Portable Valve Operator Torque Arm for Stable Underground Valve Turning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Municipal water system valves often experience torque imbalances due to contamination and deterioration, leading to violent shaking and tossing of valve turning machines, which can cause the key to be pulled free of the valve stem, interrupting operation and potentially causing damage.
Innovation Solution
A portable valve operating machine with a base, housing, motor, and a torque management system that includes a ring lock and torque arm assembly to stabilize the machine and manage torque, allowing for secure operation of underground valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a motorized valve turning machine is used to provide large torque to open and close valves, then the valve can be operated, but the machine shakes and tosses violently due to uneven torque
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a counterweight mechanism that balances the machine during operation. The counterweight system includes a movable counterweight that can be adjusted to offset the shaking and tossing forces generated during valve operation, thereby stabilizing the machine while maintaining the required torque output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic stabilization through a movable counterweight that can be adjusted during operation. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to varying torque conditions and maintain stability throughout the valve opening/closing cycle, rather than relying on a fixed static structure.
2Power
If torque is applied to the key by the machine, then the valve can be turned, but the key is pulled free of the valve stem due to vertical force components
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight mechanism not only stabilizes the machine body but also counteracts the vertical force components that would otherwise pull the key free from the valve stem. By balancing these forces, the system maintains continuous contact between the key and valve stem throughout the operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a cushioning mechanism that prevents the key from being pulled free by anticipating and counteracting the vertical force components before they can cause separation. This proactive force management ensures continuous key connection during the valve turning operation.
3Ease of operation
If the operator grasps the machine with arms and uses body weight to hold the machine in desired orientation, then the machine orientation can be maintained, but the operation becomes physically demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight system automatically balances the machine, eliminating the need for the operator to use body weight to maintain orientation. The counterweight mechanically compensates for the forces that would otherwise require human strength, making the operation energy-efficient and less physically demanding.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine's counterweight system provides self-balancing capability, allowing the machine to maintain its own desired orientation without continuous operator intervention. This self-service feature reduces the physical effort required by the operator to a minimum.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve operating machine includes a base, a housing thereon and a motor within the housing, an output socket rotatably coupled to the housing and extending through the base, a ring lock rotatably coupled to the output socket, a locking assembly which locks the ring lock to the output socket and can be released to allow removal of the ring lock from the output socket, a plate rotatably coupled to the ring lock, and a mating assembly configured to couple the plate to the base in at least two positions, while preventing rotation of the plate relative to the base. A key that is used to exercise a valve can be connected to the output socket.