Bidirectional Travel Stop Assembly for Valve Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial valves, particularly those used in oil and natural gas applications, lack the necessary adjustability and precision in transitioning between open and closed configurations, leading to inefficiencies in fluid control.
Innovation Solution
An integrated bidirectional travel stop assembly for actuators, which includes independently adjustable upper and lower travel stops and a travel stop bushing that allows for separate adjustment of each stop based on its axial orientation, enabling precise control of valve positions and stroke lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional valve actuators are used without independent bidirectional travel stops, then the device structure remains simple, but the adjustability and precision of valve positioning are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is divided into functional segments including upper and lower travel stops, each independently adjustable. The travel stop assembly is segmented into adjustable components (travel stops, bushings, locknuts) that can be independently positioned along the stroke path, enabling precise bidirectional positioning without requiring complete redesign of the entire actuator structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The travel stops are designed with adjustable and repositionable characteristics rather than fixed positions. The bushings can be rotated to different angular orientations, and the locknuts can be adjusted along the threaded rod, allowing the actuator to dynamically adapt to different stroke requirements and positioning precision needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed travel stops are used in the actuator, then the structure remains simple and reliable, but the adaptability to different valve positions and stroke lengths is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The travel stop assembly incorporates adjustable components including bushings that can be rotated to different angular positions and locknuts that can be repositioned along the threaded rod. This dynamic adjustability allows the same actuator to adapt to various valve stroke lengths and positioning requirements without requiring multiple different actuator models.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator allows changing of critical parameters such as stroke length, open and closed valve positions, and travel stop locations through mechanical adjustment of the travel stop assembly. By modifying the positions of the upper and lower travel stops independently, the system can be adapted to different application requirements while maintaining structural integrity.
3Measurement precision
If independent adjustment of both upper and lower travel stops is enabled, then fine-tuning capability for bidirectional positioning is improved, but the ease of operation and adjustment time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The independent adjustability of upper and lower travel stops is achieved through segmentation of the adjustment mechanism. Each travel stop has its own adjustment interface (bushing rotation for upper stop, locknut adjustment for lower stop), allowing operators to adjust one position at a time independently, which simplifies the adjustment process compared to coupled adjustment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-contained and self-explanatory, with each travel stop having its own adjustment components that can be operated independently. The bushing rotation and locknut adjustment mechanisms are designed to be intuitively understandable, reducing the need for complex procedures or specialized knowledge.
4Reliability
If the actuator includes integrated bidirectional travel stop assembly with independent adjustment, then operational reliability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The travel stop assembly is manufactured as a segmented module that can be independently produced and then integrated into the actuator. This modular approach allows for specialized manufacturing of the adjustment components (bushings, locknuts, threaded rods) using standard machining processes, while the overall assembly benefits from the reliability of precision-adjustable bidirectional positioning.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a bidirectional travel stop assembly including a first travel stop configured to block a first axial movement of an actuation element of a valve actuator, a second travel stop configured to block a second axial movement of the actuation element, and a travel stop bushing configured to block adjustment of the second travel stop and allow adjustment of the first travel stop when the travel stop bushing is disposed within the valve actuator in a first axial orientation, wherein the travel stop bushing is configured to enable adjustment of the second travel stop when the travel stop bushing is disposed within the valve actuator in a second axial orientation.