Control Valve Cable Routing Through Flange and Yoke Recesses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Control valves in process plants lack adequate protection for sensor cables connecting the valve body to measuring devices, leading to potential damage during handling, transport, or operation.

Innovation Solution

The housing flange of the control valve features a recess to house the sensor cable, which is then guided through the yoke's sealing flange and support columns, providing a protected path that shields the cable from mechanical damage and radiation, with a robust design that includes radially encased recesses and support columns to prevent pinching, cutting, and other forms of damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the sensor cable is routed externally on the valve body surface, then installation and maintenance access is improved, but the cable is vulnerable to mechanical damage such as pinching and cutting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation and maintenance accessVSAvoidmechanical damage to cable

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor cable is nested within a recess formed in the valve body, which is then covered by a protective cover. This nested structure protects the cable from mechanical damage while keeping the routing integrated and accessible for installation and maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

A protective cover is introduced as an intermediary element between the external environment and the sensor cable. This cover shields the cable from pinching and cutting hazards while allowing access during installation and maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the recess is completely encased radially by valve body structure, then cable protection is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The protective structure is segmented into two separate components: the recess formed in the valve body and the removable protective cover. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing by allowing each part to be produced independently and assembled together, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining complete radial encasement for cable protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11326711B2Control valve for a process plant

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 SAMSON AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a control valve (10) for a process plant, comprising an actuator (16) which is connected to, and spaced from, a valve body (12) of a valve unit (11) via a yoke (14), the valve body (12) having a housing flange (32) which is detachably connected to the yoke (14), with the valve body (12) having an inlet (20) and an outlet (22) adapted to allow the flow of a process fluid therethrough, which inlet (20) and outlet (22) are each arranged in a fluid connection region (18, 19), and with an actuating member adapted to be displaced by the actuator (16) for controlling the flow rate of the process fluid being arranged in the passage (24) from the inlet (20) to the outlet (22). The invention is characterized in that the housing flange (32) connected to the yoke (14) has at least one recess (44) as well as a yoke fastening region (33), with the yoke fastening region (33) being formed as a bolt hole circle (34) with radially arranged connecting holes (36).