Dart Valve Cartridge Replacement for In-Place Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The internal components of existing dart valves are difficult to replace in a field setting, especially when the valve is mounted to piping, as it requires removal from service and transport to a repair area.
Innovation Solution
A dart valve configuration featuring a replaceable cartridge that can be inserted through an aperture in the housing wall, allowing for easy replacement of internal components without disconnecting the valve from the piping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the dart valve is designed with a fixed internal component structure, then the valve structure is simple and robust, but the internal components become difficult to replace when mounted on piping
Solution Approach 1:
The dart valve is divided into two main segments: a reusable housing that remains mounted on the piping and a replaceable cartridge containing the internal components (dart, spring, seals). This segmentation allows the cartridge to be removed and replaced independently through the aperture in the housing, enabling easy maintenance without removing the entire valve from the piping system.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal components (dart, spring, seals) are extracted from the traditional integrated valve structure and placed into a separate removable cartridge. This extraction allows the cartridge to be taken out through the aperture in the housing for replacement, solving the problem of difficult component replacement while maintaining a relatively simple overall valve structure.
2Loss of time
If the valve requires removal from piping for component replacement, then complete valve disassembly ensures proper replacement, but service downtime increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the valve into a stationary housing and a removable cartridge, the maintenance operation is simplified to only removing and replacing the cartridge through the aperture. This eliminates the time-consuming process of disconnecting piping and removing the entire valve, reducing service downtime significantly while maintaining adequate maintenance capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge is pre-assembled with all internal components (dart, spring, seals) in the correct configuration before being installed in the housing. This preliminary assembly ensures proper installation without requiring complex on-site assembly procedures, making replacement quick and convenient while minimizing service downtime.
Data Source
AI summary
A dart valve comprises a valve housing. The valve housing comprises a valve inlet, a valve outlet, a housing wall and an aperture extending through the housing wall between the valve inlet and valve outlet. The dart valve further comprises a valve cartridge. The valve cartridge comprises a cartridge housing configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough from a cartridge inlet to a cartridge outlet; and a valve plunger slidably mounted in the cartridge housing and configured to selectively allow fluid to flow from the cartridge inlet to the cartridge outlet. The valve cartridge is configured to be inserted through the aperture for removably mounting the valve cartridge within the valve housing, in a mounted position, such that the valve inlet is in communication with the cartridge inlet, the cartridge outlet is in communication with the valve outlet and fluid is able to flow from the valve inlet to the valve outlet through the valve cartridge.