Ball Valve Two-Point Actuation for Lower Mechanical Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ball valves experience mechanical fatigue and high stress concentrations due to the single-point operation of the closing body and handle, leading to potential mechanical damage and increased production costs, as the force and resistance are concentrated at a single point, especially when handling fluids like water.
Innovation Solution
The improved ball valve structure features a spherical closing body with two diametrically opposing rectangular seats that transmit rotational forces through two shafts, distributing the force and reducing mechanical stress, and incorporates pressure-tight joints and notches to limit the handle's movement to a quarter turn, ensuring leak-tight operation and prolonged service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the closing body is operated at a single point by the key or handle, then the valve structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the force and stress are concentrated at that single point causing mechanical fatigue and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The closing body is equipped with two diametrically opposing seats instead of one, and the key or handle is provided with two protrusions that engage these seats. This segmentation distributes the operational force and stress across two separate contact points, preventing concentration of force at a single point and thereby reducing mechanical fatigue while maintaining structural simplicity
2Strength
If the key or handle is designed with high resistance to withstand high forces, then the durability is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By distributing the force across two seats and two protrusions, the mechanical stress on each individual component is reduced by approximately half. This allows the key or handle to be manufactured with standard materials and dimensions rather than requiring oversized, high-strength components, thereby maintaining durability while controlling production costs
3Speed
If the valve allows quick closing operation, then the response time is reduced, but water hammer effect occurs causing mechanical fatigue to the seat mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The two-seat configuration distributes the impact forces generated during quick closing operations across two separate contact points rather than one. This segmentation reduces the mechanical fatigue on each individual seat mechanism, allowing the valve to maintain quick response capabilities while improving the durability of the seat mechanisms
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an improved structure of a ball valve and the operating key thereof, consisting of a surrounding frame (2) of the valve that communicates the inlet and the outlet of a pipeline, containing a closing body (4) having a preferably spherical or ball-type shape provided with a pair of openings aligned with each other, that can rotate about itself, wherein said closing body is a preferably spherical body provided with two aligned openings, perpendicularly to which there are two rectangular seats (6) wherein two axles (5) fit, said axles transmitting the rotational forces of the closing body (4) and being secured to the key element or handle (1) of the valve. The valve is advantageous in that the key or handle (1) transmits the rotational force to the closing body (4) at two points, reducing the mechanical stresses compared to conventional ball valves.