Replaceable Excess Flow Valve Assembly for Changing Gas Demand
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional excess flow valves in gas service lines are not adaptable to changes in demand flow rates over time, leading to inadequate protection against leaks in structures with varying usage, such as from a pizza restaurant to a florist, as they are sized for maximum potential demand and do not automatically shut off small leaks.
Innovation Solution
A gas valve assembly with a replaceable excess flow valve within a movable flow control body that can be removably secured to a valve seat housing, allowing for replacement without interrupting gas supply or requiring excavation, enabling the adjustment of flow rates without replacing gas pipes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If excess flow valves are sized for maximum potential demand flow, then they provide protection for high-demand structures, but they fail to shut off small leaks in low-demand structures with varying usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the excess flow valve replaceable and the flow control body movable between operational and replacement positions. This allows the system to adapt to changing demand flow rates over time by enabling easy replacement of the excess flow valve with different flow ratings, transforming a static system into a dynamic one that can respond to varying structural needs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing modification of the flow rate parameter through replacement of the excess flow valve. The movable flow control body enables transition between different operational states, and the replaceable excess flow valve allows changing the flow rate parameter to match actual demand, thereby improving leak protection effectiveness across different usage scenarios
2Reliability
If excess flow valves are installed within the service line gas pipe, then they provide automatic shut-off protection, but replacement requires excavation and pipe replacement which is costly and disruptive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the gas flow control system into separate functional components: the valve seat housing remains fixed in the ground, while the flow control body with the excess flow valve can be independently removed and replaced. This segmentation allows the excess flow valve to be replaced without excavating the service line gas pipe, significantly improving ease of repair while maintaining automatic shut-off protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting the excess flow valve from its conventional fixed position within the service line gas pipe and placing it in a movable flow control body that can be independently removed. The flow control body can be positioned out of the way during replacement, allowing the excess flow valve to be accessed and replaced without disturbing the buried gas pipe infrastructure
3Stability of the object's composition
If the flow control body is fixed in the valve seat housing, then the structure is stable, but replacement of the excess flow valve requires interrupting gas supply and extensive excavation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the flow control body movable between a fixed operational position and a removable replacement position. During normal operation, the flow control body is securely positioned in the valve seat housing providing structural stability. When replacement is needed, the flow control body can be moved to an alternative position, allowing the excess flow valve to be replaced efficiently without interrupting gas supply to the overall system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the movable flow control body) that mediates between the need for structural stability and the need for efficient replacement. The flow control body acts as a intermediary component that can be temporarily positioned out of the way during valve replacement, allowing the excess flow valve to be accessed and replaced without disturbing the stable valve seat housing structure or interrupting gas supply
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides gas valve assemblies that include a replaceable excess flow valve within a movable flow control body that is removably secured within a valve seat housing. The gas valve assemblies permit the replacement of an excess flow valve without interrupting the supply of gas to a structure and without replacing gas piping.