Quick-Connect Valve End Replacement for High-Pressure Wear
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Valves in high-pressure industries, such as oil and gas drilling, face damage from particulates and corrosive fluids, leading to costly replacements and downtime due to the difficulty in efficiently replacing or repairing valve ends and seats.
Innovation Solution
A quick connection system using a lug-based mechanism that allows for rapid attachment and detachment of valve ends without fasteners, enabling efficient replacement and recycling of damaged components, and integration of valve seats within the fluid ends for faster maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional valve replacement methods are used, then valve reliability is restored, but downtime and operational time are excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is divided into separable components: a reusable valve body and replaceable fluid ends. The fluid end can be detached and replaced independently from the valve body through the quick connection system, allowing only the damaged component to be replaced rather than the entire valve assembly, thereby reducing replacement time while restoring reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The quick connection system enables dynamic, rapid attachment and detachment of fluid ends to the valve body through a lug-based mechanism. This dynamic connection system allows for quick interchange of components without time-consuming fastening operations, directly addressing the downtime issue while maintaining reliable connections during operation
2Reliability
If traditional fastening methods are used, then secure connection is achieved, but device complexity and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Threaded fasteners and complex fastening mechanisms are completely removed from the connection system. The lugs are integrated directly into the fluid end and valve body structures, eliminating the need for separate fastening components such as bolts, nuts, or threads, thereby simplifying the device while maintaining secure connections through the lug interlocking mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The connection and sealing functions are merged into the lug structure itself. The lugs serve both as mechanical interlocking elements and as integral parts of the sealing system, combining multiple functions into a single simplified component that reduces overall device complexity while ensuring secure and sealed connections
Data Source
AI summary
A valve assembly includes an actuator adapted to drive movement of a valve member. The valve assembly also includes a bonnet coupled to the actuator, a valve body coupled to the bonnet, and a fluid end coupled to the valve body. The valve assembly further includes a quick connection system adapted to couple the fluid end to the valve body. The quick connection system includes a plurality of valve body lugs separated by a plurality of spaces, the plurality of valve body lugs extending radially outward from an axis. The quick connection system also includes a plurality of fluid end lugs configured to interact with the plurality of valve body lugs, the plurality of valve body lugs being arranged to axially align with the plurality of fluid end lugs to block axial movement of the fluid end with respect to the valve body.