Line Blind Valve Hydraulic Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing line blind valves are labor-intensive, prone to stress, and have design flaws such as requiring line spreading, many moving parts, vulnerability to elements, and high costs due to hand wheel actuation and face seals, which limit their effectiveness and reliability.
Innovation Solution
The use of hydraulic or pneumatic fluid pressure to actuate non line-spreading valves with radial seals and a dual-purpose carrier that acts as both the sealing surface and pipe wall, reducing parts and manual input, and providing a fully enclosed design to prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If line spreading valves are used to release the spectacle blind, then the blind can be repositioned, but significant unwanted stresses are caused in the piping system and it becomes labour intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the spectacle blind from the pressure-containing path by providing a dedicated blind valve with a blind disc that can be inserted into a blind valve body. This separates the blind function from the main piping system, allowing blind operations without stressing the piping system while maintaining ease of repositioning through the valve's internal mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If cammed or threaded pinion gear designs are used, then the sealing surfaces can be separated and repositioned, but many moving parts are required and hand wheel actuation increases weight, cost, and labour requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of separating sealing surfaces from complex mechanical mechanisms. Instead of using cammed or threaded pinion gears with multiple moving parts, the design uses a simplified carrier mechanism that moves the blind disc between seats, achieving the same sealing surface separation with minimal moving parts and without hand wheel actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces pneumatic or hydraulic actuation to replace manual hand wheel operation. Fluid pressure is used to move the carrier and position the blind disc, eliminating the need for complex mechanical transmission components like pinion gears and reducing the labour requirement while maintaining ease of operation.
3Productivity
If gate designs passing through resilient seats are used, then full flow or line blind activation is achieved, but wear of sliding seals occurs and high pressures or temperatures cannot be withstood
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional gate valve approach by having the blind disc move perpendicular to the flow direction rather than parallel. The blind disc is pushed against resilient seats from the upstream side, reversing the wear direction and reducing sliding seal wear. This also allows the design to withstand high pressures and temperatures by directing the force correctly.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by using fluid pressure actuation instead of manual operation, and by modifying the sealing mechanism to use resilient seats that can accommodate thermal expansion and pressure variations. This enhances reliability under high pressure and temperature conditions while maintaining flow control capability.
4Ease of operation
If hand wheel actuation is used, then the blind valve can be operated, but weight, cost, and labour requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces hand wheel actuation with pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders that use fluid pressure to move the carrier and position the blind disc. This eliminates the heavy hand wheel mechanism while maintaining ease of operation, significantly reducing the valve's weight and associated costs without compromising operational capability.
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 solution results in a simpler, cost-effective design with reduced manual input, improved leak resistance, and enhanced protection from external fouling, offering a reliable and efficient flow shut-off mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
using hydraulic or pneumatic fluid pressure to release the sealed surfaces of a non line-spreading valve
Implementation Method 2
using hydraulic or pneumatic fluid pressure to release the sealed surfaces of a non line-spreading valve
Implementation Method 3
seal surfaces in the line blind of the present invention have been improved to provide radial seals which are less susceptible to process fluid leaks than standard face seals
Implementation Method 4
O-ring seals 9 prevent process fluid from escaping
Implementation Method 5
A backup ring 15 may be disposed adjacent each of the O-ring seals 9 to protect the O-rings through scraping
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is an improved line blind valve which provides absolute positive flow shut-off in piping systems. It uses fluid pressure to separate the seal surfaces while ensuring the end connections do not move relative to each other. Once separated, the blind can be moved easily into either the closed blind position or the open full flow position. The assembly consists of an outer housing, two end pipes and a sliding carrier that allows a blind to be either inserted into the flow or removed by pivoting the blind about a pin.