Slam Shut Reset Pin Guide Assembly Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional slam-shut safety valves face operational issues due to reset pins being exposed to fluid flow, leading to deformation and alignment problems under high flow conditions, which affect the proper functioning of the valve disc and seat.

Innovation Solution

A reset pin guide assembly is introduced, which supports the reset pin at two ends, reducing deflection and maintaining structural integrity by being integral with or adjacent to the slam shut valve seat, and featuring a central opening to receive a portion of the reset pin, thereby enhancing the alignment and operation of the valve disc with the valve seat.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the reset pin is exposed to fluid flow in conventional slam-shut devices, then the device structure is simpler, but the reset pin deforms and alignment problems occur under high flow conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereset pin alignmentVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A reset pin guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the reset pin and the fluid flow. The guide has a central opening that receives the reset pin and provides structural support, preventing the pin from being directly exposed to high-velocity fluid forces while maintaining the overall simplicity of the device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the reset pin is supported by a guide structure, then the structural integrity and alignment are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereset pin structural integrityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reset pin guide is merged with the valve seat assembly, where the guide structure is integrated into the existing valve body components. This combination provides the necessary structural support for the reset pin while avoiding the addition of completely separate, complex support structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the reset pin guide is added to support the reset pin, then the deflection under high flow conditions is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereset pin deflectionVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The valve seat assembly is segmented to include a dedicated reset pin guide portion with a central opening. This segmentation allows the guide to be manufactured as an integrated feature of the valve body using standard machining processes, rather than requiring complex assembly of multiple support components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3212975B1Slam shut reset pin guide assembly and slam shut safety device comprising same
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • EP3212975B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3212975B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3212975B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A slam shut safety device includes a valve body, a valve disc, a reset pin, and a reset pin guide. The valve disc is disposed within the valve body and shiftable along a slam shut axis between an open position and a closed second position. The reset pin is operatively coupled to the valve disc and shiftable along the slam shut axis relative to the valve body between an untripped position placing the valve disc in the open position and a tripped position placing the valve disc in the closed position. The reset pin guide supports one end of the reset pin, thereby providing added structural integrity to the reset pin and valve disc.