A knife gate valve sits betwen two piping flanges. Any
suggestions on how this can be added in routing. Currently the only
way I can do it is to create a subassembly of the valve with
flanges and insert it into a split in the pipe.
You are on the right track. or else you can also add the valve
after you add a flange, for that you will need a valve with route
point and also the mates references will need to add.
I have a single R point at the centre of the valve and wish
to insert this between flanges that have a C and R point. I'm not
able to drop in the second flange for the valve. Have you been able
to do this?
Derek, I used to insert my valves as asseblies as you
describe. You need to make an assembly with the valve and flanges.
Then add AC points and AR point in the assembly. (that is the
fittings themselves have a cpoint and rpoint but there needs to be
assembly cpoint and rpoint at assembly level. Nice because you can
split line segment and add fitting.
This worked with varying degrees of success. Mainly the problem was
referencing issues. I would end up with multiple copies of the
flange in many places due to poor copying practices and it would
get confused where to look. Anyway it is doable but if you have
multiple users referencing the same library it can get messy.
Lately I have been doing something different. I just split a
segment in 2 places (roughly the distance between flanges needed),
then make sure the lines are co-linear and dimension the end points
as needed. Still in the sketch I add construction line from end
point to end point and place a point at mid point of the segment
for placement of valve. Then I add flanges. Exit sketch and insert
valve at mid point. It stays centered between flanges and the
flanges are dimensioned for valve laying length plus gaskets.
Seems like a lot but it really isn't. Pretty stable as well.
I tried it and it works Steve. A bit fiddly and I'd be
inclined just to have a separate route before and after the valve.
The valve gets dragged into the first route assembly.
In the products that my company builds we often use valves that
have flanged connections. If the valve is flanged, we model it as a
part with the companion flanges included into the part assembly.
So, it does not really have to be a sub-assembly. But the pipe
fitters that fabricate the assembly really don't care. There is
really nothing to gain by showing each part on your BOM. Although
logistically, you have to send them the valve and the companion
flanges as a package.
About 90% of the flanged valves that I use are refrigeration valves
and they typically are provided with companion flanges.
Refrigeration flanges are "special" male-female gasketed flanges.
Although they are provided to me by my suppliers as a valve
assembly, I just name the valve "with companion flanges" for the
BOM. I think that this actually makes it easier for the fitters. It
certainly makes it a lot easier for me.
It is also more accurate because my supplier's drawings are based
upon the distance between the companion flanges and include the
take-up necessary for the gaskets.
This approach wouldn't work if I found it necessary to include an
exploded view to show how the companion flanges are to be bolted
onto the valve, but most fitters don't need this much help. But if
you want companion flanges as a separate entry on the BOM, then you
probably would also want the flanges gaskets, bolts and nuts as
well?? This makes for a lot of work, doesn't it??
Yes David it does make a lot of work. You are making me
jealous since I have to add all this for my shop details. They
actually wanted me to add washers at one point but that is where I
draw the line.
As it is I have a standard flange part and a mating flange
assembly. The assembly has 3 files: The flange, a studs with nuts
file, and a gasket file. The studs with nuts and gasket are part
files with no geometry. Just a design table with all
configurations. This way I can have all the BOM info for all
flanges with thier associated hardware but not be bogged down by
actual parts. It is still a pain sometimes when it comes to waffer
type valves but mostly it works pretty smooth for standard
connections.
It would make things much easier to order a valve with mating
flanges but I think in many cases that is not an option.
You are on the right track. or else you can also add the valve after you add a flange, for that you will need a valve with route point and also the mates references will need to add.
Thanks and Regards
Sandip Darveshi.