Diaphragm Valve Intermediate Flange for Easy Seal Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Diaphragm valves face challenges in easy replacement due to obstructed access and varying valve body geometries, requiring cumbersome and difficult diaphragm replacement and adaptation of actuator housings.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an intermediate flange that allows detachable connection between the actuator and valve housings, enabling quick and easy diaphragm replacement without modifying the valve housing, and utilizing a quick-release connection mechanism with a cam ring and drive elements to facilitate assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the actuator housing is directly connected to the valve housing with fixed geometry, then the valve structure is simple, but the diaphragm replacement is cumbersome and difficult due to obstructed access and varying valve body geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is segmented into three main parts: valve housing, intermediate flange, and actuator housing. The intermediate flange acts as a detachable connector that separates the actuator housing from the valve housing, allowing independent replacement of the diaphragm assembly without moving the entire valve structure. This segmentation enables easy access to the diaphragm while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate flange serves as an intermediary component between the valve housing and actuator housing. It provides a standardized mounting interface that facilitates quick connection and disconnection of the actuator housing, thereby enabling easy access to the diaphragm for replacement while adapting to different valve body geometries without modifying the original valve housing.
2Ease of repair
If the valve housing is permanently installed in the pipeline system, then the pipeline system integrity is maintained, but the diaphragm replacement requires modifying or replacing the valve housing
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is divided into replaceable modules, with the intermediate flange and actuator housing forming a detachable unit. This allows the diaphragm assembly to be replaced as a module without touching the permanently installed valve housing, eliminating the need for machining or replacement of the valve housing itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate flange is designed with a universal mounting interface that can accommodate different valve body geometries. This standardized connection mechanism allows the same actuator housing and diaphragm assembly to be used across multiple valve types, facilitating easy repair without custom modifications to each valve housing.
3Ease of operation
If the space around the built-in diaphragm valve is obstructed by piping and field equipment, then the valve is compactly installed, but the access to connecting elements is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate flange extends the connection interface outward from the valve body, creating an accessible mounting point for the actuator housing. This intermediary structure allows technicians to access and manipulate the actuator housing and diaphragm assembly from the outside, even when the valve is tightly installed among piping and equipment, without requiring additional installation space.
4Adaptability or versatility
If different valve bodies have different geometries and interfaces, then each valve is optimized for its specific application, but the actuator housing adaptation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate flange is designed as a universal adapter with a standardized interface that can connect to various valve body geometries. This single intermediate component serves multiple valve types, eliminating the need for custom actuator housing designs for each valve geometry and simplifying the overall system while maintaining broad compatibility.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a diaphragm valve (10) comprising a valve housing (12), which has at least one flow channel (18) for fluid flow and a valve seat (20), an actuator housing (14), which has a drive and is connected to the valve housing (12), and a diaphragm (16), which separates the valve and actuator housings (12, 14) in a fluid-tight manner, the diaphragm (16) being held clamped and fluid-tight by the edge region (16-1) thereof, viewed in the axial direction (a), between the valve and actuator housings (12, 14), and the diaphragm (16) being operatively connected to the drive arranged in the actuator housing (14) such that the diaphragm (16) can be brought into contact with the valve seat (20) in order to close the flow channel (18). The invention is characterized in that the actuator housing (14) is connected to the valve housing (12) via an intermediate flange (34) which can be detachably connected to the valve housing (12), and in that the actuator housing (14) can be detachably fastened together with the intermediate flange (34) on the edge region (16-1) of the diaphragm (16), exerting a compressive force.