Top-Entry Ball Valve Seat Retraction With Worm Drive Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional top entry ball valve assembly methods are complex, require special tools, and often necessitate multiple personnel, leading to increased maintenance and construction costs, potential mechanical wear, and leakage issues, as well as the need for de-commissioning and de-pressurization for servicing.
Innovation Solution
A top entry ball valve design featuring geared lock rings and threaded worm drives allows for simplified assembly and disassembly without special tools, enabling a single operator to install or uninstall the valve, reducing potential leak paths and allowing for easy maintenance, with the threaded worm drives facilitating axial movement of seat assemblies for sealing and fluid flow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional internal mechanisms (threaded components or snap rings) are used to retract seat assemblies, then the valve can be assembled with a single operator, but the construction becomes complex and requires special tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the seat assembly retraction mechanism from the internal cavity and relocates it to the external top entry interface. The keyed square drive mechanism is positioned in the valve body cavity but accessed from the top, allowing external operation without complex internal threading or snap rings. This extraction simplifies the internal structure while maintaining single-operator assembly capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a keyed square drive mechanism as an intermediary between the operator and the seat assemblies. This mediator translates rotational motion applied at the top entry into axial retraction of the seat assemblies, eliminating the need for direct threaded engagement or snap ring installation within the valve body. The intermediary mechanism simplifies the overall assembly process while maintaining control over seat positioning.
2Ease of manufacture
If external rotary force with wedging action is applied to move seat assemblies, then assembly can be performed externally, but mechanical wear damages the seat and requires multiple personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional wedging action mechanical system with a keyed square drive rotational mechanism. Instead of applying external rotary force that creates wedging and friction wear on the seats, the new mechanism uses controlled rotation of a keyed drive that translates to smooth axial retraction. This substitution eliminates the harmful wedging action while maintaining external assembly capability, thereby reducing mechanical wear and improving seat reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple devices are used for external wedging action, then uniform pushing or pulling force is achieved, but the system requires de-commissioning and de-pressurization for servicing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates the keyed square drive mechanism and seat retraction capability into the valve assembly before the valve is installed in the pipeline. The mechanism is pre-configured in the valve body cavity with access from the top entry, allowing uniform force distribution to be established in advance. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for complex external devices during operation and enables easy servicing through the top entry without de-commissioning the entire pipeline system.
4Ease of operation
If traditional assembly methods are used, then seat assemblies can be retracted, but multiple leakage paths are inadvertently generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the retraction mechanism from the flow path and positions it at the top entry interface. By removing the need for internal threaded components or snap rings that create additional sealing surfaces and potential leakage paths, the design minimizes the number of interfaces where leaks can occur. The keyed square drive mechanism operates from the top, keeping the internal flow path clean and reducing leakage risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The top entry interface serves multiple functions: it provides access for the keyed square drive mechanism, allows for seat assembly retraction, and maintains a sealed closure when not in use. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate access points or additional sealing mechanisms that would create extra leakage paths, thereby simplifying the overall sealing system while maintaining ease of operation.
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 solution simplifies the assembly process, reduces the need for specialized tools and training, minimizes leakage risks, and allows for single-operator installation and maintenance, extending the valve's lifespan by maintaining a fluid seal through adjustable worm drive rotation.
Implementation Method 1
geared lock rings and threaded worm drives allows for simplified assembly and disassembly
Implementation Method 2
threaded worm drives facilitating axial movement of seat assemblies
Data Source
AI summary
A top entry ball valve includes a housing with a central cavity communicating with two bores co-axial along a first axis. A ball valve element is rotatably mounted within the cavity for rotation about a second axis. The valve element includes a through bore; first and second seat assemblies, mounted within the co-axial bores, respectively; first and second gear assemblies engaged with the seat assemblies, respectively; and first and second rotatable drives engaged with the gear assemblies respectively. The gear assemblies are configured to move the seat assemblies along the first axis in a first direction away from the valve element when the drives are rotated in a first direction, and to move the seat assemblies along the first axis in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, when the drives are rotated in the opposite direction, to bring the seat assemblies into sealing contact with the valve element.