Relief Valve Locking Fixture for Safe Open-Position Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency pressure relief valves in pressure vessels require manual lifting or disassembly of heavy weights to maintain an open position during inspections, maintenance, and repairs, posing safety risks and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A hand saver device with a U-shaped base plate and locking rod is used to securely maintain the relief valve in an open position, allowing safe and efficient access to the pressure vessel's internal cavity without removing the weight or disassembling the valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual lifting or disassembly of heavy weights is used to maintain relief valve open position, then the valve can be kept open during inspections, but safety risks increase and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The hand saver device serves as an intermediary tool between the heavy weight and the relief valve mechanism. It includes a base plate that attaches to the weight, extension arms that engage with the valve's pivot arm, and a locking rod system that secures the open position. This intermediary device eliminates the need for direct manual handling of heavy weights while maintaining safe and reliable valve positioning during maintenance operations.
2Ease of operation
If heavy weights are removed to maintain valve open, then access to pressure vessel is improved, but time consumption increases due to disassembly and reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The hand saver device is pre-configured with attachment mechanisms that connect to existing components on the relief valve assembly. The base plate attaches to the weight, extension arms engage with the pivot arm structure, and locking rods are positioned to secure the open position. This preliminary setup allows maintenance personnel to simply activate the device rather than performing time-consuming disassembly and reassembly operations.
3Reliability
If locking mechanism is added to hand saver device, then reliability of open position is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hand saver device is segmented into distinct functional components: a base plate for attachment to the weight, extension arms for engagement with the pivot arm, and locking rods for securing the position. Each component performs a specific function and can be independently analyzed or replaced. This segmentation provides reliable locking through multiple engagement points while keeping the overall device manageable and maintainable.
Data Source
AI summary
A relief valve has a closed position with a lid of the relief valve closing an opening of a storage tank and an open position with the lid pivoted away from the opening of the storage tank. A hand saver device for maintaining the relief valve in the open position includes a body comprising a U-shaped base plate having a central axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a pair of lateral sides extending axially from the first end to the second end, and a recess extending axially from the first end. In addition, the hand saver device includes a pair of laterally spaced extension arms extending upwardly from the base plate. Each extension arm includes a throughbore extending laterally therethrough. Further, the hand saver device includes an elongate locking rod configured to be removably and slidably disposed in the throughbores of the extension arms.