Line Blind Valve Assembly for Easy Repair and Thermal Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing line blind valves have complex structures that make it difficult to disassemble and repair, suffer from thermal deformation due to welding, and require unnecessary components, which complicates the assembly and maintenance process, especially when dealing with high-temperature and cryogenic fluids.

Innovation Solution

A line blind valve design featuring a bolt-fastened valve body unit with a system block that allows for easy disassembly and repair, minimizing gasket interference, and utilizing a gear unit with spiral protrusions and a sliding mechanism to move the blind plate horizontally, reducing deformation and eliminating unnecessary components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If front and rear valve bodies are welded together, then structural strength is improved, but disassembly and repair become impossible and thermal deformation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoiddisassembly and repair
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The valve body is divided into front and rear sections connected by a bolt-fastened flange joint rather than welding. This segmentation allows the valve to be disassembled for repair while maintaining structural integrity during operation. The flange connection provides sufficient strength for high-temperature and cryogenic applications while enabling easy separation for maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection method is changed from welding (permanent joint) to bolt-fastening (reversible joint). This parameter change in the joining method allows the valve to maintain strength under various temperature conditions while enabling disassembly and repair when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a complex structure for moving the blind plate is provided, then hermetic sealing is achieved, but the assembly structure becomes complicated and gasket replacement becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehermetic sealingVSAvoidassembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket is extracted as a separate, easily replaceable component from the main valve body structure. The gasket is positioned in a groove on the blind plate that is accessible when the blind plate is removed, allowing gasket replacement without disassembling the entire valve. This simplifies maintenance while maintaining hermetic sealing through the gasket's design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of providing a complex mechanism to move the blind plate vertically, the invention inverts the approach by allowing the blind plate to be easily removed horizontally from the valve body. This inversion simplifies the overall structure and makes gasket replacement straightforward while still achieving hermetic sealing when the blind plate is in place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If multiple gaskets are provided for sealing, then airtightness is maintained, but the valve becomes more complex and gasket replacement becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveairtightnessVSAvoidgasket provision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket is extracted as a separate, easily accessible component mounted on the blind plate rather than being integrated into the valve body. This allows the gasket to be removed and replaced by simply taking out the blind plate, simplifying maintenance while maintaining airtight sealing through the gasket's position in the sealing groove.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Stability of the object's composition

If welding is used to connect valve bodies, then structural stability is improved, but thermal deformation occurs and repair becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidthermal deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connection method is changed from welding (which causes thermal deformation) to bolt-fastening (which avoids thermal effects). This parameter change in the joining method eliminates thermal deformation while maintaining structural stability through the mechanical strength of the flange connection, making the valve suitable for high-temperature and cryogenic applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables quick and safe pipe closure without tools, allows for efficient replacement of defective parts, reduces deformation, and supports high-temperature and cryogenic applications by minimizing gasket usage and preventing foreign substance penetration.

Implementation Method 1

a spiral groove formed in an inner circumferential surface of the ring gear and engaged with the spiral protrusion of the second nozzle part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3719361B1Blind valve
Publication Date: 2022.12.14 BOXY BLIND VALVE CO LTD
  • EP3719361B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3719361B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3719361B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates generally to a blind valve. More particularly, the present invention relates to a line blind valve capable of: minimizing provision of gaskets for maintaining airtightness, thus making it possible to use of a gasket suitable for high temperature and cryogenic fluid and enable easy replacement thereof; eliminating provision of unnecessary components, thus simplifying an assembly structure of the valve so as to be easily disassembled and assembled; and being robust through structural characteristics of a system block, thus reducing the amount of deformation of a valve body unit and improving structural stability and durability.