Two-Piece Retainer Assembly for Compact Ball Valve Seal Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side entry compact valves experience excessive wear and damage to sealing elements due to relative rotational movement between valve components during assembly and disassembly, leading to reduced sealing effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece retainer system is designed to be threadably connected to the valve body while being concentrically positioned, minimizing relative rotational movement between sealing elements, thereby reducing wear and damage during assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single piece retainer is threadably connected to the valve body, then the valve structure is simplified, but excessive wear and damage occurs to sealing elements due to relative rotational movement during assembly and disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is divided into two separate pieces: a stationary retainer that remains fixed to the valve body, and a movable retainer that threads onto the stationary retainer. This segmentation allows the stationary retainer to maintain sealing element positions without rotational movement, while the movable retainer handles the assembly and disassembly operations, thereby preventing wear on the sealing elements.
2Ease of operation
If a single piece retainer is rotated during assembly and disassembly, then ease of operation is improved, but wear to seals between valve seat and retainer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer system is segmented into a stationary retainer attached to the valve body and a movable retainer that threads onto it. The stationary retainer with its sealing elements remains fixed and does not rotate during operation, eliminating wear on those seals. The movable retainer absorbs all rotational movement during assembly and disassembly, protecting the sealing elements from harmful rotational wear while maintaining ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If a single piece retainer is rotated during assembly and disassembly, then ease of operation is improved, but wear to seals between valve body and retainer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is segmented into a stationary retainer fixed to the valve body and a movable retainer that threads onto the stationary retainer. The stationary retainer and its seals remain fixed during assembly and disassembly, eliminating rotational wear. The movable retainer performs all rotational operations, isolating the wear to non-critical sealing surfaces while maintaining ease of operation.
4Ease of manufacture
If trunnion support elements are allowed to move longitudinally, then ease of assembly is improved, but excessive movement reduces valve reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer system implements dynamic control of trunnion support element movement. During assembly, the movable retainer allows longitudinal movement for easy installation. Once assembled, the threaded connection between the movable and stationary retainers constrains the trunnion support elements, preventing excessive movement and ensuring reliable valve performance during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A compact manifold ball valve having a valve body, valve ball, valve stem and two piece retainer system; the valve body including a valve chamber having first and second ends, and a first flow passage intersecting the valve chamber and valve ball. The valve ball can be trunnion supported and include pair of movable seat assemblies that can be used to seal the valve ball to the valve body. A two piece retainer can be used to hold in place the valve components, the two piece retainer including a first section which moves only linearly along with a second retainer piece that is a threaded ring that rotationally locks in place the first section of the two piece retainer. The two pieces of the retainer can be symmetrically located about the centerline of the flow passage of the valve body.