged into the ball member structure itself rather than being a separate component. The first and second seat rings are combined into a single assembly that seals both passages, reducing overall device complexity while enabling three operating positions
Data Source
AI summary
A ball valve including a valve body having a valve chamber, a ball member positioned in the valve chamber and defining first and second internal passages in fluid communication, and first and second seat rings, the first seat ring allowing fluid to flow past and through the second passage when the ball valve is in a life-sustaining flow operating position.