Shut-off Device Cutting Blade Pipe Severance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe shut-off systems are not fail-proof and can suffer from fatigue, leading to catastrophic leaks and damage when pipes break, especially in large infrastructure and high-pressure environments, necessitating a reliable solution to stop fluid flow after other shut-off systems fail.
Innovation Solution
A shut-off device comprising an upper and lower valve body with a cutting blade that can be assembled around a pipe to cut through it while sealing the opening, allowing for immediate stoppage of fluid flow and subsequent operation as a gate valve to restore or maintain flow post-repair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing shut-off systems are used to prevent pipe breakage, then some level of protection is provided, but they suffer from fatigue and failure leading to catastrophic leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade is pre-positioned within the valve body during manufacturing, ready to immediately sever the pipe and stop fluid flow the moment the valve closes. This preliminary positioning eliminates any delay between valve closure and pipe severance, ensuring catastrophic leaks are prevented before they can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The device separates the shut-off function into two distinct actions: the valve closes to stop fluid pressure, and the cutting blade simultaneously severs the pipe to prevent catastrophic failure. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function, with the cutting blade providing the fail-safe mechanism independent of the valve's sealing capability.
2Speed
If a cutting blade is used to sever the pipe and stop fluid flow, then immediate shut-off is achieved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade is integrated directly into the valve body structure, merging the cutting function with the shut-off mechanism. The blade is positioned within the valve interior and moves with the valve closure action, eliminating the need for separate cutting mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining immediate shut-off capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body serves multiple functions: it houses the sealing elements for shut-off, contains and positions the cutting blade, and provides the structural framework for the entire device. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall structure while achieving both immediate shut-off and pipe severance.
3Reliability
If the cutting blade tightens against the pipe to cut through it, then the pipe is severed to stop flow, but the blade must be precisely positioned and controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade is positioned equidistantly around the pipe circumference within the valve body, ensuring uniform contact and cutting force distribution. This equipotential positioning eliminates the need for complex alignment mechanisms and makes the cutting action reliable and predictable, simplifying control while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting blade utilizes the fluid pressure differential created when the valve closes to drive its own cutting action. As pressure builds on one side of the blade, it automatically tightens against the pipe and severs it without requiring external actuation or complex control systems, achieving reliable pipe severance through self-service.
Data Source
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AI summary
An example shut-off device includes an upper valve body, and a lower valve body. The lower valve body connects to the upper valve body to surround a section of a pipe to form a chamber therein. A cutting blade in the chamber is tightening against the pipe to cut through the pipe and at least partially seal an opening in the cut pipe. Following a repair to the pipe, the cutting blade may be operated as a gate valve, opening to permit fluid flow through the pipe, and closing to at least partially restrict or fully stop fluid flow through the pipe. Also disclosed is an emergency repair for a pipe including a sleeve housing configured to be opened and closed around a portion of a pipe to be repaired, and a tightening mechanism configured to reduce an inner diameter and tighten against the pipe to be repaired.