Butterfly Valve Flange Alignment Mechanism for Mixed Pipe Standards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe alignment mechanisms for butterfly valves lack versatility and ease of use, particularly in accommodating various flange connection standards, leading to difficulties in accurate alignment and increased component complexity.
Innovation Solution
A pipe alignment mechanism featuring a groove or hole at the top flange of the valve box that accepts a positioning tool with adaptable protrusions or insertions, allowing for various flange connection standards and incorporating a freely-expandable/contractable bayonet mechanism for easy attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sleeve-shaped positioning tool is attached to the top flange lower portion of the valve box and allocated on the pipe flange outer surface, then alignment positioning is achieved, but if the flange diameter changes due to connection standard change, a corresponding sleeve is necessary, leading to lack of versatility and larger component storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning tool is designed with a universal interface that fits into the groove at the top flange lower portion of the valve box, allowing the same tool to be used across different flange connection standards. The tool's body contacts the pipe flange outer peripheral surface directly, eliminating the need for multiple standardized sleeves while maintaining alignment precision.
2Ease of operation
If a set collar is attached to the outer periphery of a bolt with reference to bolt height and the outer periphery of a valve box is allocated on the collar, then alignment is facilitated, but the bolt insertion hole diameter is greater than bolt diameter, causing unstable bolt state before fastening and difficulty in performing centering process
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning tool serves as an intermediary component between the valve box and the pipe flange. It is firmly attached to the valve box via the groove interface and provides a stable reference surface that contacts the pipe flange outer peripheral surface, enabling reliable centering without depending on the stability of loose bolts.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple positioning tools for various flange standards are stored, then versatility is achieved, but component storage space and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single positioning tool design with a standardized groove interface at the valve box and a adaptable outer surface contact mechanism enables compatibility with various flange connection standards. This universal tool eliminates the need to store multiple specialized positioning tools for different flange sizes and standards.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a butterfly valve pipe alignment mechanism configured so that favorable usability can be provided and an alignment process in plumbing can be easily performed. In the present invention, a groove (10) into which a positioning tool (11) is to be inserted is provided at a portion below a top flange (6). An end surface position of the groove (10) is on a plane on which a pipe flange (7) and a valve box (1) are joined to each other. The groove (10) is drilled in an elongated oval shape, and groove step portions (10a, 10b, 10c) projecting in both directions of a lateral direction are formed at multiple positions of the groove (10) so that the groove (10) can accept various flange connection standards.