Valve actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional valve actuators are designed exclusively for specially manufactured valves with a flange shape, making them incompatible with standard type ball valves already installed in the field. Additionally, these conventional valve actuators lack a seal at the joint between the upper and lower cases, leading to decreased airtightness due to temperature-induced contraction and expansion, and they do not allow for manual operation.
Innovation Solution
A valve actuator design that includes a housing with a motor and gear assembly, a flange coupled to the ball valve, and a plurality of fastening members to secure the flange to the housing. This design allows for the valve actuator to be installed on various standard type ball valves by using a separate flange and fastening method, and it incorporates sealing rings to maintain airtightness and enable manual operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional valve actuator is designed for a specially manufactured valve with a flange shape, then the valve actuator can be securely assembled, but it cannot be installed on standard type ball valves already installed in the field
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is divided into separate components: a standard ball valve and a valve actuator that can be independently assembled. The actuator includes a housing with a housing flange that can be coupled to the ball valve's tap part using fastening members, allowing the actuator to be attached to various standard ball valve types without requiring a specially manufactured integrated valve
Solution Approach 2:
The valve actuator is designed with a universal mounting interface that can accommodate multiple standard ball valve types (approximately 15 standards). The housing flange and fastening member configuration allows the same actuator design to be installed on different ball valve specifications, making the actuator versatile and adaptable to various existing installations
2Ease of manufacture
If the valve actuator uses an assembly method where an upper case is inserted into a concave-convex portion of a lower case, then the structure is simple, but it lacks a seal at the joint, making it challenging to block the ingress of external elements
Solution Approach 1:
A seal ring (flexible element) is installed at the joint between the upper case and lower case to prevent ingress of external elements. The seal ring can be made of elastomeric material that provides flexible sealing, blocking pathways for moisture and other contaminants while maintaining the simple inserted assembly structure of the upper and lower cases
3Device complexity
If the upper case and lower case are joined without a seal, then the assembly is simple, but temperature-induced contraction and expansion cause minute gaps that decrease airtightness
Solution Approach 1:
The seal ring acts as a flexible barrier that maintains airtightness between the upper case and lower case despite temperature-induced dimensional changes. As the cases expand or contract with temperature variations, the seal ring accommodates these movements while maintaining continuous sealing, preventing formation of gaps that would compromise airtightness
4Extent of automation
If the valve actuator is designed for automated operation only, then automation control is achieved, but manual operation is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The valve stem connection mechanism is designed to accept both automated actuation forces and manual operating forces. The gear assembly and stem coupling can transmit torque from either the motor (automated) or direct manual rotation (manual operation), allowing the system to dynamically switch between automated and manual control modes as needed
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
The proposed valve actuator can be easily installed on various standard type ball valves, maintaining airtightness despite temperature changes and allowing for manual operation, thus addressing the limitations of conventional valve actuators.
Implementation Method 1
a seal ring R1 that blocks the ingress of external elements into an interior of the valve actuator
Implementation Method 2
an adhesive 46 received in the adhesive receiving groove 48, the adhesive 46 blocking a power line passage hole 44
Data Source
AI summary
A valve actuator comprises: a housing defining an inner space, a motor disposed in the inner space of the housing, a gear assembly disposed in the inner space of the housing and configured to transmit, to a ball valve, a driving force of the motor, a flange coupled to the ball valve, and a plurality of fastening members that couple the flange to the housing and including screws or bolts.