EA044238B1 - LATCH - Google Patents

Description

State of the art

The present invention relates generally to valve assemblies, and in particular to an improved valve assembly.

Valves are used in oil fields and contain an internal sliding gate that controls the flow of fluid through the through channel of the valve. The sliding valve is flat, has an opening side and a solid sealing side. When the opening side of the valve is aligned with the through channel, fluid is capable of flow through the valve. When the solid sealing side of the valve is aligned with the wellbore, fluid does not flow through the valve.

The essence of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved valve assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve/body cavity assembly that is at least partially rectangular to reduce the weight of the valve body so that the seats and plug can be thinner than if the body cavity were circular to further reduce weight .

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a housing cavity with a circular cavity on a first side and a rectangular cavity on a second side.

Another object of the present invention is to provide reduced size seats for valve assemblies.

Another object of the present invention is to provide bi-directional seals on seats to assist in sealing fluid flow within a well.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a skirt assembly to prevent contaminants from entering the body cavity in order to ensure reliable operation of the valve.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an upstream and/or downstream seal.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide seals that operate over all ranges of temperatures, pressures and fluid types encountered in oil field applications.

Although valves are much lighter than blowout preventer (BOP) equipment, another goal is to reduce the weight and size of the valve for the same size through-duct without sacrificing function. It is desirable to reduce the number of parts and make the same size valve suitable for use in many different applications.

In some cases, it is not known where the valve will be used or where it may be moved, making the selection of suitable seals problematic. Another goal is to enable the same valve to be used for the desired through-channel size for all ranges of temperature, pressure and fluid types encountered in oil field applications.

Another object is to provide a valve that is bi-directional and has an upstream seal with downstream backup seals. However, it is also a possible goal to allow the valve to be converted to provide a downstream seal by simply removing one or more seals, as some users prefer to have valves with only a downstream seal.

One common aspect involves the gate valve. The valve also includes a through passage in the valve that extends through the valve. The valve also contains a body cavity in the valve oriented at right angles to the through channel. The shutter is capable of moving axially along an axis in the housing cavity between an open position and a closed position. The spindle is connected to the gate using a spindle-to-gate connection, with the spindle being on the first side of the through channel. The housing cavity on the first side of the through channel may include a portion with a circular cross-section and a first portion with a rectangular cross-section. The housing cavity may include a second rectangular section on a second side of the through channel opposite the first side. The second rectangular section of the body accommodates the rectangular section of the shutter. The valve may include a valve opening that is aligned with the through channel in an open position, and a solid portion that is aligned with the through channel in a closed position. The solid part has two flat sides. The valve also contains a seat on both sides of the valve. The seat may contain an opening therethrough and is in relation to the surroundings of the through channel. Each seat contains a sealing end that engages one of the two flat sides of the valve when the valve is closed. Additionally, each seat has an outer end opposite the sealing end, which fits into a corresponding pocket in the valve. The width of the valve between the two flat sides of the solid part of the valve is greater than the width of the seat between the sealing end and the outer end of each seat. Each seat may have at least one non-elastomeric U-ring seal oriented such that the opening of at least one non-elastomeric U-ring seal on each seat faces the valve and forms a

- 1 044238 downstream seal. Due to this, when the valve is closed, at least one non-elastomeric U-shaped seal on the downstream side of the valve is positioned to receive fluid pressure into the seal opening so that the valve forms a bi-directional valve with the downstream seal.

Embodiments may include one or more of the following valve features, wherein each seat may comprise two non-elastomeric U-ring seals oriented such that the holes of the non-elastomer U-ring seals face opposite directions from each other. Each U-cup seal contains a spring to push the legs of the non-elastomeric U-cup seals outward. Two non-elastomer U-ring seals are arranged to form an upstream and a downstream seal. The valve may be a bi-directional valve with upstream and downstream seals. A spring for each seat is located at the outer end to push each seat towards the bolt. A metal flange is formed on the seat between two non-elastomeric U-ring seals. The two non-elastomeric back-up rings located directly next to the metal flange can be made of a material that allows them to function as anti-extrusion rings. One retaining ring contains a leg that fits into a groove formed in the seat. The valve may include two metal lips formed on the seat that hold two non-elastomeric back-up rings and two non-elastomeric U-rings in place on the seat. The gate hole is adjacent to the spindle-gate connection such that the gate hole is located between the solid part and the spindle-gate connection. The valve includes a skirt plate on each side of the valve mounted to allow the valve to slide relative to the skirt plate. A skirt plate on each side of the bolt covers the bolt opening when the bolt is moved to the closed position. Each skirt plate engages with a corresponding saddle. The spindle-gate connection may include a non-threaded retainer. The valve may have a gate width between the two flat sides that is greater than the length between the seal end and the outer end of each seat.

One common aspect involves the gate valve. The valve includes a through channel in the valve that extends through the valve. The body cavity in the valve is located at right angles to the through channel. The shutter is capable of moving along an axis in the housing cavity between an open position and a closed position. The valve also includes a spindle configured to connect to the valve via a spindle-to-gate connection, the spindle being on a first side of the through channel. The housing cavity is located on a first side of the through channel and may include a portion with a circular cross-section and a first portion with a rectangular cross-section. The housing cavity has a second rectangular cross-section on the second side of the through channel, opposite the first side. The second rectangular section of the body accommodates the rectangular section of the shutter. The valve includes a valve opening that is aligned with the through channel in the open position, and a solid portion that is aligned with the through channel in the closed position. The solid part has two flat sides. The valve also contains a seat on both sides of the valve. The seat contains an opening through it and is in relation to the surroundings with a through channel. The spring is located at the outer end of each seat. Each spring engages a corresponding wall on either of the two sides of the gate in the valve. Each spring pushes the sealing end for each seat into engagement with one of the two flat sides of the valve when the valve is closed. The width of the valve between the two flat sides is greater than the length between the sealing end and the outer end of each seat. The valve also includes at least one non-elastomeric U-shaped seal mounted on at least one of the seats in a position to form a downstream seal.

Embodiments may include one or more of the following valve features, wherein each seat may comprise two non-elastomeric U-ring seals oriented such that the holes of the non-elastomer U-ring seals face opposite directions from each other. Two non-elastomer U-ring seals are arranged to form an upstream and a downstream seal. The valve is a bi-directional valve with upstream and downstream seals. The valve may include a non-metallic retaining ring located around the outer end of the seat that engages one of two non-elastomeric U-ring seals. A metal flange extends radially outward from each seat and is located between two non-elastomeric U-ring seals. A second non-metallic retaining ring is located on the sealing end of the seat. The second non-metallic retaining ring may include a lip extending into a groove formed around each seat. The valve may include two metal grooves formed around each seat for each of two non-elastomeric U-ring seals, and a metal flange extending radially outward from each seat, which is located between the two non-elastomer U-ring seals. The bolt hole is adjacent to the spindle-to-bolt connection such that the bolt hole is located between the solid part and the spindle-to-bolt connection. The spindle-gate connection may include a non-threaded retainer. The valve may include a skirt plate on each side of the valve, the valve sliding relative to the skirt plate. A skirt plate on either side of the bolt covers the bolt hole when the bolt is moved to the open position.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the drawings, descriptions set forth below, and the accompanying claims. However, it should be understood that the foregoing objects and/or advantages of the present invention are intended only to assist in understanding aspects of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the present invention in any way and therefore do not constitute an exhaustive or limiting list of objects and/or features , and/or benefits.

Brief description of graphic materials

The following detailed description and claims merely illustrate the invention in general terms. Additional principles, advantages and features of this invention will be readily suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. A more complete understanding of the present invention and its many inherent advantages can be readily achieved by consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like details and in which:

in fig. 1 is a perspective view of a valve with a rectangular lower body cavity and a circular upper body cavity according to one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 2 is a side elevation view of a valve without a bonnet, showing a rectangular body cavity without a circular body cavity according to one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 3 is a top view of the housing cavity through the circular upper housing cavity to the lower rectangular housing cavity for a valve assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a valve assembly showing thinner seats on the valve side within a rectangular body cavity than is possible with a round body cavity according to one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 5 is a side view of a valve showing two seat and seal assemblies on both sides of the valve in a rectangular portion of the body cavity in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 6 is a side view of a possible seal assembly on one of two valve seat assemblies in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a seat and seal assembly for a valve according to one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 8 is a side view of another possible seal assembly on one valve seat according to one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 9 is a perspective view of a T-slot gate connector that is slidably placed onto a T-slot connector of a gate valve spindle according to one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 10 is a perspective view of a skirt assembly for preventing or limiting the entry of foreign bodies into a valve housing cavity according to one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 11 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a skirt assembly inserted into the round and rectangular portions of the housing cavity to prevent foreign bodies from entering the housing cavity when opening and closing the slide gate according to one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a skirt assembly inserted into the round and rectangular portions of a valve body cavity according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description

This document provides a detailed description of the present invention. However, it should be understood that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Accordingly, the specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a basis for the claims and as a typical basis for teaching one skilled in the art to apply the present invention to virtually any suitably detailed system, structure, or method.

If we turn to the graphic materials, and in particular to Fig. 1, a valve 100 with a valve body 18 is shown. Inside the valve body 18 is a body cavity 16, which contains an upper body cavity 28 of circular cross-section and a lower body cavity 38 of rectangular cross-section. A through channel 36, also circular, passes through the valve 100 perpendicular to the housing cavity 16. The cover 17 also forms part of the circular upper housing cavity 28. The bottom 21 represents the bottom of the circular housing cavity 28 and the beginning of the rectangular housing cavity 38 and contains the rectangular neck portion 19 of the housing cavity 16 above the through channel 36. In other words, immediately above the through channel 36 is the first part of the housing cavity of a rectangular cross-section, but upward from the bottom 21, as shown in the graphic, the housing cavity 16 is circular. Although the entire upper housing cavity 28 may be rectangular, as shown in FIG. 2, it has been found advantageous that the upper housing cavity 28 is circular, as discussed below. The round cavity of the housing can be circular or elliptical.

The valve 20 includes flat sides 26 that contact the body cavity 16 and the seats 70. In one possible embodiment, the valve 20 includes an opening 22 on the top of the valve. Orifice 22, when aligned with through passage 36, is the open position of valve 100 and allows fluid to flow through through passage 36. A solid sealing surface 24 located on the opposite side of valve 20 from opening 22 blocks fluid flow and seals the through passage 36 when it is aligned with through channel 36.

The valve 20 is provided with a circular hole 22 having the same size as the through channel 36, which allows fluid to flow through the valve in the open position and stops the flow of fluid in the closed position. In a preferred embodiment, this hole is located at the top of the shutter 20 when the shutter is oriented vertically, as shown in the figures. One advantage of having the opening 22 at the top of the through channel is the use of a skirt 60, which reduces the amount of foreign matter entering the housing cavity 16. Consider FIG. 10-12, which illustrate a skirt 60 surrounding the breech 20 and slidably engaged with the breech, which prevents foreign matter from accumulating or moving within the body cavity 16 during movement from an open position to a closed position. Another practical advantage of having a hole at the top allows for simplification for all valve sizes, requiring a reduced number of different parts. This standardization to reduce the number of parts required for different valve sizes reduces the variety requirements and time required to manufacture a valve for the desired application, i.e. 2 per valve, 4 per valve, or 5 per medium-specific valve.

Seats 70 are located between the valve 20 and the valve body 18 on both sides of the valve 20. The valve engages metal seats 70 to provide a metal-to-metal seal with seats. The metal-to-metal seal operates over a wide range of temperatures, pressures, and fluid types encountered in oil field applications. Leakage around the seats 70 between the seats and the valve body 18 in the pockets 32 is discussed next.

The valve 100 can be manually operated by means of a handle 12 that is turned. However, a power-driven actuator can also be used. In this case, the handle 12 is attached to the valve spindle 14, which rotates to raise or lower the valve 20.

In more detail and in continuation of the above discussion, the housing cavity 16 may be divided into two parts, the side of the upper circular, or circular, cavity 28 above the bottom 21 and the side of the lower rectangular cavity 38 below the bottom 21. The upper housing cavity 28 may have a circular cross-section, oval section, elliptical section or the like. While an oval section can reduce the housing size, number of bolts, and the like for maximum weight/size reduction, it may be easier to manufacture a housing cavity with a circular cross-section.

An advantage of a circular cross-section in the upper housing cavity 28 over a rectangular cross-section is that the upper housing cavity 28 can be better filled with grease or other suitable lubricants to facilitate movement and sealing of the valve within the cavity. It should be understood that due to the larger size of the upper circular housing cavity 28 compared to the rectangular upper housing cavity, more lubricant can be applied, which provides more lubrication and prevents foreign bodies from entering the fluid flow through the through passage 36. During opening and closing of the valve foreign bodies may enter the housing cavity 16 due to accumulation in the valve opening 22.

The shutter 20 has a rectangular cross-section that fits tightly to the rectangular cross-section of the lower housing cavity 38. A rectangular cross-section of the lower body cavity 38 can be seen when viewed from top to bottom inside the valve (with the cover removed) as shown in FIG. 3. The rectangular body cavity 38, which may also be referred to as the second rectangular body, reduces the amount of material required to construct a valve for a given size of through-channel 36, thereby reducing weight. Another advantage of the rectangular body cavity is that it reduces the seat width 62 (see FIG. 2) required for the seats 70 since they do not have to be wide enough to pass through the radius of the circular body cavity before reaching the pocket 32 , in which the seats 70 are placed. This may also provide a narrower closure 20, as discussed below.

The lower side 30 of the valve contains a rectangular body cavity 38. As explained above, the use of a rectangular body cavity allows the use of seats with a smaller width 62

- 4 044238 seats (and weight), and also provides a narrower bolt. The seats may have a reduced seat width 62 (FIG. 2) extending outward from the valve compared to the valve width 63 (FIG. 2). This, in turn, reduces the required amount of materials, manufacturing costs, and also reduces the overall weight of the valve.

Referring to FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a valve 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The axis 74 through the housing cavity 16 is perpendicular to the through channel 36 and bisects the housing cavity 16. During the opening and closing operation, the shutter 20 moves axially along an axis 74. The axis 74 also bisects the shutter 20. In FIG. 2, the valve 20 is axially positioned such that the opening 22 is aligned with the through channel 36, thereby allowing fluid to flow through the through channel 36.

The seat width 62 is the distance between the sealing end 61 and the outer end 65 of each seat. Prior art systems typically use a round cavity with a flat seal, which in turn requires wider seats. In one embodiment, the width 63 of the valve between the two flat sealing sides 26 of the valve 20 is greater than the width 62 of the seat between said seal end 61 and the outer end 65 of each seat. Accordingly, the use of a rectangular body cavity provides the advantage of reducing the amount of material required to manufacture the oversized round body cavity, reducing the weight and size of the valve for the same size of through passage 36 and pressure rating of the valve. In this way, the weight of the valve body 18 can be reduced by approximately 32%. In other possible embodiments, the weight can also be reduced by an amount that is greater or less than 32%.

As one example, the prior art round body cavity required a seat width of approximately 5.5 inches and a plug width of 4.5 inches for a valve with a through-bore 36 diameter of 3 1/16 inches and a pressure rating of 15K. In the new design, for the same size of through channel 36 with a rectangular body cavity, the bolt may have a thickness 63 of 2.62 inches and a seat thickness 62 of 1.6 inches. In this example, the seat width is 62% of the bolt width. Accordingly, the seat width is less than 100%, or less than 90%, or less than 80%, or less than 70%, or any percentage within that range, of the breech width. This not only saves body weight, but also significantly reduces the weight of the bolt and seat. The gate has a thickness 63 that is less than the diameter of the through channel 36, and in this example is 85% of the through channel diameter or less than 90% of the through channel diameter.

In fig. 3 is a top view of a valve housing 18 for a valve assembly 100 viewed downward into a housing cavity 16 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A portion in the form of a circular cavity 28 of the cavity 16 of the housing is formed inside the upper part of the housing 18, below which is the bottom 21. The shutter 20 is located in the circular cavity 28 and the rectangular cavity 38 of the housing. The valve 20 is rectangular with a rectangular cross-section 40 perpendicular to the axis 74. The valve 20 consists of flat sealing sides 26 that engage seats (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The rectangular shutter 20 fits tightly into the rectangular cavity 38 of the housing. The circular cavity 28 may also be filled with grease or other suitable lubricants to provide smoother operation and less wear during movement of the bolt within the body cavity as the bolt moves from the open or closed positions. As noted above, the presence of a round upper body cavity allows for an increase in the amount of lubricant compared to the option if the body cavity were also rectangular at the top of the valve. However, having a rectangular body cavity at the top of the valve would also be a possible design according to the present invention.

Consider FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a valve 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The body cavity 16 includes a lower body cavity or a rectangular body cavity 38 having a rectangular shape below a through passage 36 on the second or lower side 30 of the valve. The upper body cavity portion of the body cavity 16 contains a circular cavity 28 above the bottom 21 on the first or upper side 10 of the valve. In other embodiments, the upper housing cavity portion may be oval or rectangular in shape.

In one embodiment, the lower portion of the housing cavity on the underside 30 of the valve slidably accommodates the rectangular valve 20 when the valve 100 is moved to the open position. In another possible embodiment, the valve 20 may include an opening 22 on the bottom of the valve with a solid portion on the top side of the valve 20. As shown, the valve 20 is in an open position with the hole 22 aligned with the through channel 36, thereby allowing fluid to flow . If desired or necessary, the valve 20 can be lowered by turning the handle 12, which is attached to the spindle 14 and further connected to the valve 20. The rectangular valve 20 will then move axially into the rectangular cavity 38. It should also be understood that the seats 70 have a reduced width. The rectangular shape of the body cavity brings the seats 70 closer to the valve 20 and eliminates the need for seat retainers, which are used in

- 5 044238 some valves of the prior art. Eliminating the need for seat retainers to hold the seats in position within the pockets 32 relative to the valve 20 further reduces the inventory requirements and time constraints for manufacturing the valve of the present invention.

In fig. 5 is a side view of a seat assembly 150 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the valve 20 is in the open position with the opening 22 aligned with the through passage 36. The seats 70 are mounted in pockets 32 in the housing 18. The upstream side is indicated by the flow direction arrow 42, and the downstream side is indicated arrow indicating 44 flow directions. When valve 20 is moved to the closed position, fluid flow in through-channel 36 is blocked by the flat sides of solid section 24 of valve 20 (see FIG. 1). Upstream seals 48, 46 and downstream seals 66 and 68 prevent fluid flow around the seats 70 between the seats and the valve body 18. However, only one upstream seal and one downstream seal are used for each flow direction.

For example, if the valve is closed, the upstream seal 46 prevents the flow of fluid between the upstream seat and body 18. If the seal 46 fails, is inoperative, or is not installed, fluid may flow past the seal 48, around the upstream seal. flow of the seat and around the valve 20, but is blocked by the downstream seal 68. In other words, the upstream U-shaped seal 48 and the downstream U-shaped seal 68, the open end of which is directed upward relative to the flow, block the flow of fluid environment, as indicated by the flow direction indicator arrow 42. The use of two seals provides the advantage of better sealing ability due to redundancy in the event that the upstream seal fails to stop the fluid flow. In other words, while the upstream seal 46 prevents fluid flow around the upstream seat 70, the downstream seal 68 does not provide a sealing effect or is not used to stop fluid flow at this time.

Some valve buyers prefer to have only a bi-directional downstream seal in the valve. In the above example, seals 46 and 66 are then removed so that only the downstream seal is used. Thus, when the valve is closed, the downstream seal 68 will provide a seal between the downstream seat and the body 18 to prevent leakage past the downstream seat. If it were desired to have only a bidirectional upstream seal, then seals 48 and 68 could be used. If for any reason it was desired to have only a unidirectional seal, such as an upstream seal, then all seals could be removed, with the exception of seal 46. Thus, the seal configuration can be changed according to user preference, but for a bi-directional redundant seal, all seals are installed. Manufacturing seat assemblies 150 in the manner described above allows the production of one standardized part assembly that serves a variety of sealing needs, i.e. downstream only, upstream only, or bi-directional seal, without the need to manufacture different seat assemblies 150 for each individual desired application.

It should be understood that if the fluid flow is reversed, the seal 66 becomes the upstream seal and the seal 48 becomes the downstream backup seal around the seats. Therefore, the valve is bidirectional and effectively handles fluid flow in both directions. Only two seals are functional depending on the direction of fluid flow in the through channel 36. This configuration is optimal for use in changing conditions.

In fig. 6 and 8 show the seat seal components 46 and 48 in more detail. Seals 66, 68 seats have the same design. Each seat 70 includes a metal seat body with a plurality of non-elastomeric sealing elements. In a preferred embodiment, the metal body of the seat 70 itself is made of Inconel alloy. The sealing elements include PTFE seals with stainless steel springs to power the downstream seals and PEEK support and retaining rings for the upstream and downstream seals. By eliminating elastomeric O-rings, valves will have longer life with less maintenance requirements while being able to withstand more extreme conditions. In this case, the operating temperature range is -50° to 350°F. The sealing elements are well suited for all or virtually all fluids, including corrosive and acidic fluids found in oil fields. In addition, the seals are well suited for all pressures up to 20,000 psi. This material is also durable. This eliminates the hassle of choosing the right seal

- 6 044238 rings for the pressures, fluids and temperatures encountered. It also eliminates the problem of regularly replacing seals caused by aging.

Referring again to FIG. 6 shows an enlarged side view of a seat 70 according to one embodiment of the present invention. If fluid attempts to flow behind seat 70, as indicated by arrow 79, seal 46 prevents fluid flow. This may represent the situation discussed in FIG. 5, where the fluid flows in the through channel 36 in the direction indicated by number 42.

If the fluid flow is in the opposite direction to that shown in FIG. 5 and flows through the upstream seal 66, as indicated by the fluid flow direction arrow 81 towards the seat 70, the fluid being directed towards the seal 48 sealing around the seat.

As perhaps best shown in FIG. 6 than in FIG. 7, the seal assembly, consisting of a U-shaped seal 48 and a back-up ring 72, used with a seat 70 on one side of the metal flange 73, is held in place by a retaining ring 56. The retaining rings may be non-metallic or non-elastomer retaining rings. Retaining ring 56 is snapped or pressed into place by inserting a leg 59, which extends from retaining ring 56, into groove 57. Retaining ring 56 holds U-ring 48 and back-up ring 72 in place against the metal flange 73 of seat 70. Back-up ring 72 also preferably provides an anti-extrusion or anti-extrusion function due to the fact that it is made of a harder material than the base areas 41 and 43 of the U-rings 46 and 48. The back-up rings may be non-elastomeric. In this embodiment, there is no need to snap the retaining ring 76 into place on the opposite side of the retaining ring 56, since the valve body 18 is capable of holding the U-ring 46 and the corresponding backup ring 75 in place. Back-up rings 72 and 75 are located immediately adjacent to the metal flange 73 and between U-shaped seals 46 and 48. The sealing end or surface 82 of the seat 70 engages one of the flat sides of the valve 20 when the valve is closed to seal the through channel 36. An outer spring 78 at the outer end 84 of the seat 70 presses the seat 70 against the valve 20 to form an initial seal. The radial length of the outer end 84 is greater than the radial length of the sealing end 82, so that the pressure between the pocket wall 32 and the outer end 84 creates a force pushing the seat 70 against the valve 20, which presses the seat tightly against the valve as the pressure in the through channel 36 increases when the valve closed.

As one possible example of operation, fluid flow in the direction indicated by the arrow 81 may flow past the retaining ring 56 to the U-ring 48, causing the fluid pressure to expand the U-ring 48 to block movement fluid beyond the seal. The actual seals 47 and 49 at the ends of the leg expansion springs 52 are made of PTFE, as discussed above. Leg expansion springs 52 are used to keep the seal engaged with the metal walls of the pocket 32 and in the correct orientation for proper sealing. Springs 52 expand seals 47 and 49, which are pressed against housing 18 within pocket 32 to create an initial seal. The pressure within the U-shaped seal 48 caused by the pressure in the through passage 36 forces the wings or legs of the spring 52 to open so that the seal 49 maintains a sealing effect at higher pressures. The higher the pressure in the through passage 36, the greater the force generated on the seal 49 due to the pressure in the U-shaped seal interior, which thereby enlarges the openings of the U-shaped interior. The springs 52 may be made of stainless steel or other suitable material.

An outer spring 78 is mounted on the side of the seat 70 opposite the valve 20 to create an initial tension or pressure between the seat and the valve 20, thereby creating an initial metal-to-metal seal between the flat side of the valve 20 and the face or sealing end 82 of the seat 70.

Referring to FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a seat assembly 70 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The combination of seat 70 with associated seals may be referred to as a seat assembly. As discussed above, the seat assembly further includes an outer spring 78 that is used to press the seat 70 against the valve to create an initial tension, thereby creating an initial metal-to-metal seal between the surface of the valve and the metal surface of the seat 70.

In one possible embodiment of the O-ring assembly, the retaining ring 56 may be pressed into place to hold the position of the plurality of other rings and the seat in place against the valve body. Opposite the retaining ring 56 is a retaining ring 76. The O-rings 48 and 46 are capable of expanding to prevent fluid leakage. The seals are designed to be used for bi-directional sealing. These O-rings can be made of PTFE with stainless steel springs that help press the seals against the body for better sealing ability. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene,

- 7 044238 which has many uses. Compared to the use of prior art rubber rings, the use of PTFE allows them to be used over a wider range of temperatures, pressures and conditions. These seals may also be called non-elastomer seals. Compared to elastomers, non-elastomer seals offer the advantage of reduced maintenance and a wider temperature range, as well as a wider range of chemical compatibility. Consequently, the use of non-elastomer seals will allow the operator to use one set of rings for a significantly larger number of different applications, resulting in reduced seal replacement time, reduced maintenance costs and increased operational flexibility. The number of components that must be kept in stock for many applications is greatly reduced, since the seat 70 will be able to be used for many applications, rather than having to use separate seats 70 for each other application. Anti-extrusion support rings 72, 75 and retaining rings 56 and 76 may be made of PEEK material. PEEK is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic with excellent mechanical and chemical resistance that lasts at high temperatures.

In fig. 6, outer retaining rings 56, 76 are used to form outer barriers containing O-rings 48, 46 on seat 70, while in FIG. 8, the metal seat body itself contains metal outer barriers, or lips, that contain the O-rings on the seat 70.

If we compare Fig. 6 from fig. 8 shows another seal assembly. Fewer O-rings are required since there is no need for outer seat retaining rings 56, 76 to hold the seat in the valve assembly. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the retaining ring 56 is missing when the edge 54 is used.

In this embodiment, the U-rings 46, 48 can be installed by sliding past lip 54 using a tapered tool (not shown). In other words, a conical tool has a smaller diameter on which a U-ring is placed and the diameter gradually increases to the diameter of the edge. The U-shaped seal slides along the conical tool until it is compressed enough to move over an edge, such as a metal edge 54 near the seal side or a metal edge 55 on the opposite side. If a U-ring seal is attempted to be installed without a tool, there is a high likelihood that the U-ring seal will be damaged as the U-shaped portion is severely compressed due to the lip being sized to be on the outer range of the circumference through which The diameter of the U-ring seal can move without damage.

The lip 54 projects into the channel or gap to allow the seals to slide into place while also serving as a retaining ring 56 (FIG. 6), which is no longer required. Additionally, on the opposite side to the edge 54, a retaining ring 76 is not included. Likewise, an edge 55 is added, similar to the edge 54, to function as a retaining ring, which is not included in this embodiment. Therefore, fewer parts are required for assembly while maintaining the same functionality.

In fig. 9 is a perspective view of a gate valve according to one embodiment of the present invention. In one possible embodiment, the gate 20 is generally rectangular and includes flat sides 26 and a rectangular section 40, as previously discussed. The valve 20 includes an opening 22 and a continuous sealing area 24 which, when aligned with the through channel, will either provide a seal or allow fluid to flow through the through channel. As discussed above, the seats form a metal-to-metal seal with a continuous sealing area 24. When the valve is oriented vertically, a T-slot, which may also be referred to as a spindle connector, a valve connector, a spindle-to-valve connection, or a retainer 58, may be positioned at the top. The connector 58 may be milled or forged into the gate 20. The connector 58 also includes a reversible connector on the spindle for insertion into the connector 58. The T-slot 58 may be a non-threaded retainer to allow sliding or press the spindle into the connection on the valve 20. This type of connecting element can provide additional strength and rigidity to the valve and the connection between the valve and the spindle, and in addition, the valve may require less time to assemble.

Referring to FIG. 10-12, various views of a skirt assembly for a valve 100 are shown in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The skirt 60 covers the opening 22 of the bolt 20 when the bolt is closed. In this manner, skirt 60 prevents dirt, foreign matter, and the like that may become trapped in opening 22 during operation from entering housing cavity 16 when the valve is closed. This prevents dirt or foreign matter from contaminating the body cavity, which could cause plugging, poor performance, or other interference with the valve. Additionally, the use of a 60 skirt ensures proper operation and increases operating time, at the same time

- 8 044238 reducing downtime required for valve cleaning and maintenance.

In one possible embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the skirt 60 consists of a rectangular frame complementary to the shutter 20. As seen in FIG. 11-12, the skirt 60 is inserted into the body cavity 16 and over the valve 20, where it is locked in place relative to the valve body 18. The skirt 60 has two sides, or skirt plates, 81 that engage by sliding with the closure, thereby sealing the cavity against contamination. The skirt 60 includes two semicircular recesses 83 to provide a tight engagement with the seats 70. The skirt includes a circular hole 85 located at the top to provide a connection between the spindle and the bolt. Skirt 60 may be composed of metal or other suitable material resilient enough to withstand the pressures and temperatures encountered during downhole operations.

In fig. 12, it can be seen that two sides 81 of the skirt 60 extend through the circular or circular cavity 28, past the bottom 21 of the circular cavity 28 and into the engagement of the seats 70. As explained above, when the breech is open and foreign bodies are trapped in the breech opening 22, the sides 81 prevent entry foreign bodies into the body cavity. As also discussed above, the housing cavity is preferably filled with a lubricant to further prevent foreign bodies from entering the housing cavity.

When comparing prior art valves to the present invention, the improved valve's valve and seat assembly is thinner as the overall body cavity size is reduced. This provides the advantages of reduced weight and size for a given through-channel size, as well as operation over a very wide range of temperatures, pressures and fluids. The need for maintenance is also limited compared to prior art valves, since individual components do not need to be changed as frequently to be compatible with current application parameters.

Additionally, the reduced number of parts and operation over a much wider range of temperatures, pressures and fluids allows the same valve to be used in many different types of applications. There are 980 options based on size, pressure rating and material grade; and 3920 combinations taking into account size, pressure, material and temperature. However, there are at least 38000000000 valve combinations that may be required depending on port size, pressure rating, temperature rating, material grade, PSL level, PR level, third party requirements, API regulations, bolting requirements, coating, operating environment, terrestrial or subsea environment, model, end connection type, operator type, indicator type and seat skirt for the desired application. It is often necessary to produce multiple models with different designs in order to accommodate these variations. By standardizing parts based on temperature rating, material grades, PSL levels, bolting requirements, coating, patterns, indicator type, and seat skirt, the present invention is able to reduce the number of possible combinations for a manufactured valve to below 17,000,000. This reduces engineering costs. the technical support required to create each valve for specific applications, and even allows you to maintain a range of valves and their associated components. The present invention may have the potential to reduce the number of models required to fully satisfy the desired parameters described above.

There are currently 4 different temperature range options for valves based on API standards: 1) P+U (-20°F to 250°F), 2) P+X (-20°F to 350°F), 3) L+U (-50°F to 250°F) and 4) L+X (-50°F to 350°F). The present invention only uses non-elastomer seals (see Fig. 7) which satisfy the L+X option and therefore also cover the other 3 temperature options. This eliminates 3 of the 4 previously required assortment options for valve manufacturing.

By standardizing the material class options, which currently consist of H2S partial pressures of 1.5, 360 and unrestricted, to only the unrestricted option for material classes DD-FF, the present invention gets rid of the 6 options that would previously have been required to be kept in material stock, which is costly, or made to order, which is time-consuming. Further standardization of material grades AA-CC is consistent with the ideas outlined in this document to describe a way to reduce the variety requirements and time required to manufacture a valve.

As discussed herein in relation to FIGS. 6 and 8, seats 70 are made of Inconel alloy. Considering seat weight and wall thickness as a design parameter, 70 seat geometries can be combined for the following valve sizes and pressure ratings:

1) 2 - one seat design for 5 ksi, 10 ksi, 15 ksi and 20 ksi applications;

2) 3 - one seat design for 5 ksi, 10 ksi, 15 ksi and 20 ksi applications;

3) 4 - one seat design for 5 ksi and 10 ksi applications, one seat design for 15 ksi and 20 ksi applications;

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Claims (4)

4) 5 - one seat design for 5 ksi and 10 ksi applications, one seat design for 15 ksi and 20 ksi applications. In addition, valve production for manual, hydraulic and fail-safe valves can be standardized to use only Inconel and 4140 steel, with a 20 channel on top of the valve. Considering valve weight and wall thickness as a design parameter, valve geometries can be combined to the following valve sizes and pressure ratings: 1) 2 - one valve design for 5 kpsi, 10 kpsi, 15 kpsi and 20 kpsi applications; 2) 3 - one valve design for 5 ksi, 10 ksi, 15 ksi and 20 ksi applications; 3) 4 - one valve design for 5 ksi and 10 ksi applications, one valve design for 15 ksi and 20 ksi applications; 4) 5 - one valve design for 5 ksi and 10 ksi applications, one valve design for 15 ksi and 20 ksi applications. In addition, spindles can be standardized to use only Inconel and 4140 steel. Considering spindle weight and wall thickness as a design parameter, spindle geometries can be combined for the following valve sizes and pressure ratings: 1) 2 - one spindle design for 5 ksi, 10 ksi, 15 ksi and 20 ksi applications; 2) 3 - one spindle design for 5 ksi, 10 ksi, 15 ksi and 20 ksi applications; 3) 4 - one spindle design for 5 ksi and 10 ksi applications, one spindle design for 15 ksi and 20 ksi applications; 4) 5 - one spindle design for 5 ksi and 10 ksi applications, one spindle design for 15 ksi and 20 ksi applications. By standardizing parts based on temperature rating, material grades, PSL levels, bolting requirements, coating, patterns, indicator type, and seat skirt as described above, the present invention is capable of reducing the number of possible combinations for a manufactured valve from more than 38000000000 to less than 17000000 , which means reducing the number of possible combinations by more than 2000 times. This reduces the engineering costs required to create each valve for a specific application and even allows you to maintain a range of valves. This allows delivery to be carried out much faster. Finally, valve 100 utilizes a rectangular lower housing cavity 38. The upper housing cavity 28 may be circular. The seats 70 are narrow and may have a fairly narrow width than the valve 20. Non-elastomeric U-ring seals provide bi-directional sealing upstream with a backup seal downstream. The skirt 60 prevents foreign bodies from entering the housing cavity 16. The foregoing disclosure and description of the present invention is illustrative and explanatory, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes in size, shape and materials, as well as details of the depicted structure or combinations of features of various key elements, can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Moreover, the scope of this patent is not limited to its verbatim terms, but instead covers all equivalents of the described claims. CLAIM 1. A valve comprising a through channel in said valve, passing through said valve; a housing cavity in said valve is oriented across said through channel, said housing cavity in said valve extending from a point above said through channel to a point below said through channel when said valve is vertical; the shutter is capable of moving axially in said housing cavity between an open position and a closed position along an axis through said housing cavity; the spindle is connected to said gate using a spindle-to-gate connection; wherein said closure comprises a closure opening that is aligned with said through channel in said open position, and a solid portion that is aligned with said through channel in said closed position, said solid portion comprising two sides; And -