Check Valve with Nylon Cage Insert for Abrasive Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ball-type check valves used in abrasive and high-velocity fluid applications, such as oil production flow-lines, face significant wear and tear due to repeated operation and exposure to corrosive fluids containing solids, leading to seal damage and undesirable backflow.
Innovation Solution
A check valve design featuring a cylindrical housing with circumferential shoulders and a cage assembly containing a valve seat, spacer member, and nylon insert, where the nylon insert is compressed between housing sections to ensure a secure seal, and the ball has a range of travel with ball stop members to prevent backflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ball-type check valve is used in abrasive and high-velocity fluid applications, then the valve can effectively prevent backflow, but the sealing surfaces are subject to damage from erosion resulting in valve leakage and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a resilient cage assembly as an intermediary component between the ball and the valve body. This cage assembly absorbs the impact of abrasive solids and protects the sealing surfaces from direct erosion damage, while still allowing the ball to function effectively in preventing backflow
Solution Approach 2:
The valve incorporates a composite structure combining a resilient cage material with metal components. The resilient cage material provides erosion resistance while maintaining sealing functionality, creating a composite solution that addresses both backflow prevention and erosion protection
2Productivity
If the ball travels repeatedly within the ball cage during opening/closing sequences, then the check valve can respond to flow changes, but wear and tear occurs on the ball and cage surfaces resulting in ball wear over time
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient cage assembly serves as a mediator that reduces direct contact and friction between the ball and cage surfaces. By absorbing impact and providing a compliant interface, it minimizes wear during repeated opening/closing operations while maintaining responsive flow control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the cage material to be resilient rather than rigid. This material property change allows the cage to deform elastically during ball movement, reducing mechanical wear while maintaining the necessary structural integrity for repeated operational cycles
3Stress or pressure
If the seal between ball and seat is subjected to substantial differential pressures, then the check valve can maintain sealing, but wear damage to the seal will result in undesirable backflow
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient cage assembly acts as an intermediary that distributes and absorbs the substantial differential pressures. This protects the seal interface from direct pressure-induced wear damage while maintaining effective sealing to prevent backflow
Data Source
AI summary
A check valve has a cage assembly set within a cage assembly containment portion defined within a cylindrical housing member, where the cage assembly containment portion is bounded between a first circumferential shoulder and a second circumferential shoulder of the interior of the cylindrical housing member. The cage assembly has a valve seat, a spacer member, and a nylon insert, where the nylon insert has a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end, where the fluid outlet end has at least one ball stop member. The valve seat is urged against the first circumferential shoulder by, in respective order, the spacer member, the nylon insert, and the second circumferential shoulder which urges the nylon insert against the spacer member. A ball travel section is defined between the valve seat and the ball stop member and a ball is disposed in the ball stop section.