Modular Valve Trim Assembly for Leak-Free Seat Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing process control valves face challenges with misalignment and leakage due to separate installation of valve cage, seat, and sealing elements, which complicates repair and replacement, and often require costly replacement of entire assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A unitary modular valve trim assembly that integrates a valve cage and seat with a sealing element, allowing for quick and easy installation and removal, and enabling individual components to be repositioned and repaired without tools, using projections for secure yet removable connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If valve cage, seat, and sealing elements are installed separately, then individual components can be replaced, but misalignment and leakage occur due to installation errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the valve cage, seat, and sealing elements into a pre-assembled unitary trim assembly where components are integrally formed or permanently secured together. This merging eliminates misalignment issues during installation while maintaining the ability to replace the entire assembly as a single unit, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of repair and sealing performance.
2Reliability
If entire valve assembly is replaced for repair, then reliability is maintained, but cost and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the valve into modular components: a replaceable trim assembly (containing cage, seat, and sealing elements) and a permanent valve body. This segmentation allows only the worn trim assembly to be replaced rather than the entire valve, reducing repair time and cost while maintaining reliability through replacement of the critical sealing components.
3Strength
If traditional valve trim assembly is used, then structural integrity is maintained, but alignment precision deteriorates during reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assembling and pre-aligning the cage, seat, and sealing elements into a precisely configured unitary trim assembly during manufacturing. This preliminary alignment ensures that when the assembly is installed or replaced in the field, the components maintain their precise relative positions without requiring field alignment, thus preserving manufacturing precision while maintaining structural integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A unitary valve trim assembly that can be easily installed in and removed from a valve body of a process control valve. The valve trim assembly includes a valve cage and a valve seat. The valve cage has a first projection that extends in a first direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the valve cage. The valve seat has a second projection that extends in a second direction, opposite the first direction, that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The second projection is arranged to engage the first projection to removably couple the valve seat to the valve cage.