GB2265966A

GB2265966A - Flow control valve

Info

Publication number: GB2265966A
Application number: GB9202533A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Graham Taylor
Original assignee: SEABOARD LLOYD Ltd
Current assignee: SEABOARD LLOYD Ltd
Priority date: 1992-02-06
Filing date: 1992-02-06
Publication date: 1993-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 2012-02-06
Also published as: GB2265966B; GB9202533D0

Abstract

A fluid flow control valve (1) comprises an annular casing (2) having at least one outlet port (3), and a hollow cylindrical control member (8) moving in the casing (2) and having a tip portion (9) receivable in a bottom cup (5) of the casing (1). The tip portion (9) is open at its outer end (12) while the portion's wall has radial fluid ports (10). In the closed position the tip portion (9) is located fully in the cup (5) with a sealing surface (17) of control member (8) engaging the casing (2) to preclude flow. As the tip portion is brought out of the cup (5) flow to the casing ports (3) is at a reduced level via the radial ports (10). In the fully open position, flow occurs through the outer end (12) of the tip. The radial ports (10) may be at differing longitudinal positions along the member (8). <IMAGE>

Description

Flow Control Valve The present invention relates to a flow control valve and more especially to a flow control valve of the choke type providing flow control via a tip.

Choke valves with flow control tips are used in a variety of applications, in particular within the petrochemical and oil industries. In one example, the valve is used in Christmas trees of wellheads in oil production. It is an object of the present invention to provide a flow control valve of this type giving increased flow capacity relative to prior art choke valves.

According to the present invention, therefore, a flow control valve comprises a casing, outlet port means on a wall portion of the casing, a movable conduit member In said casing including a tip portion, said tip portion including a peripheral array of ports and an axial discharge port at the outer end of the tip whereby a flow path is achievable between the port means and the conduit member, a cup at the end of said casing adapted to receive said tip portion, and sealing means in said cup to preclude a fluid flow path between the tip portion and said port means when the tip portion is located in said cup.

Preferably the peripheral port array is such that varying flow discharge to the port means occurs as the tip portion is withdrawn from the cup.

Preferably the sealing means comprises an annular seating wall in the cup engagable with the peripheral wall of the tip portion arranged complementary to said seating wall.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a cross-sectional side view of a flow control valve in accordance with the invention, the left side of the figure showing the valve in the full discharge position while the right side shows the valve in the fully closed position. Thus the valve 1 which is of choke type with a flow control tip comprises an annular casing 2 provided with a series of annular discharge ports 3 in fluid communication with an outer jacket 4, a closure cup 5, at the bottom (inner) end of the casing 2, and a conduit member 6 movable in the casing 2 so as to enter the cup 5.

The conduit member 6 which is slidable in a casing portion 2A provided with seal means 7 to prevent fluid escape via the portion 2A includes a stem 8 and a smaller-diameter tip portion 9 having a peripheral array of ports 10 communicating with a central conduit 11 of the member 6. Further, tip portion 9 includes an axial port 12 from the conduit 11. The cup 5 joined to the casing 2 by a spigot joint 13 has an annular seat member 14 a wall 15 of which serves as a seating wall for a complementary wall portion 16 of the tip portion 9, downward movement of the member 6 being limited by a frusto-conical shoulder 17 on the member 6 engaging the mouth of the seat 14. The wall 15 can have a tapering portion, while the member 6 can include seal rings 18 for sealingly fitting the valve 1 to a casing.

In the closure position on the right side of the figure, the cup 5 precludes a flow path between the ports 10, 12 of the tip portion 9 and the ports 3. As the stem 8 is moved upwards by a suitable actuator (not shown), the peripheral ports 10 open in a gradual manner to expose a flow path between the ports 10 and the ports 3 on the casing, no flow path being present via the port 12 in this situation, and a high level of flow controlability can be achieved when most required.

Additional travel of the stem 6 will fully expose the plug type profile of the tip portion 9 (as shown in the left side of the figure) and in particular the full seat bore 11 so providing a dual flow path, specifically through the multi-port array 10 and directly through the axial port 12 respectively.

Consequently, the above valve 1 of the present invention provides an increased regulating orifice arrangement in comparison with prior art valves of similar type.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A flow control valve comprising a casing, outlet port means on a wall portion of the casing, a movable conduit member in said casing including a tip portion, said tip portion including a peripheral array of ports and an axial discharge port at the outer end of the tip whereby a flow path is achievable between the port means and the conduit member a cup at the end of said casing adapted to receive said tip portion, and sealing means in said cup to preclude a fluid flow path between the tip portion and said port means when the tip portion is located in said cup.

2. A control valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral port array is such that varying flow discharge to the port means occurs as the tip portion is withdrawn from the cup.

3. A control valve as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing means comprises an annular seating wall in the cup engagable with the peripheral wall of the tip portion arranged complementary to said seating wall.

4. A control valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet port means of the casing comprises an annular array of individual ports.

5. A control valve as claimed in claim 4, wherein a jacket or manifold is provided on the casing surrounding the outlet port means.

6. A control valve as claimed in claim 2, wherein the peripheral port array comprises ports at different longitudinal location on the tip portion.

7. A control valve as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tip portion includes a frusto-conical peripheral wall portion engagable with a complementary surface on the casing to define said sealing means, the tip portion including an annular portion adjacent said frusto-conical wall portion movable into close relationship with the internal wall of the cup in a closed position of the valve.

7. A flow control valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A flow control valve comprising a casing, outlet port means on a wall portion of the casing, a movable conduit member in said casing including a tip portion, said tip portion including a peripheral array of ports and an axial discharge port at the outer end of the tip whereby a flow path is achievable between the port means and the conduit member receiving member at the end of said casing adapted to receive said tip portion, sealing means on said conduit member and seating means engageable by said sealing means to preclude a fluid flow path between the tip portion and said port means when the tip portion is located in said receiving member.

2. A control valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral port array is such tLat varying flow discharge to the port means occurs as the tip portion is withdrawn from the receiving member.

3. A control valve as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the seating means comprises an annular seating wall in the receiving member engagable with the peripheral wall of the tip portion arranged complementary to said seating wall.

5. A control valve as claimed in claim , wherein a jacket or manifold is provided on the casing surrounding the outlet port means.

7. A control valve as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tip portion includes a frusto-conical peripheral wall portion engagable with a complementary surface on the casing to define said sealing means, the tip portion including an annular portion adjacent said frusto-conical wall portion movable into close relationshir with an internal wall of the receiving member in a closed position of the valve.