Development of Clamp Type-Valve Locking Device to Improve Clamping Force

Valve locking device has been used to prevent safety accident due to human error in valve operation in power plants and manufacturing plants. The conventional locking devices are not optimized for working environment, and have problems of failure of locking function and lack of durability. This study developed a new type of locking device with clamps for easily assembling and disassembling. Optimization of clamp groove shape was conducted to maximize clamping force and to ensure structural safety of clamp and wire by using response surface method. Rigid body dynamic-structural coupled analysis of the optimum locking device was carried out to verify structural safety under locked state. Performance test of the prototype was implemented to check clamping force.