Integrated Buckling Pin Valve for Accurate Pressure Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Buckling pin actuated valves (BPAVs) face challenges in achieving accuracy and reliability due to improper force transfer, misalignment, and risk of pin damage during installation, leading to premature or delayed activation, which can result in system downtime or integrity issues.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an all-in-one valve body with an integral pin cage and piston seal arrangement, ensuring accurate alignment and force transfer, along with a protective sleeve and energy absorber to prevent pin damage, and a sensor for activation detection, enhancing the reliability and safety of the valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate pin cage is used to hold the buckling pin, then the pin can be replaced, but misalignment and improper force transfer occur leading to premature or delayed activation
Solution Approach 1:
The pin cage is made integral to the valve body, merging two previously separate components. This integration ensures precise alignment between the pin cage and valve body, eliminating misalignment issues that caused premature or delayed activation, while still allowing the pin to be replaced when needed
2Device complexity
If a bare pin is used without protection, then the structure is simple, but the pin is at risk of damage during installation and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
A protective sleeve is added around the buckling pin to shield it from damage during installation and maintenance operations. This protective measure is implemented beforehand to prevent pin damage, ensuring pin integrity without significantly complicating the overall structure
3Device complexity
If the valve lacks energy absorption capability, then the structure is simpler, but pin damage risk increases during activation
Solution Approach 1:
An energy absorber component is incorporated into the valve structure to cushion and absorb the energy released during buckling pin activation. This prevents excessive forces that could damage the pin or surrounding components, while adding minimal structural complexity
4Device complexity
If force transfer is not optimized, then the valve structure is simpler, but activation accuracy decreases due to improper force transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The force transmission component is integrated into the valve body structure, creating a unified force transfer path from the plug through the pin cage to the buckling pin. This integration optimizes force transfer efficiency and accuracy, ensuring activation occurs at the correct pressure without adding significant structural complexity
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
This configuration improves the accuracy and reliability of BPAVs by ensuring precise force transfer and alignment, reducing the risk of pin damage, and enabling safer operation with improved flow characteristics, allowing for wider application in standard piping systems.
Implementation Method 1
a pin that is subject to a compressive force. A pin subject to compressive force is designed to buckle according to Euler's Law when the output force reaches the predetermined limit
Implementation Method 2
A pin subject to compressive force is designed to buckle according to Euler's Law when the output force reaches the predetermined limit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A buckling pin valve (100) and associated methods are disclosed. More specifically, a buckling pin valve (100) is disclosed with a valve body (101) having an inlet (102) and an outlet (103), a valve seat (111) at the valve body inlet (102), a valve plug (110) configured to sealingly engage with the valve seat (111), a pin cage (130) attached to the valve body (101) and configured to mount a buckling pin (120), and a shaft (110, 121, 122) configured to transfer forces from the valve plug (110) to the buckling pin (120). A buckling pin valve (100) also is disclosed with a pin cage (130) being made of a rigid all-in- one construction. A method of manufacturing a pin cage (130) for a buckling pin actuated valve (100) is disclosed, wherein the method comprises fabricating a pin cage (130) from a single piece of metal. A method of manufacturing a buckling pin actuated valve (130) also is disclosed.