Collapsible Valve Stem Honing Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surface treating tools require the removal of the valve stem from the stuffing box to treat the inner surfaces, necessitating significant disassembly and potentially damaging the surfaces, which is time-consuming and costly.
Innovation Solution
A surface treating apparatus with a collapsible collar and pivotally connected support arms that allow the honing tool to be inserted into the annular gap between the valve stem and the stuffing box, enabling surface treatment without removing the valve stem, using a drive apparatus for simultaneous rotation and translation to move the honing pads across the inner surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional surface treating tools are used, then the inner surface of the bore can be treated, but the valve stem must be removed from the stuffing box first, which requires significant disassembly and increases time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The surface treating apparatus is divided into separate functional components: a collar that fits over the valve stem, support arms that extend into the annular gap, and honing pads mounted on the support arms. This segmentation allows the tool to operate around the valve stem without requiring its removal, enabling in-situ surface treatment while minimizing disassembly time
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus is designed to nest around the valve stem, with the collar fitting over the stem and the support arms extending into the annular gap between the stem and stuffing box. The honing pads are positioned to treat the inner surface while the valve stem remains in place, allowing the tool to operate within the confined space without requiring removal of the valve stem
2Manufacturing precision
If the valve stem is removed to treat the inner surface, then surface treatment can be performed, but the risk of damaging the shaft increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms act as intermediaries that transmit the surface treatment action from the honing pads to the inner surface of the stuffing box, while the collar acts as a protective intermediary that fits over the valve stem and prevents direct contact between the tool and the stem. This intermediary structure eliminates the need to remove the valve stem, thereby eliminating the risk of damage during removal and installation
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of removing the valve stem to access the inner surface for treatment, the apparatus inverts the approach by fitting the collar over the valve stem and extending the support arms with honing pads into the annular gap to treat the inner surface from the outside, thus avoiding any contact that could damage the valve stem
3Device complexity
If the collar is designed to encircle the shaft completely, then the structure is simple, but the tool cannot be inserted into the annular gap
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is designed with a collapsible structure that allows it to dynamically change its configuration. The collar can be collapsed to a smaller diameter for insertion into the annular gap between the valve stem and stuffing box, then expanded to encircle the support arms and honing pads during operation. This dynamic transformation enables both easy insertion and effective surface treatment
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
Facilitates in-situ surface treatment of valve components, reducing disassembly requirements, minimizing damage, and allowing for efficient refurbishment of valve packing components without removing the valve from the piping network.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member may be provided to engage the proximal end and biasing the proximal end inwardly toward the body axis, whereby the distal end is urged outwardly away from the body axis
Data Source
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AI summary
A surface treating apparatus for treating an inner surface of a bore containing a shaft may include a body connectable to a drive apparatus and configured to movably receive a shaft extending through a bore, and at least one surface treating member connected to and movable with the body relative to the shaft, the at least one surface treating member sized to be inserted within an annular gap formed between the shaft and an inner surface of the bore and to bear against the inner surface of the bore when the shaft is received by the body.