Diaphragm Valve Bonnet Keying for Tool-Less Leak-Proof Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Diaphragm valves face challenges in securely attaching the bonnet assembly to the body assembly without the need for flange bolts and torqueing, while maintaining a reliable peripheral seal and preventing leakage, especially in existing designs that require complex keyways and potential entrapment areas.
Innovation Solution
A bonnet assembly with a housing base and handwheel system that uses body stud heads to secure the bonnet assembly to the body assembly through a tool-less quick-connect mechanism, where the handwheel applies force to align and secure the body stud heads within keyholes or slots, eliminating the need for flange bolts and ensuring a reliable seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flange bolts and torqueing are used to secure the bonnet assembly to the body assembly, then a secure connection is achieved, but the device complexity increases and frequent inspections and re-torquing are required
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is segmented into distinct functional elements: body studs with heads, bonnet keyholes, and peripheral seals. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall attachment system while maintaining reliability through distributed connection points
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for flange bolts and complex torqueing mechanisms by using the body stud heads directly as the securing element. The stud heads engage with keyholes in the bonnet assembly, removing unnecessary components and simplifying the attachment process while maintaining secure connection
2Reliability
If flange bolts are used to secure the bonnet assembly, then a secure connection is achieved, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to complex keyways and entrapment areas
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes complex keyways and entrapment areas from the design by using simple keyhole openings in the bonnet that receive body studs. This extraction of unnecessary geometric complexity maintains seal reliability while dramatically simplifying manufacturing processes and reducing potential leakage paths
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral seal is positioned locally at the interface between the bonnet assembly and body assembly, specifically at the peripheral surface of the bonnet and the corresponding surface of the body. This localized sealing approach ensures reliable sealing without requiring complex keyways or entrapment areas throughout the structure
3Ease of operation
If a quick-connect mechanism with body stud heads is used, then the ease of operation improves, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The keyholes in the bonnet assembly are designed with asymmetric geometry that corresponds to the shape and orientation of the body stud heads. This asymmetric design provides built-in alignment guidance, allowing operators to easily connect the components while the geometry itself ensures proper positioning without requiring high manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The body studs are pre-positioned on the body assembly with their heads oriented in specific directions that correspond to the keyhole orientations in the bonnet. This preliminary positioning of alignment features simplifies the connection operation, as the components naturally align during assembly without requiring precise manual adjustment
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies are described for a bonnet assembly of a diaphragm valve. The bonnet assembly may comprise a handwheel. The bonnet assembly may comprise a housing. The housing may include a housing base. The housing base may include a top, a bottom, and four sides. Body stud heads of body studs of a body assembly may be in contact with an edge of the top of the housing base. The bonnet assembly may be configured to secure to the body assembly with the body stud heads at least partially exposed.