Parallel Slide Gate Valve Bracket-Free Guide Rail Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional parallel slide gate valves are prone to catastrophic failure due to the reliance on a bracket that can decouple the gate halves, leading to operational issues and potential flushing of parts downstream with fluid, increasing maintenance and repair costs.
Innovation Solution
The design eliminates the need for a bracket by using guide rails and grooves within the valve body to maintain the position of the gate members, reducing the number of moving parts and enhancing robustness, allowing the gate to operate without a bracket, thus minimizing the risk of failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a bracket is used to connect gate halves in conventional parallel slide gate valves, then the gate members can be held together, but the bracket may fail causing catastrophic valve failure and parts flushing downstream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bracket component entirely from the valve design. Instead of using a separate bracket to connect gate halves, the gate members are directly integrated with the valve body through guide rails and grooves, eliminating the failure point while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the bracket function into the valve body structure itself. The guide rails and grooves are integral parts of the valve body that perform the connection and guidance functions previously requiring a separate bracket component, reducing part count and potential failure points
2Ease of manufacture
If a bracket is used to hold gate halves together, then the gate can be assembled, but the bracket adds complexity and potential failure points to the valve design
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket component is extracted and removed from the design. The gate members are designed to be directly mounted to the valve body using integrated guide rails and grooves, simplifying the overall component structure and reducing assembly complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body structure serves multiple functions: it provides the housing, contains the guide rails for gate movement, and integrates the mounting features for gate members. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate bracket components while maintaining ease of manufacture
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
This configuration results in a more reliable and cost-effective valve with fewer parts, reducing the likelihood of failure and associated maintenance costs, while maintaining effective fluid control and sealing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
A spring 30 urges the halves 24a, 24b apart, pushing one or both halves 24a, 24b against valve seats 32a, 32b when the gate valve 10 is closed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A parallel slide gate valve (110) includes a valve body (112) comprising an interior surface, and an obturator (124) therein. A portion of the interior surface defines a groove (142) having a longitudinal axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a direction of flow through the valve body (112). The groove has a first width (w1) at a first end (146) proximate to the fluid flow path and a second width (w2) at a second end (148) distal from the fluid flow path, the second width (w2) smaller than the first width (w1). The obturator (124) is at least partially within the at least one groove (142). The obturator (124) is configured to translate from the first end (146) of the at least one groove toward the second end (148) of the at least one groove as the obturator (124) moves from a closed position to an open position.