Valve Sealing Member Displacement Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ball valves in oil or gas wells often suffer from damage to the seat due to the movement of the movable member between open and closed configurations, leading to inadequate sealing and leaks, especially when cutting through wires or other elongate members.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a moveable member with a cutting surface that shears against an anvil member, utilizing a sealing member displacement mechanism, such as a cam device with a non-circular profile, to vary the spacing between the sealing member and the movable member during rotation, preventing damage to the sealing surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ball valve uses a resilient sealing material on the seat to create a seal, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the seat becomes vulnerable to damage from the rotating ball edge during wire cutting operations
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented into distinct functional zones: a cutting zone with the anvil member for wire cutting operations, and a sealing zone with the resilient seat for sealing. The cutting surface is positioned axially separated from the sealing surface, so that the harmful cutting edge is isolated from the vulnerable sealing material, allowing both wire cutting and effective sealing to occur without interference
Solution Approach 2:
The anvil member acts as an intermediary between the cutting surface and the resilient seat. During wire cutting operations, the cutting edge shears against the anvil member, not directly against the resilient seat material. This intermediary protects the delicate sealing surface from direct contact with the high-stress cutting edge, preventing damage while maintaining sealing effectiveness
2Ease of operation
If the ball rotates to close the valve, then the valve can switch between open and closed configurations, but the inner edge of the bore can tear or damage the seat during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is pre-configured with an axially spaced relationship between the cutting surface and sealing surface before operation. The cutting surface is positioned upstream (axially separated) from the sealing surface, so that during ball rotation, the cutting edge engages the anvil member first and remains axially separated from the sealing surface throughout the rotation, preventing damage before it can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful function of the rotating ball edge contacting the seat is extracted and relocated to a dedicated cutting zone with the anvil member. The cutting surface and anvil member form a separate functional system for wire cutting, isolated from the sealing system. This allows the ball to rotate and perform cutting operations without the cutting edge interacting with the resilient seat material
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ball valve cuts wire or elongate members during operation, then the valve can perform intervention functions, but the damaged cutting edge rakes across the seating surface causing tears
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented into distinct functional zones: a cutting zone with the anvil member for wire cutting operations, and a sealing zone with the resilient seat for sealing. The cutting surface is positioned axially separated from the sealing surface, so that the harmful cutting edge is isolated from the vulnerable sealing material, allowing both wire cutting and effective sealing to occur without interference
Solution Approach 2:
The anvil member acts as an intermediary between the cutting surface and the resilient seat. During wire cutting operations, the cutting edge shears against the anvil member, not directly against the resilient seat material. This intermediary protects the delicate sealing surface from direct contact with the high-stress cutting edge, preventing damage while maintaining sealing effectiveness
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 solution effectively prevents damage to the sealing surface by maintaining a safe distance between the cutting surface and the seal, ensuring reliable sealing and reducing the risk of leaks during operation.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing member displacement mechanism, such as a cam device with a non-circular profile, to vary the spacing between the sealing member and the movable member during rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A valve has a moveable member movable between open and closed configurations and a cutting device arranged to shear against an anvil member when moving between the open and closed configurations and a sealing member providing a seat for seating of the moveable member when the moveable member is in the closed configuration. The anvil member and the sealing member are moveable relative to one another when the moveable member is moving from the open to the closed configuration. During opening and closing the sealing member is displaced away from the cutting device as the cutting device engages the anvil member. The sealing member is pushed away from the moveable member and the anvil to a maximum separation from the movable member at the point on the stroke when the cutting surface of the moveable member is moving past the anvil member.