Pressure-Actuated Valve Stop Damping for Impact Stress Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Valves with travel limitation devices experience high loading and hard knocks due to fluid pressure, particularly in 'overseat onflow' scenarios, where the valve element is pressed onto the seat, requiring high force to open and leading to violent movement against the stop, causing mechanical stress.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a shock absorber housing and element within the travel limitation space, which is maintained under atmospheric pressure, to absorb the impact and reduce loading, allowing for in-situ exchange without interrupting fluid flow, thus reducing mechanical stress and extending service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a travel limitation device with a stop element is used to limit the opening travel of the valve element, then the opening travel is limited, but hard knocks occur when the spindle strikes the stop element due to fluid pressure, causing high mechanical loading
Solution Approach 1:
A shock absorber is integrated into the travel limitation device to provide cushioning before the spindle strikes the stop element. The shock absorber includes a shock absorber element that can be compressed during operation, absorbing the impact energy and reducing mechanical stress on the valve components, thereby preventing hard knocks and extending service life
2Ease of repair
If the travel limitation space is under fluid pressure, then the valve operates under normal pressure conditions, but the travel limitation device cannot be exchanged without interrupting fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The valve structure is segmented into a pressure-tight valve body and a separate travel limitation device that can be accessed independently. The travel limitation device is positioned such that it can be exchanged without requiring shutdown of the fluid flow through the main valve, allowing maintenance without productivity loss
3Ease of operation
If high force is applied to open the valve element against fluid pressure, then the valve element can be lifted from the seat, but violent movement occurs causing the spindle to strike the stop element
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber is positioned to engage before the spindle reaches the stop element, providing gradual deceleration and cushioning the impact. This reduces the peak impact force while still allowing the valve to be opened against fluid pressure, making the operation smoother and reducing mechanical stress
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 shock absorber reduces the mechanical stress on the valve by absorbing the impact, allowing for smoother operation and extended service life by maintaining the travel limitation space under atmospheric pressure, enabling rapid and inexpensive device exchange.
Implementation Method 1
the stop element is formed by a shock absorber housing of a shock absorber, said shock absorber being fixed to the drive housing and comprising a shock absorber element which projects in the direction of the stop unit and is movably mounted relative to the shock absorber housing. The shock absorber prevents a hard impact of the drive unit on hitting the stop surface of the stop element.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve, with a valve housing, through which process medium can flow and in which a valve seat which surrounds a throughflow opening is arranged, to which valve seat a valve element which is arranged on a spindle is assigned in a manner such that the valve element by way of an actuation travel of the spindle is movable between a shut-off position, in which the valve element sealingly bears on the valve seat in a process-medium-tight manner, and an open position, in which the valve element is lifted from the valve seat, and with a fluid-actuated valve drive which includes a drive housing and a drive wall which together with the spindle forms a drive unit and which separates two working spaces from one another, of which working spaces at least one can be subjected to pressure, and with a travel limitation device which for limiting the opening travel of the spindle includes a stop element which is fastened to the drive housing and which with an end section which includes a stop surface projects into a travel limitation space, in which the drive unit can strike upon the stop surface for limiting the opening travel, the travel limitation space is constantly under atmospheric pressure and the stop element is formed by a shock absorber housing of a shock absorber.