GB2161564A - Frangible pipe coupling-single divisable ball valve - Google Patents

Abstract

A divisable single ball valve coupling has two independent body members 1,20, the first member containing a half ball valve sphere 8 with retaining and operating means 12, sealing system 4 with its means of movement, and a frangible means (29,30, Fig. 1) of locking the two body members. The second member contains the other half of ball valve sphere 8 with retaining and operating means 12 and a sealing system 4 with its means of movement. On mating the first member with the second, member sealing system initiates, thus sealing valve body is sealed and the united two half spheres (a united sphere) rotate to bring the sphere ports in line with the body throat ports, thus opening the valve. During the course of rotation of the sphere, seal assemblies 3,4,5 are raised from the sealed positions on surfaces of half spheres, to permit easier rotation and avoid damage to seals, and are then lowered to seal in vicinity of sphere ports. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Divisable single ball valve/coupling This invention relates to a so-called divisable single ball valve/coupling for incorporation in a hoseline, pipeline or tubular transport of material system or to a fixed pipeline point attaching to a flexible hoseline to minimise/eliminate spillage and to control the passage of material under operating conditions and to separate into two individually sealed sections each section closing/ sealing the end of such hoseline/pipeline, or tubular system or fixed pipeline to flexible hose.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART AND BACK GROUND INFORMATION Ball valves are well known and established in industry for the flow control of various products and raw materials, for example: fluids, gases, powders. They are simple in application, functioning by allowing the material being transported to flow through a bore in an internal sphere, which on rotation against the bore of its body casing, cuts off, seals, or reduces the flow of material. The internal sphere and its sealing system have to be very accurately manufactured, especially the sphere with regard to spherical shape and surface finish in order to function correctly.

Ball valves are incorporated in pipeline, hoseline and tubular transport systems of various denominations.

The design/manufacture of such ball valves are made under established conditions, methods and codes of practice as described in various national and international engineering standards, for example "British Standard No BS 5351~Steel ball valves for the petroleum, petrochemical and allied industries". It is the intention of the present invention to meet all the requirements of such national and international standards, methods and codes of practice. The nature of the product/raw material being transported and its velocity and pressure determine the materials of construction for such ball valves and again it is the intention of the present invention to meet such material requirements.

There exists within the industry using such ball valves and other types of pipeline/hoseline and tubular transport sealing valves, a situation whereby under certain conditions it would be preferable to isolate/divide/separate into two (or multiple) parts a transport line (pipeline, hoseline or tubular transport system).

This is physically separating into two or more sections a transport line system with each individual section being sealed, free and independent of the others, as different from closing the flow of material within the line by closing a valve with the closed valve remaining in situation on the line.

Examples of such a situation could occur during the loading/unloading of material to or from various mobile transport mediums such as marine carriers (ships, tankers, etc.), road carriers and aircraft, when during the operation a potentially critical, dangerous or hazardous situation could develop, or in the case of a fixed establishment where an individual section of process plant indicates a potentially critical, dangerous or hazardous situation, or from one storage system to another, or in the case of an oil/gas well offshore to a fixed/floating production unit.

At present the above situations are covered by the use of valves (multiples of valves) generally linked together with flanges-mat- ing the valves in line situation---or valves with various types of coupling systems.

Ball valves are generally supplied as per section 1.1 of BS 5351, i.e.: (A) flanged end valves (B) butt-weld end valves (C) screwed-end valves (D) socket weld end valves (E) weld end valves in either full bore or reduced bore application.

It is the intention of the present invention to cover such supply requirements.

Operation/actuation of such ball valves is normally effected by various types of valve actuators and it is the intention of the present invention to accomodate all such actuator types.

SPECIFICATION It is an object of the present invention to provide a divisable ball valve/coupling which is of simple and robust construction and satisfactory safe in operation.

According to the present invention there is provided a divisable single ball valve/coupling with each section independent and self-sealing. The valve comprises: two mating body halves of shaped tubular construction, two halves of a ball valve inner sphere (i.e. two hemispheres), two diametrically opposed sealing assemblies, comprising seal, retaining carrier, disc springs and holding casing, a means to retain each individual hemisphere within each individual mating body, an actuating means to seal unit and operate (open/close) united valve, a means to raise/lower each individual seal assembly, a means to effect precise location of the two mating halves prior to engagement and to retain in location with the two individual half valves in the closed position, should valve separation not be required, such means being designed to break/separate under emergency conditions when a certain load/tension point between the two valve halves is reached and/or passed.

According to the present invention the working of the invention is as this sequence: the two mating halves of the valves, one half (A) comprising one mating body, one hemi sphere with retaining/rotating means, one assembly of sealing to hemisphere surface, one means of raising/lowering said assembly of sealing to hemisphere surface and means for locking complete divisable ball valve and for rotating united sphere within the two united locked mating body halves (unified body) is offered to mate with the other mating body (B) which comprises one mating body, one hemisphere with retaining/rotating means, one assembly of sealing to hemisphere surface, one means of raising/lowering said assembly of sealing to hemisphere and location/retaining means for united valve.

Upon location, the location/retaining means of half (B) is positioned/locked upon half (A) utilising connection point on body half (A). At this situation, the retaining/locking/rotating means is free to move in a circumferential motion. The actuating means operating in a rotary fashion transports first the retaining means of each hemisphere to enter into the retaining channels of the other, thus at initial moment unifying/ locking the two half bodies. In subsequent sequence, the seal raising assemblies activate, raising the two seal interfaces above the surface of the two mated hemispheres, thus permitting unrestricted rotation of the two united hemispheres (complete sphere). At this point product begins to flow, passing the seal assembly of body (A) into united body of valve and exiting past seal assembly of body (B).

With continuing rotation of united sphere, the ports of sphere commence to pass body throat ports, thus initiating complete flow of product. The united sphere continues to rotate until ports of sphere are aligned with body throat ports. Prior to united sphere reaching end of desired rotation, the two seal assemblies descend to seal upon aligned sphere in the "open full flow position", i.e., ports of sphere aligned with body throat ports. At this point valve is in fully locked united situation with unified ball valve open and product in full flow.

To effect closure of valve, sequence is as follows: united sphere initiates rotation with each seal assembly moving upwards, ports of sphere commence to return past body throat ports, thus commencing to restrict flow of product.

When sphere ports are in vicinity of completely passing body throat ports, the seal assemblies descend to seal upon each hemisphere surface. At the end of rotation the two halves of valve are completely sealed to product line and are free to make independent movement if desired. Each half of divisable ball valve is held in location by means of holding system. This holding means is designed to break when an established pulling force is reached, thus permitting independent movement of the two sealed valve half units.

The need for the holding system and the breaking point for separation will be determined by the operating conditions for the valve.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a divisable ball valve for use in hoseline, pipeline and associated transport systems with the valve in the locked open line position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing valve in the unlocked, sealed, closed position.

Figure 3 shows separation of the divisable ball valve, each half being independent and fully sealed/closed.

Referring to the drawings, the divisable single ball valve/coupling comprises two shaped body parts 1 and 20 of generally tubular form which are formed/fabricated at their sdjacent ends with cooperating male and female sealing faces 21 and 14. An annulsr recess to accomodate an '0' ring seal 15 is cut into face of 21 The body 1 has also a reinforced section 22 to house activating stem 16. At their remote ends, bodies are provided with tubular section 23, dimensions being as international pipe/tube standards to permit attachment to parent equipment. Within each body is provided an annular energising spring for seal assembly 3, the seal container/slide 4 with firesafe design projection 2, the seal 5, two seal assembly raising arms 6, one half of divisable sphere 8.

Each half of divisable sphere accomodates one half of an internal liner 9, such liner having cooperating faces. On two diametrically opposed faces of the divided liner a recess to accomodate a seal 10 is incorporated. Each half of divisable sphere has two diametrically opposed flat wall sections 25.

On each flat wall section is accomodated the half sphere retainer/slider 12. Also located on one flat wall of each half sphere is an entry 26 to accomodate a half section of head of activating stem 16. On the inside of each body part are located two diametrically opposed half annular channels 11, cut to accomodate the half sphere retainer/slider 12 and the bushing 13 for the half sphere retainer/slider. Upon the half sphere slider 12 is accomodated a cam or eccentric section 19/27 to activate seal raising arms 6. Within the construction of body 1 exists a thicker section 22 to accomodate activating stem 16, with bushing 17 and stem seal 18 and split inner stem bushing 7. Section 22 terminates in a mode to accomodate desired actuation means, i.e. selected valve actuator mechanism.

On the outside of body A 1 in two diametrically opposed locations is the holding bracket 28 with pin 29 and snap rod 30 which, together with locking bracket 31 on body B 20, comprise the means for location/holding the separately sealed independent half valve sections. The snap rod 30 is designed to break when subjected to a determined tensile load. The thickness of section and selection of material will determine breaking point.

In normal use of the divisable ball valve/coupling, assembly and operation are of this sequence. Top half of unit-part A. Take the body 1, insert the annular energising spring 3 into location, then place the seal container/slide 4 in position above 3, and ensure free movement upwards and downwards by light pressure. Locate the seal 5 in position in 4 and connect the seal raising arms 6 in position. Next insert the bushing 13 of slide channel 11 and fix in position. Take next one complete half sphere assembly (parts 8,9,10,12,19) and enter sphere retaining/slider 12 into bushing 13 of slide channel 11 and gradually rotate half sphere, thus entering into the body 1. As cam 19 on sphere retaining/ slide 12 engages with seal unit, raising arms 6, resistence will be felt.Continue rotating half sphere assembly, seal raising arms 6 will then move upwards, thus moving seal assembly (4,5). To compress energising spring 3, seal at this point is raised above surface of half sphere, continue rotating half sphere. At a certain point the seal raising arms 6 will commence to pass the end of the cam 19, thus commencing to lower the seal assembly (4,5). To seal on surface of half sphere 8, continue rotating the sphere until sphere is completely aligned with body. Next locate stem bushing 17, split inner stem bushing 7 and stem seal 18 in body of valve and then enter stem 16 to locate stem in entry of wall of half sphere 26. If stem assembly is used to rotate half sphere, the stem assembly will be introduced to half valve 1 at the same time as the half sphere assembly. Assemble annular '0' ring seal 15 to make sealing face 21.Attach holding/locating means (retaining bracket 28, pin 29, swing snap rod 30) to outside positions on body. Now taking body B 20 insert seal assembly (3,4,5,6) as body A, assemble bushing 13 in slide channel 11 and fix as body A.

Next insert other complete half sphere assembly (8,9,10,12,27) as previous sequence, rotating until half sphere is aligned correctly in body B. Now introduce seals 10 to liner 9 and next offer complete assembly of body B to mate with body A. The cooperating tapered faces 14, 21 will locate/align correctly and the half sphere 8 of body B will locate on stem 16. Now enter the two swing snap rods 30 to lock on locking bracket 31. This has the effect of compressing '0' ring seals 15, 10 and uniting the two half spheres to form a dimensionally correct sphere. Upon rotating the valye stem 16, the sphere retaining sliders 12 of body B commence to enter into body A and those sliders of body A enter into body B, thus uniting the two halves of the valve as one homogeneous sealed unit.Simultaneously the united sphere moves with the seal raising arms 6 commencing to lift the two seal assemblies (3,4,5), thus moving the two seals 5 away from the united sphere. At this point material/ product commences to flow past seal assembly of body A into united yalve and exits into pipeline via seal assembly of body B. As sphere port commences to pass body port, product enters into united liner and exits yia lower sphere body ports.

Rotation continues until sphere ports are aligned with body ports. Prior to united sphere reaching end of rotation, the seal raising system descends to enable seal to seal upon sphere in vicinity of open ports, thus containing product in direct flowline through liner of sphere.

To cut off/seal/isolate/divide the said pipeline, hoseline, tubular transport system, the stem 16 is moved in reverse, thus revolying the sphere, revolving the locking assembly, raising and lowering the seal assembly until end of rotation is reached. At this point the divisable ball valve is in two independent sealed sections held only in light location by the snap rod 30 which, if emergency conditions occur, such as the drifting of a tanker away from its mooring during loading/unloading operations, will break when a certain tension is reached, thus allowing complete independent movement of both sealed valve/ coupling sections.

(1) Body part A (2) Firesafe projection on 4 (3) Seal assembly energising spring (4) Seal container/slide (5) Seal (6) Seal unit raising arms (2) (7) Split inner bushing for stem (8) Half sphere (hemisphere) (9) Liner for half sphere (10) Seal for liner half sphere (11) Slide channel for half sphere (12) Half sphere slider/retainer (13) Bushing for slide channel (14) Cooperating female tapered sealing face/flange.

Part A (15) Channel with '0' ring seal on tapered sealing face/flange. Part B (16) Activating stem (17) Bushing for stem (18) Stem seal (19) Cam on sphere slider/retainer. Part A (20) Body part B (21) Cooperating male tapered sealing face/flange.

Part B (22) Reinforced section to house activating stem (23) Standard dimension tube/pipe (24) '0' ring seal on slider (25) Flat wall section of half sphere (26) Entry for stem head (27) Cam on sphere/retainer slider (28) Retaining bracket (29) Pin (30) Swing snap rod (31) Locking bracket on 20

Claims (7)

1. A divisable single ball valve/coupling device for use in a hoseline, pipeline or other tubular transport of material system, comprising two mating members, of generally tubular form, the first member arranged at one end for connection to a hoseline, pipeline or other tubular transport of material system and provided at its other end with a face to be held in sealing engagement with a complementary face of second member. Such second member also arranged at far end for connection to a hoseline, pipeline or other tubular transport of material system and means to hold such faces in sealing engagement.

Said first valve member further comprising a half ball valve sphere, a valve seal/seat assembly, means for retaining/operating such half ball valve sphere, means for operating such valve seal/seat assembly and actuating means for united divisable ball valve / coupling. Said second valve member further comprising a half ball valve sphere, a valve seal/seat assembly, means for retaining/operating such half ball valve sphere, means for operating such valve seal/seat assembly.

First said member has actuating means to rotate united ball valve sphere within united/sealed/engaged members of valve, and to effect movement of valve seat/seal assemblies.

2. A divisable single ball valve/coupling device for incorporation in a pipeline, hoseline or other tubular transport of material system, comprising a pair of members as claimed in claim 1 and means to locate and hold such members in sealing engagement.

3. A divisable single ball valve/coupling device for incorporation in a pipeline, hoseline or other tubular transport of material system, comprising two divisable ball valve sphere halves, and means for uniting, retaining and operating such divisable ball valve halves within valve members.

4. A divisable single ball valve/coupling device for incorporation in a pipeline, hoseline or other tubular transport of material system, comprising two floating valve seal/seat assemblies and means for retaining and operating within such said valve members.

5. A divisable single ball valve/coupling device for incorporation in a pipeline, hoseline or other tubular transport of material system, as claimed in claim 1 and 3 in which the travel of each valve half sphere is restricted so that the two halves travel as a united sphere.

6. A divisable single ball valve/coupling, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. The features herein described, or their equivalents, in any novel selection.