Modular Valve Body With Interchangeable Control Functions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial processing plants face increased production costs and time-consuming installation and maintenance due to the lack of standardized components for pressure regulating valves, slam-shut valves, and flow control valves, each requiring unique configurations and accessories.
Innovation Solution
A modular valve system with a standardized valve body that can be used to assemble any of these valves, featuring a through-hole configuration to accommodate various components, including actuator assemblies and travel indicator assemblies, allowing for interchangeable parts and simplified assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If unique valve bodies are used for each valve type (pressure regulating valve, slam-shut valve, flow control valve), then each valve can be optimized for its specific function, but production costs increase and installation/maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal valve body design that can accommodate multiple valve types (pressure regulating valve, slam-shut valve, flow control valve) through standardized through-holes and interfaces. This allows a single valve body to serve multiple functions by accepting different valve components, thereby reducing production costs and improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining the functional performance of each specific valve type.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system is divided into modular components: a standardized valve body and interchangeable valve-specific components. The through-holes in the valve body are designed to receive different components for different valve types, allowing segmentation of the valve system into reusable base structures and specialized functional elements, which improves productivity while preserving functional optimization.
2Reliability
If unique valve bodies are used for each valve type, then each valve can be optimized for its specific function, but installation and maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized valve body with universally compatible through-holes allows the same base structure to be used across different valve types. During installation and maintenance, technicians can work with a consistent interface and component layout, reducing the time required for installation and maintenance while maintaining the functional performance of each specific valve type through the standardized design.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the valve system into a reusable standardized body and interchangeable components, the patent enables faster installation and maintenance. The standardized through-holes and interfaces allow for quick identification and replacement of components, reducing the time loss associated with installation and maintenance while preserving the functional optimization of each valve type.
3Productivity
If standardized valve bodies are used for multiple valve types, then production costs decrease and development time shortens, but the ability to optimize for specific valve functions may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized valve body is designed with versatile through-holes that can accommodate different valve components for pressure regulating, slam-shut, and flow control functions. This universal design reduces production costs and development time while maintaining adaptability to specific valve functions through the configurable component reception capability of the standardized structure.
Solution Approach 2:
While the overall valve body is standardized, the through-holes are strategically positioned and dimensioned to provide local quality variations that accommodate different valve-specific components. This allows the standardized body to be adapted to specific valve functions through localized component variations, maintaining both production efficiency and functional specialization.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular valve system includes a modular valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a through-hole, and a fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet. The modular valve body is used to assemble any one of a pressure regulating valve, a slam-shut valve, or a flow control valve, and the through-hole is configured to receive a component of any one of the pressure regulating valve, the slam-shut valve, and the flow control valve.