Valve Seat Puller Head Assembly with Tapered Buttress Thread
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional valve seat puller heads in mud and frac pump systems are prone to premature failure due to clearance between components, leading to safety hazards and increased manufacturing costs, as they require welding and have a reduced fatigue life.
Innovation Solution
A valve seat puller head design featuring two halves with internal threads and clip springs that eliminate the need for welding and reduce clearance, utilizing a tapered buttress thread to engage with the allthread and incorporating a cold pull mechanism with an extremely cold glycol solution to enhance safety and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional seat puller head design with multiple components (head halves, pivot pins, retaining ring, garter spring) is used, then the assembly can be completed with standard manufacturing processes, but welding is required which increases manufacturing time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple components (seat puller head halves, pivot pins, retaining ring, and garter spring) into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for welding and assembly of multiple parts, directly resolving the contradiction by reducing manufacturing time and complexity while maintaining structural integrity.
2Ease of operation
If conventional seat puller head with clearance between components is used, then assembly is easier, but clearance allows sliding that increases moment of force and reduces fatigue life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the clearance parameter between components to a minimal or zero value. By eliminating the clearance that allows sliding, the design prevents the exponential increase in moment of force, thereby extending fatigue life and improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation through the integrated design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional seat puller head with multiple components is used, then the structure can accommodate the valve seat removal function, but the number of components increases the risk of separation and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components into a single integrated seat puller head that maintains all necessary functional capabilities for valve seat removal. This reduction in component count eliminates the risk of separation between parts, directly improving safety while preserving adaptability and versatility.
4Strength
If conventional design requiring welding is used, then structural integrity can be achieved, but welding is cost prohibitive and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for welding by integrating all components into a single piece. This maintains structural integrity through the unified design while dramatically reducing manufacturing cost and time, as no welding processes are required.
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 design increases safety by minimizing the risk of component separation and reduces manufacturing time and costs, while extending the fatigue life of the puller head through reduced shear pressure and enhanced material distribution, thereby minimizing hazardous conditions during operation.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of spring clips (sometimes also called 'clip springs') are clipped in place within a spring slot where the two seat puller head halves join together. The spring clips hold and secure the seat puller head halves together.
Implementation Method 2
A tapered buttress thread is used to engage the valve seat puller head with the allthread
Implementation Method 3
incorporating a cold pull mechanism with an extremely cold glycol solution to enhance safety and durability
Data Source
AI summary
A valve seat puller head assembly is comprised of seat puller head halves and springs. The seat puller head halves come together forming an opening. A pair of spring clips hold and secure the seat puller head halves together providing the outward force required to pre-position the tool (i.e., seat valve puller head assembly) in proper area for valve seat removal. In one embodiment, the valve seat puller head assembly further comprises an allthread having a tapered buttress engaged with the valve seat puller head via the opening of the valve seat puller head, eliminating thread clearance there between and greatly reducing the shear pressure at a root initiation area. In an alternative embodiment, a subzero temperature glycol solution within a portion of the valve seat puller head is circulated to “cold pull” heat from the valve seat puller head assembly and the valve seat which is in contact therewith.