Partition Valve Bonnet Removal Attachment for In-Service Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gate valve bonnet removal methods require large dividable structures and extensive workspaces, leading to increased costs and complexity, especially when replacing or repairing the bonnet and stem without stopping the fluid flow.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a ring-shaped attachment base material and a pressing means to securely attach and detach the bonnet from the valve body, allowing for fluid flow maintenance during removal and repair, using a lock member for easy coupling and decoupling, and a short pipe with an inner plug for simplified equipment handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large dividable structure is used to surround the gate valve and fluid pipes, then the bonnet can be removed without stopping fluid flow, but the volume of work pit required increases and work becomes extensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous fluid flowVSAvoidwork pit volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the bonnet removal process into distinct phases: first securing the valve body to pipes with the attachment, then removing the bonnet, and finally replacing it. This segmentation allows the work to be done in a smaller, more manageable space rather than requiring a large enclosing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts only the essential function of maintaining fluid flow continuity by using a simple attachment on the valve body, rather than extracting the entire valve assembly into a large dividable structure. This allows bonnet removal in a minimized workspace.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a large dividable structure is used to surround the gate valve, then the bonnet can be removed without stopping fluid flow, but the work complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous fluid flowVSAvoidequipment structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a simple, inexpensive attachment device that can be quickly installed and removed, rather than a complex, expensive dividable structure. The attachment serves its purpose during the brief maintenance window and is then removed, minimizing both cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of providing a large enclosing structure throughout the entire valve area, the invention applies the flow-maintenance function locally at the valve body connection points using the attachment, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the essential capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If bolts and nuts are used to fasten the flange of the valve body and the flange of the bonnet, then a watertight state is achieved, but the removal process becomes troublesome and extensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewatertight stateVSAvoidbonnet removal ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the bonnet from the valve body after the attachment secures the valve body to the pipes, allowing the bonnet to be removed without the constraint of maintaining flange connections. This separation simplifies the removal process while the attachment ensures continuous fluid flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If a large dividable structure is used, then the bonnet can be removed without stopping fluid flow, but the time required for work increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous fluid flowVSAvoidwork duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment is installed on the valve body before the bonnet is removed, preliminarily securing the valve body to the pipes to maintain fluid flow continuity. This preliminary action enables the bonnet to be quickly removed and replaced without time-consuming setup of large structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3043094B1Method for removing valve cover of partition valve, valve removal method, attachment for removing valve cover, and partition valve

Publication Date: 2020.05.06 TAISEI KIKO

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AI summary

The present invention makes it possible to reduce the cost of the work for removing a bonnet provided with a disc and a stem, which is performed without stopping the flow of fluid, and makes it possible to efficiently and easily perform the work to install a repair valve or the like at a later date. A bonnet is pressed and fixed to a valve body (2) using a pressing means (C) of an attachment (B) fixed to the valve body (2), and also a coupling means is released from coupling, and a work housing (H) that is provided with a work open/close valve (V2) and an elevation transport means (D) is attached to the attachment (B), the pressing means (C) is released from pressing and fixing, the bonnet is taken out to an inside of a storage space (S) of the work housing (H) and is removed, and thereafter an operation to open the work open/close valve (V2) is performed and a short pipe (61) that has an inner plug (60) attached thereto and that has been attached to the elevation transport means (D) of the work housing (H) is attached to the valve body (2), the short pipe (61) is pressed and fixed to the valve body (2) using the pressing means (C) of the attachment (B), the work housing (H) is removed from the attachment (B), the short pipe (61) and the valve body (2) are coupled and fixed to each other in a sealed state using a second coupling means, and the attachment (B) is removed from the valve body (2).