Multi-Seat Plug Valve Track Mechanism for Low-Wear Sealing

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional multi-seat valves, such as DBB and DIB, require complex mechanisms with threaded components and/or springs to achieve radial and rotational movement of sealing members, leading to frequent maintenance and wear issues.

Innovation Solution

A multi-seat plug valve design that uses a pair of sealing members with detents and offset track plates, allowing for radial and rotational movement without threaded components or springs, reducing wear and maintenance needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If threaded components and springs are used to achieve radial and rotational movement of sealing members, then the valve can achieve adequate seal, but the device complexity increases and maintenance frequency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal effectivenessVSAvoidmechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes threaded components and springs from the sealing mechanism, extracting the problematic elements that caused complexity and maintenance issues. The sealing members achieve radial and rotational movement through a simplified track-based mechanism without these traditional components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical system of threaded components and springs with an alternative mechanism using track plates and sealing members that move along predefined paths. This substitution eliminates the wear-prone threaded connections while maintaining the necessary sealing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If threaded components and springs are used to achieve radial and rotational movement of sealing members, then the valve can achieve adequate seal, but the maintenance frequency increases due to wear and tear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal effectivenessVSAvoidcomponent lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes threaded components and springs from the sealing mechanism, extracting the problematic elements that caused complexity and maintenance issues. The sealing members achieve radial and rotational movement through a simplified track-based mechanism without these traditional components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical system of threaded components and springs with an alternative mechanism using track plates and sealing members that move along predefined paths. This substitution eliminates the wear-prone threaded connections while maintaining the necessary sealing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If complex mechanisms with threaded components are used, then radial and rotational movement of sealing members can be achieved, but the ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement controlVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the valve body into separate components including track plates and sealing member assemblies that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process for each component while maintaining the complex overall functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical system of threaded components and springs with an alternative mechanism using track plates and sealing members that move along predefined paths. This substitution eliminates the wear-prone threaded connections while maintaining the necessary sealing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12158221B1Multi-seat plug valve

Publication Date: 2024.12.03 FRANKLIN VALVE LP

AI summary

A multi-seat plug valve with a pair of sealing members separated by a rotatable plug, a body with one or more detents for receipt of a respective locking pin, a bonnet with one or more detents for receipt of a respective locking pin, linear track plates (upper/lower), and offset track plates (upper/lower). Each locking pin permanently rests in a respective slot in an upper or lower linear track plate. The locking pins may be moved between respective opposing detents in the upper or lower offset track plate and the bonnet or body, respectively, to affect i) radial movement of the sealing members when the linear track plates are coupled to the body and the bonnet by locking pins, and ii) rotational movement of the sealing members when the linear track plates are coupled to the upper and lower offset track plates by locking pins.