Oval-Port Ball Valve Assembly for Compact Multi-Port Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ball valves face challenges in efficiently regulating fluid flow between multiple ports without mixing different fluid supplies, particularly in applications requiring precise control and space-limited installations, where full-bore passages are desirable but increase the valve member size, leading to torque and material cost issues.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a valve assembly with a rotatable ball member featuring an elongated, oval-shaped fluid passage that increases the flow passage size without enlarging the valve member, allowing for efficient fluid flow regulation between multiple ports while maintaining compactness, using a single actuator to control fluid flow between two fluid supplies and two fluid returns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If full-bore passages are used in ball valves, then fluid flow capacity is improved, but valve member size increases leading to higher torque requirements and material costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the fluid passage by using an elongated oval-shaped cross-section instead of a conventional circular full-bore passage. This parameter change allows the passage to be larger in the flow direction while keeping the valve member outer dimensions compact, thus improving fluid flow capacity without increasing valve member size proportionally
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional circular cross-section to an elongated oval cross-section, effectively utilizing an additional dimensional aspect (the elongation in one direction) to increase flow area without proportionally increasing the valve member's overall size in all dimensions. This dimensional change allows optimized flow capacity within compact boundaries
2Ease of operation
If conventional ball valves are used for flow regulation, then simplicity is maintained, but precise control and space efficiency are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controllable rotation mechanism that allows the ball valve member to be dynamically positioned at various angular orientations, not just the conventional 90-degree on/off positions. This dynamic positioning capability enables precise flow regulation by adjusting the alignment between the elongated oval passage and the port openings, transforming the simple ball valve into a precisely controllable flow regulation device
3Productivity
If multiple ports are controlled separately, then fluid flow control is achieved, but mixing of different fluid supplies occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fluid streams into separate, dedicated flow paths within the valve body, with each port having its own distinct passage route to the outlet. The elongated oval passage in the ball member is positioned and oriented to align with only one inlet port at a time, physically separating the flow paths and preventing mixing of different fluid supplies while maintaining efficient flow control for each stream
Data Source
AI summary
A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve body having a valve chamber and a plurality of ports into the valve chamber. The plurality of ports include a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port and the second port are aligned with a common axis and located on opposite sides of the valve chamber. The system further includes a valve member located within the valve chamber. The valve member is a rotatable ball having a fluid passage that extends through the ball and includes an opening at the end of the ball. The fluid passage is substantially oval-shaped when viewed at the opening in a direction parallel to the fluid passage. The valve assembly further includes a valve stem that is coupled to a valve member and has a first end that extends from the valve body.