Subsea Valve Operating Shaft With Pre-Machined Override Split
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea valve operating devices fail to provide a reliable mechanism for opening a valve when the operating mechanism malfunctions, hindering access to the well below the valve during maintenance or retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A valve operating device with a rotational shaft that can be machined to separate into two parts, allowing conversion of rotational movement to linear movement through a threaded connection, enabling operation of the valve even if the device malfunctions, using a machining unit to create a pre-machined hole and separate the rotational shaft at a weakened point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a valve operating device is used to operate subsea valves, then the valve can be controlled to open or close positions, but the device cannot provide access to the well below the valve when the operating mechanism malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational shaft is divided into two separate portions that can be disconnected from each other. The first portion remains connected to the actuator while the second portion can be separated and used to manually operate the valve, providing access capability when the normal operating mechanism fails.
Solution Approach 2:
A pre-machined hole is created in the rotational shaft during manufacturing, positioned to align with the valve stem when the shaft is in the open position. This preliminary preparation enables quick manual intervention by allowing a tool to be inserted through the hole to directly actuate the valve stem, providing emergency access capability without requiring complex additional mechanisms.
2Strength
If the rotational shaft is made solid and continuous, then the structure is simple and strong, but it cannot be separated to enable manual valve operation when malfunction occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational shaft is segmented into two portions with a detachable connection. This segmentation maintains structural strength during normal operation while enabling separation for manual intervention. The connection between portions can be disconnected to allow the second portion to be used as a manual operating tool.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-machined hole acts as an intermediary feature that enables manual operation. By providing a predetermined access path through the shaft structure, it allows external tools to transmit force to the valve stem without requiring the shaft to be fully disassembled, maintaining strength while enabling ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the valve operating device provides an override mechanism, then access to the well below can be secured, but the device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-machined hole is prepared in advance during manufacturing, positioned to align with the valve stem at the open position. This preliminary action creates a built-in override mechanism that requires no additional components or complex procedures during emergency operations, reducing operational complexity while maintaining override capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational shaft structure itself provides the override mechanism through its segmented design and pre-machined hole. The shaft portions and the hole work together to enable manual operation without requiring external override devices or complex additional mechanisms, making the system self-sufficient for emergency access.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables irreversible override operation of a subsea valve, ensuring access to the well below the valve by converting rotational to linear movement, even when the operating device fails, facilitating maintenance or retrieval.
Implementation Method 1
a threaded connection translating rotational movement to linear movement
Data Source
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AI summary
A valve operating device (1) for operating a subsea valve (100), the valve operating device (1) comprises: - a housing (10); - thrust bearings (12) supported by the housing (10); - a chamber (20) within the housing (10), wherein the chamber (20) comprises a first part of a linear guide (21); - a rotational shaft (30) comprising a first end with an external interface (31) outside the chamber (20) and a second end inside the chamber (20), - a linear shaft (40) arranged within the chamber (20), the linear shaft (40) comprising a first portion (41) and a second portion (42), wherein the first portion (41) comprises threaded portion (43) connected to the threaded portion (34) of the rotational shaft (30) and wherein - the rotational shaft (30) comprises a pre-machined hole (36) extending over a part of an axial length of the rotational shaft (30).