Segmented Fixing Disc for Gate Valve Spring Preload Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gate valves in industrial plants, particularly in chemical and petrochemical plants, face challenges in maintaining mobility and safety under thermal and chemical stress due to material brittleness leading to cracking of clamping elements, which reduces clamping force and impairs easy movement.
Innovation Solution
A gate valve design featuring a fixing disc with a positive connection to the slide rod, using disc segments and a pressure plate with a spring element, ensuring secure positioning and force transmission even when material cracks occur, with features like circumferential grooves, shoulders, and hexagonal shapes for enhanced stability and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a clamping element made of steel is used to transmit force between the slide rod and spring element, then the force transmission is effective, but the material becomes brittle under thermal loads and hydrogen-containing atmosphere, leading to cracking and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing element is divided into multiple fixing disc segments that are connected to each other. This segmentation allows the structure to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction without generating excessive stresses that would lead to cracking, while still maintaining effective force transmission through the segmented components.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing element uses a composite structure combining fixing disc segments with connection elements (such as bolts or rivets). This composite design allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the disc segments for force distribution and the connection elements for structural integrity - while resisting cracking through the distributed stress path.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed clamping element is used to maintain pre-tensioning, then the force transmission is stable, but the device complexity increases and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing element is segmented into multiple disc segments connected by connection elements. This segmentation enables individual segments to be accessed, inspected, and replaced independently, significantly easing maintenance while maintaining the overall stability of the pre-tensioning mechanism through the interconnected segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented design allows worn or damaged disc segments to be individually discarded and replaced without affecting the entire fixing element or requiring complete disassembly. This selective replacement approach maintains pre-tensioning stability while simplifying repair operations.
3Strength
If a clamping element is used to fix the pressure plate, then the positioning is secure, but under thermal and chemical stress the material cracks and mobility is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented fixing disc structure distributes clamping forces across multiple contact points rather than concentrating them in a single element. This distribution maintains sufficient clamping strength to secure the pressure plate while reducing stress concentrations that would cause cracking under thermal and chemical stress, thereby preserving mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection elements between disc segments can be designed with adjustable parameters (such as bolt tension or rivet spacing) that allow optimization of the balance between clamping strength and flexibility. This enables the system to maintain secure positioning while accommodating thermal expansion and chemical stress without cracking.
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
The design maintains the pre-tensioning of the spring element and ensures secure positioning of the fixing disc on the slide rod, reducing susceptibility to cracking and facilitating easy maintenance and adjustment, thus maintaining mobility and safety under critical conditions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring element (14) for acting on the pressing member (13) with a release force
Implementation Method 2
a fixing element (15) which is arranged on the slide rod (11) for transmitting power between slide rod and spring element
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a gate valve for industrial plants, in particular for chemical and petrochemical plants. This gate valve comprises a slide rod, which is movable in the axial direction, at least one slide plate for closing the gate valve and at least one pressing member. The pressing member is connected to the slide rod and presses the slide plate against a sealing seat. Furthermore, the gate valve comprises a spring element for acting on the pressing member with a release force and a fixing element which is arranged on the slide rod for transmitting power between slide rod and spring element. The gate valve according to the invention comprises a fixing disc as a fixing element, which surrounds the slide rod and is positively connected to the slide rod.