Eclipse Valve Assembly With Reciprocating Plates for Flow Shutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional valve designs fail to effectively perform both flow regulation and flow stoppage, leading to increased complexity, size, weight, and maintenance issues, as well as potential for cavitation and water hammer, and often require removal and replacement of the entire valve assembly for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The eclipse valve design features two obturator plates with diagonal slots that reciprocate within a housing, allowing for efficient alignment and misalignment of openings to control flow, using a simple three-moving-part mechanism that can be serviced in-line, eliminating the need for complex configurations and reducing wear on sealing surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional valve designs use separate stop valve and regulation valve coupled in series, then both flow regulation and stoppage capability are achieved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines stop valve and regulation valve functions into a single integrated valve assembly. The dual obturator plate mechanism allows one plate to control flow regulation while the other controls flow stoppage, eliminating the need for separate valves coupled in series and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single valve assembly performs multiple functions - both flow regulation and complete flow stoppage - that traditionally required two separate valves. The obturator plates are designed to provide different flow control modes within one device, making it a multi-functional universal valve.
2Reliability
If conventional valve designs use separate stop valve and regulation valve, then flow control capabilities are improved, but weight and expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the functions of two separate valves into one integrated assembly, the total weight is reduced. The shared housing and coordinated obturator plates eliminate redundant structural elements, resulting in a lighter overall valve assembly while maintaining both flow regulation and stoppage capabilities.
3Reliability
If conventional valve designs use separate stop valve and regulation valve, then flow control is achieved, but maintenance time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated design allows both obturator plates to be serviced simultaneously within a single valve assembly. Technicians can access and maintain both the flow regulation plate and flow stoppage plate during one service interval, reducing total maintenance time compared to servicing two separate valves.
4Reliability
If soft seals are placed directly in the flow path, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but wear on sealing surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the sealing system. Hard seals are used in high-wear areas of the flow path where durability is critical, while soft seals are positioned in locations where conformability and sealing effectiveness are prioritized. This localized material selection optimizes both sealing performance and lifespan.
Data Source
AI summary
An eclipse valve includes at least two reciprocating obturator plates captured in a sealed housing. The obturator plates fill the width of a cavity within the housing and can be moved between aligned and unaligned positions. Each of the obturator plates have an opening through the plate, and when the obturator plates are aligned, the openings through the plates are aligned with each other, and with front and rear openings in the housing, allowing flow through the valve. The plates can be moved to reduce the overlap of the openings through the plates within the housing in an eclipse manner to adjust the rate or amount of flow, and to shut off flow by completely un-aligning the openings.