The gear-operated ball valve is a specially designed ball valve that uses a gear reduction mechanism (gear box) to achieve the opening and closing operation of the valve. Its core is to amplify the operating force through gear transmission and reduce the intensity of manual operation. It is especially suitable for valve control under large-diameter or high-pressure conditions. The following are its key features and working principles:
1. Core structure and working principle
Gear transmission mechanism
The gear box is installed on the top of the valve stem, and the manual rotation force is amplified through the gear set, driving the valve stem to drive the ball to rotate 90° to achieve opening and closing.
Operation mode: clockwise rotation to close, counterclockwise rotation to open (the gear box is usually marked with a switch direction arrow).
Operation force optimization
The gear reduction design significantly reduces the torque required for valve opening and closing, solving the problem of large-diameter ball valves being difficult to operate manually due to high medium pressure.
2. Main types and design features
Structural classification
Fully welded gear ball valve: The valve body adopts an integrally welded type, which is suitable for harsh working conditions such as oil and natural gas, and has strong anti-leakage performance.
Top-mounted/side-mounted gear ball valve: The valve body structure is designed according to maintenance requirements, and the top-mounted type is convenient for online maintenance.
Function expansion
It can be adapted to electric or pneumatic actuators (through high platform design) to achieve automatic control.
Some models are equipped with a stem anti-blowout structure to enhance the safety of high-pressure environments.
3. Typical application scenarios
Large-diameter pipelines: Such as oil transportation and liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipelines, which need to overcome high medium resistance.
High-pressure system: High-pressure fluid control in the chemical and power industries relies on the torque amplification function of the gearbox.
Special media: Suitable for fluids containing particles and high viscosity, but it should be noted that V-type regulating ball valves are not suitable for gear operation (because of the need for precise adjustment).