NL2030841B1 - A seat element, a ball valve, a ball valve operating method, and a seat element retrofitting method - Google Patents

A seat element, a ball valve, a ball valve operating method, and a seat element retrofitting method Download PDF

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Publication number
NL2030841B1
NL2030841B1 NL2030841A NL2030841A NL2030841B1 NL 2030841 B1 NL2030841 B1 NL 2030841B1 NL 2030841 A NL2030841 A NL 2030841A NL 2030841 A NL2030841 A NL 2030841A NL 2030841 B1 NL2030841 B1 NL 2030841B1
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NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
seat
valve
ball
channel
ball valve
Prior art date
Application number
NL2030841A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
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NL2030841A (en
Inventor
Johannes Tolboom Theodorus
Original Assignee
Tolboom Valve B V
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Application filed by Tolboom Valve B V filed Critical Tolboom Valve B V
Publication of NL2030841A publication Critical patent/NL2030841A/en
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Publication of NL2030841B1 publication Critical patent/NL2030841B1/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K5/00—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary
    • F16K5/08—Details
    • F16K5/14—Special arrangements for separating the sealing faces or for pressing them together
    • F16K5/20—Special arrangements for separating the sealing faces or for pressing them together for plugs with spherical surfaces
    • F16K5/204—Special arrangements for separating the sealing faces or for pressing them together for plugs with spherical surfaces with the plugs or parts of the plugs mechanically pressing the seals against the housing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K5/00—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary
    • F16K5/06—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary with plugs having spherical surfaces; Packings therefor
    • F16K5/0647—Spindles or actuating means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K5/00—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary
    • F16K5/06—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary with plugs having spherical surfaces; Packings therefor
    • F16K5/0663—Packings
    • F16K5/0689—Packings between housing and plug

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Taps Or Cocks (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a seat element for a ball valve, comprising a body with a throughhole and a seat surrounding said through-hole for engagement with a ball of the ball valve, wherein the seat includes two concentric seat portions for engagement with the ball, and an intermediate portion in between the two concentric seat portions, and wherein the seat element includes at least one channel for fluid communication, said at least one channel including an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being arranged in the intermediate portion. The invention further relates to a ball valve including a similar seat.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A seat element, a ball valve, a ball valve operating method, and a seat element retrofitting method
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a ball valve to regulate, direct or control a fluid flow through the valve. Such valves are commonly known and usually include at least the following components: - a valve body with a first port, a second port, and an interior space extending between the first port and the second port, - a ball moveably arranged inside the interior space of the valve body, and - aseat arranged at the first port in the interior space of the valve body for engagement with the ball.
The ball of a ball valve is operable to regulate, direct or control a fluid flow through the ball valve. The ball therefore has at least one engagement position in which the ball engages with the seat, e.g. to close the fluid flow through the first port or to direct the fluid flow to travel along a predetermined flow path.
Many ball valves are of the type in which the valve member is rotated inside the body while being kept in contact (or sliding contact) with the seat. This type of ball valve poses a problem in that the ball is rotated or slidingly rotated while being kept in contact with the seat member continuously applying a surface pressure, so that the seat and/or the ball is worn away and hence the sealing capability may not last for a long period of time.
To address these problems, another type of ball valve has been proposed, for instance in
W02019/229265A1 of the applicant, in which the ball of the ball valve is rotated without contact between ball and corresponding seat and the engagement position is subsequently obtained by pressing the ball onto the seat without introducing frictional forces thereby minimizing wear.
However, these solutions introduce a new problem, namely that the distance between ball and seat during rotation allows material to get in between the ball and seat preventing the ball from completely engaging with the seat, i.e. preventing the ball from reaching the engagement position, thereby introducing leakage problems. The types in which the ball is rotated inside the body while being kept in contact (or sliding contact) with the seat do not or minimally suffer from this problem as due to the constant contact between the ball and seat, the chances that material can get in between the ball and the seat are significantly smaller.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above it is an object of the invention to provide a ball valve with minimal wear and minimal leakage.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a seat element for a ball valve, comprising a body with a through-hole and a seat surrounding said through-hole for engagement with a ball of the ball valve, wherein the seat includes two concentric seat portions for engagement with the ball, and an intermediate portion in between the two concentric seat portions, and wherein the seat element includes at least one channel for fluid communication, said at least one channel including an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being arranged in the intermediate portion.
The first aspect of the invention is based on the insight that any material between the seat element and the ball can be removed by applying pressure to the at least one channel generating a fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet into the ball valve. When moving the ball into engagement with the seat portions, a distance between the ball and the seat portions will be reduced thereby increasing the velocity of the fluid flow leaving the outlet, which can be used to remove material just before the engagement between the ball and the seat portions, which will then close off the outlet.
The first aspect of the invention further allows to use a specific fluid for material removal, which is preferably different than the fluid to be regulated by the ball valve, for instance steam.
In an embodiment, the intermediate portion is recessed relative to the two concentric seat portions. This may be advantageous to distribute the fluid flow from the outlet over a larger area to allow removal of material between the ball and the seat portions in a more effective way.
In an embodiment, the seat element includes a plurality of channels with corresponding outlets arranged in the intermediate portion. The outlets of the plurality of channels may be evenly distributed around the through-hole. The provision of a plurality of outlets further aids in distributing the fluid flow from the outlets over the entire circumference of the seat.
In an embodiment, the through-hole has a substantially cylindrically shaped cross-section. in an embodiment, the body has a substantially cylindrical shape with an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end surface extending between the outer surface and the inner surface at a first end of the body, and a second end surface extending between the outer surface and the inner surface at a second end of the body, and wherein the seat is formed in the first end surface.
In the embodiment, the inlet of the at least one channel is arranged in the outer surface.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a ball valve to regulate, direct or control a fluid flow through the ball valve, comprising: - a valve body with a first port, a second port and an interior space extending between the first port and the second port, - aseatarranged in the interior space of the valve body, and - a valve member moveably arranged inside the interior space of the valve body to cooperate with the seat, wherein the valve member includes a valve disc configured to engage with the seat in an engagement position of the valve member,
wherein the valve member is moveable between the engagement position and a first position via a second position, wherein in the second position of the valve member the valve disc is aligned with the seat at a distance from the seat, wherein in the first position of the valve member the valve disc is at a larger distance from the seat than in the second position, wherein the valve member is rotatable between the first position and the second position with the valve disc maintaining a distance from the seat and the valve body, and wherein the valve member is moveable between the second position and the engagement position in a direction substantially perpendicular to a contact plane defined by the seat, wherein the seat includes two concentric seat portions with an intermediate portion in between the two concentric seat portions, wherein the valve body includes at least one channel for fluid communication with a pressure source, wherein the at least one channel includes an inlet and an outlet, and wherein said outlet is arranged in the intermediate portion.
In an embodiment, the valve body includes a plurality of channels with corresponding outlets arranged in the intermediate portion.
In an embodiment, two or more channels of the plurality of channels share an inlet, wherein preferably all channels share a single inlet.
In an embodiment, the valve body includes a separate seat element comprising the seat, and wherein the seat element is a seat element according to the first aspect of the invention.
In an embodiment, the seat element includes a plurality of channel portions with corresponding outlet arranged in the intermediate portion and corresponding inlets in fluid communication with a space in the valve body, said space being in fluid communication with the single inlet.
In an embodiment, the seat element is replaceable.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for operating a ball valve according to the second aspect of the invention, said method comprising the 5 following steps: a. providing the valve member in the second position, and b. moving the valve member from the second position to the engagement position, wherein during step b., the at least one channel is pressurized to allow fluid to temporarily enter the interior space.
In an embodiment, the at least one channel is pressurized with heated fluid, preferably steam.
In an embodiment, when the valve member is in between the first and second position, fluid communication between the pressure source and the at least one channel is prevented, wherein moving the valve member from the second position to the engagement position opens fluid communication between the pressure source and the at least one channel.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for retrofitting a seat element according to the first aspect of the invention into a ball valve comprising a present seat element, said method comprising the following steps: a. removing the present seat element from the ball valve, b. inserting the seat element according to the first aspect of the invention into the ball valve, and c. providing a fluid channel in the valve body to allow fluid communication between a pressure source and the at least one channel of the seat element.
In an embodiment, step c. is carried out prior to step b., preferably after carrying out step a. An advantage thereof may be that the risk of damaging the seat element during the formation of the fluid channel in the valve body is reduced, preferably eliminated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in a non-limiting way by reference to the accompanying drawings in which like parts are indicated by like reference symbols, and in which:
Fig.1 schematically depicts an exploded perspective view of a ball valve according to an embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 2A schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of the ball valve of Fig. 1 with the valve member in a first position,
Fig. 2B schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of the valve of Fig. 1 with the valve member in a second position,
Fig. 3A schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of a body portion with seat of the ball valve of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3B schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of the body portion and seat of
Fig. 3A,
Fig. 4A-4C schematically depict the transition of the valve member from the first position to an engagement position,
Fig. 5 schematically depicts in perspective view a seat element for a ball valve according to an embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 6 schematically depicts a top view of the seat element of Fig. 5,
Fig. 7 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of the seat element of Fig. 5, and
Fig. 8 schematically depicts a detail of the cross-sectional view of Fig. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figs. 1, 2A and 2B schematically depict a ball valve 1 according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention. Fig. 1 depicts an exploded perspective view of the ball valve 1 while Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B depict a cross-sectional view of the ball valve 1 in two different states.
The ball valve 1 is configured to regulate, direct or control a fluid flow, e.g. a gas or a liquid, through the ball valve 1. In this embodiment, the ball valve 1 has two states, an open state, in which the fluid flow through the ball valve may be maximal, and a closed state in which there is no fluid flow through the ball valve 1. However, the second aspect of the invention is also applicable to other types of ball valves, e.g. a three-way or four- way ball valves. Ball valves according to the second aspect of the invention are frequently used in the process industry and installations and arranged in between two or more pipe portions.
The ball valve 1 comprises a valve body 2 with a first port 3, a second port 4 and interior space 2a extending between the first port 3 and the second port 4. The first and second port 3, 4 are passages that allow fluid to pass through the ball valve 1.
In this embodiment, the valve body 2 includes a bottom part 2b with the first port 3 and the second port 4 and delimiting most of the interior space 2a. Figs. 3A and 3B depict the bottom part 2b in more detail, where Fig. 3A is an exploded perspective view and Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view.
At the top side the interior space 2a is delimited by a top part 12 of the valve body 2.
Bolts 12a and nuts 12b are used to connect to the top part 12 to the bottom part 2b. The bottom part 2b includes threaded holes 2c to receive corresponding threaded ends of the bolts 12a. The top part 12 also comprises a hole 12c per bolt 12a. The opposite ends of the bolts 12a that extend through the holes 12c are also threaded to mate with the nuts 12b thereby allowing to clamp the top part 12 to the bottom part 2b. In Fig. 1 only some of the bolts 12a, nuts 12b, holes 2c and holes 12c and in Fig. 3A only some of the holes 2ยข are indicated using a corresponding reference symbol to keep the drawings as clear and simple as possible.
The first port 3 and the second port 4 include fastening means, in this case threaded holes, to connect a pipe portion (not shown) to the respective port. In Fig. 1 only threaded holes 4a associated with the second port 4 are visible and again only a few holes have been indicated using reference symbol 4a to keep the drawing as clear and simple as possible. Other connection methods such as compression fittings, glue, cement, flanges or welding are also envisaged.
Although not necessary per se, the body 2 in the embodiment of Fig. 1 has a cylindrical sidewall including the first and second ports 3, 4 at opposite sides of the sidewall, a bottom 2d connected to the cylindrical sidewall to form the bottom part 2b and a lid forming the top part 12. Other shapes and configurations of the body 2 are also envisaged. The body 2 may alternatively be referred to as outer casing and the top part 12 may alternatively be referred to as bonnet.
The valve 1 further comprises a seat element 10 forming a seat at the first port 3 and thus arranged in the interior space 2a of the body 2. The seat element 10 cooperates with a valve member 8, alternatively referred to as ball, to close or open the first port 3. The ball 8 therefore comprises a valve disc 11, and a flow channel 9 extending through the ball 8.
The ball 8 is moveably arranged inside the interior space 2a of the body 2. In this case the ball 8 is rotatable about a rotation axis RAL defined by axle 13 arranged at the bottom 2d of the body 2 and engaging with the ball 8 at a lower side, and a stem 6 engaging with the ball 8 at an upper side opposite the lower side,
The stem 6 extends through the top part 12 and is configured to transmit motion from a handle and/or controlling device (not shown) to the ball 8. The ball 8 is rotatable about rotation axis RA1 by the stem 6 between a first position as shown in Fig. 2A and Fig. 4A and a second position as shown in Fig. 2B and Fig. 3B.
In this embodiment, in the first position, the flow channel 9 is aligned with the first and second port 3, 4 to allow the passage of fluid from the first port 3, via the flow channel 9 tothe second port 4 or vice versa. Hence, the first port 3 may function as inlet, exit or both, and the second port 4 may function as exit, inlet or both, respectively. In the embodiment of the Figs. 1 and 2A, a longitudinal axis 5 of the flow channel 9 extends between the first and second port 3, 4, and preferably extends through a center of the first and second port 3, 4. In a preferred embodiment, a cross-sectional area of the flow channel is at least as large as the cross-sectional are of the first and second port, so that the flow channel does not introduce additional flow resistance or pressure drop over the valve 1.
Movement of the ball 8 in the body 2 will now be described in more detail by also referring to Figs. 4A to 4C. Each Fig. 4A to 4C depicts a cross-sectional view of the ball 8 and the seat 10 along a plane extending perpendicular to the rotation axis RA1 and through the longitudinal axis 5 of the flow channel 9, Above the cross-sectional views a side view is provided depicting the corresponding mutual positions and orientations of the stem 6, the ball 8 and the body 2 by indicating the position of a coupling element 21, which is part of or connected to the stem 6, a coupling element 30 pivotably connected to the ball 8, and a coupling element 37 which is part of connected to the body 2, see also
Fig. 1, 2A and 2B.
The coupling element 30 comprises a first locking member 32 and a second locking member 33 connected to a common member 34. The member 34 is pivotably connected to an upper part 22 of the ball 8 to pivot about a pivot axis that in this case is perpendicular to the rotation axis RAL.
The coupling element 21 has a portion 35 including a recess 36 to receive first locking member 32. The coupling element 37 includes a recess 38 to receive the second locking member 33.
In the first position of the ball 8 relative to the body 2, as shown in Fig. 4A, the first locking member 32 of the coupling element 30 is received in the recess 36 of the coupling element 21 thereby coupling the ball 8 to the coupling element 21 and thus to the stem 6 according to a first coupling configuration. Rotation of the stem 6 about the rotation axis
RA1 between a first rotational position and a second rotational position thus allows to rotate the ball 8 between the first position of Fig. 4A, corresponding to the first rotational position of the stem 6, and the second position of Fig. 4B, corresponding to the second rotational position of the stem 6. The coupling element 37 is configured such that during a rotation between the situations in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B, the coupling element 30 and thus the ball 8 is free to rotate relative to the body 2. In fact, as is preferred, Fig. 4A shows that the coupling element 37 is configured such that the first locking member 32 is not able to leave the recess 36 when travelling between the situations in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B.
Fig. 4B depicts the situation in which the ball 8 reaches the second position as mentioned before. At the same time, the second locking member 33 of the coupling element 30 reaches the recess 38 in the coupling element 37 so that the first locking member 32 can leave the recess 36 and the second locking member 33 can move into the recess 38 thereby uncoupling the ball 8 from the coupling element 21 and coupling the ball 8 to the body 2. As a result thereof, rotation of the ball 8 about the rotation axis RA1 relative to the body is no longer possible. Hence, the coupling configuration between stem 6 and ball 8 has changed from the first coupling configuration, in which the ball 8 is engaged with or coupled to a protrusion 21a of the stem 6 and is also coupled to the coupling element 21 of the stem 6, to a second coupling configuration in which the ball 8 is only engaged with or coupled to the protrusion 21a of the stem 6.
It is noted that in this embodiment, the ball is only rotated a part of the rotation of the stem, here about 75 degrees, between the first position and the second position.
However, as the coupling element 21 has been uncoupled from the ball 8, the stem 6 and the coupling element 21 are able to rotate further in the same direction to a third rotational position of the stem 6 as shown in Fig. 4C. In the situation of Fig. 4C, the stem 6 and the coupling element 21 have rotated the remaining part of a 90 degrees rotation, here an additional 15 degrees, compared to the second rotational position of Fig. 3B.
Hence, in total, the stem 6 and the coupling element 21 have rotated about 90 degrees between the first rotational position in Fig. 3A and the third rotational position in Fig. 3C while the ball 8 only has rotated a part thereof, here about 75 degrees, about the rotation axis RAL. During the remaining part of the rotation, here during the additional 15 degrees, the stem 6 causes the ball 8 to be pressed against the seat of the seat element 10 with its valve disc 11 thereby obtaining a seal-tight connection between the ball 8 and the seat element 10 and obstructing any fluid flow through the valve 1.
Pressing the valve disc 11 against the seat element 10 is caused by a protrusion 213 of the stem 6 that is received in a corresponding recess 22a in the upper part 22 of the ball 8, which protrusion 21a and recess 22a are positioned eccentric with respect to the rotation axis RAL of the stem 6. Hence, when the stem 6 is rotated about rotation axis RA1 and rotation of the ball 8 about the rotation axis RA1 is blocked, the eccentric protrusion 21a and recess 22a cause the ball 8 to move towards the seat element 10. In this embodiment, this movement of the ball 8 towards the seat element 10 is in fact a pivotal movement of the ball 8 about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the rotation axis RA1 and perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in Fig. 2A. It is noted that the axle 13 and/or the ball 8 may be embodied such that this movement does not result in undesired deformations or loads in the ball 8, body 2 or axle 13. The position of the ball 8 in Fig. 4C is referred to as the engagement position as this is the position of the ball 8 in which the valve disc 11 of the ball 8 engages with the seat of seat element 10.
It is noted that the valve disc 11 being at a larger distance from the seat element 10 in the first position than in the second position is obtained in the above-described embodiment by rotation of the valve member 8 about the rotation axis RA1, such that the valve disc 11 is rotated away from the seat when moving from the second position to the first position.
Although in the above embodiment, the valve disc is a non-through opening of the valve member, so that the valve disc in the engagement position of the valve member closes of the first port 3, the second aspect of the invention also applies to a valve in which the valve disc surrounds an opening in the valve member, so that the valve disc in the engagement position of the valve member allows fluid to flow through the valve member.
The seat element 10 of the ball valve 1 may be replaceable, but this is not necessary per se. The seat element 10 may be an integral part of the body 2, so that reference will be made to the seat only. The seat is the part that engages with the ball 8 in the engagement position.
In accordance with the second aspect of the invention, the seat of the ball valve 1 includes two concentric seat portions with an intermediate portion in between the two concentric seat portions. The valve body 2 includes at least one channel for fluid communication with a pressure source, wherein the at least one channel includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein said outlet is arranged in the intermediate portion.
When the seat is part of a seat element 10 as in the embodiment of Figs. 1-4C, the two concentric seat portions with the intermediate portion in between the two concentric seat portions are formed in a body of the seat element. The outlet is then arranged on the seat element and the at least one channel has a portion in the valve body 2 and a portion in the body of the seat element. An embodiment of a seat element 10 suitable for the embodiment of Figs. 1-4C will be described below in more detail.
Figs. 5 to 8 depict a seat element 10 according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention that is suitable to be used in the ball valve 1 according to the second aspect of the invention described by reference to the Figs 1-4C.
Fig. 5 depicts a perspective view. Fig. 6 depicts a top view. Fig. 7 depicts a cross-sectional view along line A-A as indicated in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 depicts the encircled portion in Fig. 7 in more detail.
The seat element 10 includes a body 101 with a through-hole 102 for allowing passage of fluid and a seat 103 surrounding said through-hole 102 for engagement with a ball of the ball valve.
The seat 103 includes an inner seat portion 103a and an outer seat portion 103b that are concentric. Arranged between the inner seat portion 103a and the outer seat portion 103b is an intermediate portion 104.
The intermediate portion is recessed relative to the inner 103a and outer 103b seat portions and includes a plurality of outlets 105, in this embodiment distributed evenly over the seat 103.
In this embodiment, the body 101 of the seat element 10 has a substantially cylindrical shape with an outer surface 1014, an inner surface 101b, a first end surface 101c and a second end surface 101d. The first end surface 101c extends between the outer surface 101a and the inner surface 101b at a first end. The second end surface 101d extends between the outer surface 101a and the inner surface 101b at a second end opposite the first end.
The seat 103 is formed in the first end surface 101c. An advantage thereof is that the remainder of the body 101 can be used to mount the seat element 10 in a ball valve. in this embodiment, each outlet 105 has an associated inlet 106 arranged in the outer surface 101a and an associated channel 107 in between the inlet 106 and the outlet 105.
The inlets 106 are arranged in a recessed groove 108 allowing them to be in fluid communication with each other and be connected to a pressure source using at least one channel in the valve body arranged between the recessed groove 108 and the pressure source. In that case, the plurality of channels in the body of the seat element share a single inlet in the valve body. The recessed groove 108 forms a space inside the valve body that is in fluid communication with all inlets 106 of the seat element. By providing a single channel in the valve body of the ball valve between an inlet of the valve body and the space inside the valve body, a single pressure source can be used to supply a fluid flow to the outlets at the intermediate portion of the seat. However, it is also envisaged that more than one channel is used. It is even envisaged that each channel 107 in the seat element has a respective channel portion in the valve body, which respective channel portion may share an inlet with another channel portion or may have its own inlet.
Fig. 8 further depicts one of the channels 107 in more detail. The channel 107 in this embodiment includes a straight channel portion 107a extending from the inlet 106 into the body 101, and a straight channel portion 170b extending from the outlet 105 into the body 101 to the other channel portion 107a. The straight channel portions 107a, 107b have the advantage that they may be fabricated using two drill operations.
In an embodiment, the ball valve 1 of Figs. 1-4C initially does not have a seat element according to the first aspect of the invention. It is then possible to retrofit the ball valve with a seat element according to the first aspect of the invention to transform the ball valve into a ball valve according to the second aspect of the invention. To this end, the already present seat element is removed and replaced by a seat element according to the first aspect of the invention.
An already present fluid channel in the valve body and/or a newly made fluid channel in the valve body can then be used to allow fluid communication between a pressure source and the at least one channel of the seat element.

Claims (18)

CONCLUSIESCONCLUSIONS 1. Een zittingselement voor een kogelklep, omvattende een lichaam met een doorgaand gat en een zitting rond het doorgaande gat voor aangrijping met een kogel van de kogelklep, met het kenmerk, dat de zitting twee concentrische zittingsdelen heeft voor aangrijping met de kogel en een tussendeel tussen de twee concentrische zittingsdelen, en dat het zittingselement ten minste een kanaal omvat voor vloeistofcommunicatie, waarbij het ten minste ene kanaal een ingang en een uitgang heeft, waarbij de uitgang is gelegen in het tussendeel.CLAIMS 1. A seat element for a ball valve, comprising a body having a through hole and a seat around the through hole for engagement with a ball of the ball valve, characterized in that the seat has two concentric seat parts for engagement with the ball and an intermediate part between the two concentric seat parts, and that the seat element comprises at least one channel for fluid communication, wherein the at least one channel has an entrance and an exit, the exit being located in the intermediate part. 2. Eenzzittingselement volgens conclusie 1, waarbij het tussendeel verzonken is ten opzichte van de twee concentrische zittingsdelen.2. Single-seat element according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate part is recessed relative to the two concentric seat parts. 3. Een zittingselement volgens conclusie 1 of 2, waarbij het zittingselement een veelvoud aan kanalen omvat met overeenkomstige uitgangen gelegen in het tussendeel.A seating element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the seating element comprises a plurality of channels with corresponding exits located in the intermediate part. 4. Een zittingselement volgens conclusie 3, waarbij de uitgangen van de veelvoud aan kanalen gelijk verdeeld zijn rond het doorgaande gat.A seating element according to claim 3, wherein the exits of the plurality of channels are equally distributed around the through hole. 5. Een zittingselement volgens een van de conclusies 1 t/m 4, waarbij het doorgaande gat een in hoofdzaak cilindrisch gevormde doorsnede heeft.A seating element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the through hole has a substantially cylindrical cross-section. 6. Een zittingselement volgens een van de conclusies 1 t/m 5, waarbij het lichaam een in hoofdzaak cilindrische vorm heeft met een buitenoppervlak, een binnenopperviak, een eerste eindoppervlak dat zich uitstrekt tussen het buitenoppervlak en het binnenoppervlak aan een eerste uiteinde van het lichaam, en een tweede eindoppervlak dat zich uitstrekt tussen het buitenoppervlak en het binnenoppervlak aan een tweede uiteinde van het lichaam, en waarbij de zitting is gevormd in het eerste eindopperviak.A seating element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the body has a substantially cylindrical shape with an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end surface extending between the outer surface and the inner surface at a first end of the body , and a second end surface extending between the outer surface and the inner surface at a second end of the body, and wherein the seat is formed in the first end surface. 7. Een zittingselement volgens conclusie 6, waarbij de ingang van het ten minste ene kanaal is gelegen in het buitenoppervlak.A seating element according to claim 6, wherein the entrance of the at least one channel is located in the outer surface. 8. Een kogelklep om een fluidumstroom door de kogelklep te reguleren, sturen of controleren, omvattende: - een eerste kleplichaam met een eerste poort, een tweede poort en een inwendige ruimte die zich uitstrekt tussen de eerste poort en de tweede poort, - een zitting aangebracht in de inwendige ruimte van het kleplichaam, en8. A ball valve for regulating, directing or controlling fluid flow through the ball valve, comprising: - a first valve body having a first port, a second port and an internal space extending between the first port and the second port, - a seat arranged in the internal space of the valve body, and - een kleporgaan dat beweegbaar is aangebracht in de inwendige ruimte van het kleplichaam om samen te werken met de zitting, waarbij het kleporgaan een klepschijf omvat die ingericht is om te koppelen met de zitting in een koppelpositie van het kleporgaan, waarbij het kleporgaan beweegbaar is tussen de koppelpositie en een eerste positie via een tweede positie, waarbij in de tweede positie van het kleporgaan de klepschijf is uitgelijnd met de zitting op een afstand van de zitting, waarbij in de eerste positie van het kleporgaan de klepschijf op een grotere afstand staat van de zitting dan in de tweede positie, waarbij het kleporgaan roteerbaar is tussen de eerste positie en de tweede positie waarbij de klepschijf afstand houdt tot de zitting en het kleplichaam, en waarbij het kleporgaan beweegbaar is tussen de tweede positie en de koppelpositie in een richting in hoofdzaak loodrecht op een contactvlak gedefinieerd door de zitting, met het kenmerk, dat de zitting twee concentrische zittingsdelen omvat met een tussendeel tussen de twee zittingsdelen, en dat het kleplichaam ten minste een kanaal voor vloeistofcommunicatie met een drukbron omvat, waarbij het ten minste ene kanaal een ingang en een uitgang heeft, waarbij de uitgang is gelegen in het tussendeel.- a valve member movably arranged in the internal space of the valve body to cooperate with the seat, the valve member comprising a valve disc adapted to engage with the seat in a coupling position of the valve member, the valve member being movable between the coupling position and a first position via a second position, wherein in the second position of the valve member the valve disk is aligned with the seat at a distance from the seat, wherein in the first position of the valve member the valve disk is at a greater distance from the seat then in the second position, wherein the valve member is rotatable between the first position and the second position, the valve disc maintaining a distance from the seat and the valve body, and wherein the valve member is movable between the second position and the coupling position in a direction substantially perpendicular to a contact surface defined by the seat, characterized in that the seat comprises two concentric seat parts with an intermediate part between the two seat parts, and that the valve body comprises at least one channel for fluid communication with a pressure source, the at least one channel having a has an entrance and an exit, whereby the exit is located in the intermediate part. 9. Een kogelklep volgens conclusie 8, waarbij het kleplichaam een veelvoud aan kanalen heeft met overeenkomstige uitgangen gelegen in het tussendeel.A ball valve according to claim 8, wherein the valve body has a plurality of channels with corresponding outlets located in the intermediate part. 10. Een kogelklep volgens conclusie 9, waarbij twee of meer kanalen van de veelvoud aan kanalen een ingang delen, waarbij bij voorkeur alle kanalen een enkele ingang delen.A ball valve according to claim 9, wherein two or more channels of the plurality of channels share an entrance, preferably all channels share a single entrance. 11. Een kogelklep volgens een van de conclusies 8 t/m 10, waarbij het kleplichaam een separaat zittingselement omvat dat de zitting omvat, en waarbij het zittingselement een zittingselement is volgens een van de conclusies 1 t/m 7.A ball valve according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the valve body comprises a separate seat element comprising the seat, and wherein the seat element is a seat element according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 12. Een kogelklep volgens conclusies 10 en 11, waarbij het zittingselement een veelvoud aan kanaaldelen omvat met overeenkomstige uitgang gelegen in het tussendeel en overeenkomstige ingangen in vloeistofcommunicatie met een ruimte in het kleplichaam, waarbij de ruimte in vloeistofcommunicatie staat met de enkele ingang.A ball valve according to claims 10 and 11, wherein the seat element comprises a plurality of channel parts with corresponding exit located in the intermediate part and corresponding entrances in fluid communication with a space in the valve body, the space being in fluid communication with the single entrance. 13. Een kogelklep volgens conclusie 11, waarbij het zittingselement vervangbaar is.A ball valve according to claim 11, wherein the seat element is replaceable. 14. Een werkwijze voor het bedienen van een kogelklep volgens een van de conclusies 8 t/m 13, waarbij de werkwijze de volgende stappen omvat:A method of operating a ball valve according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a. het verschaffen van het kleporgaan in de tweede positie, en b. het bewegen van het kleporgaan van de tweede positie naar de koppelpositie, met het kenmerk, dat gedurende stap b. het ten minste ene kanaal onder druk wordt gezet om tijdelijk fluidum in de inwendige ruimte te laten stromen.a. providing the valve member in the second position, and b. moving the valve member from the second position to the coupling position, characterized in that during step b. the at least one channel is pressurized to temporarily allow fluid to flow into the internal space. 15. Een werkwijze volgens conclusie 14, waarbij het ten minste ene kanaal onder druk wordt gezet met verwarmd fluidum, bij voorkeur stoom.A method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one channel is pressurized with heated fluid, preferably steam. 16. Een werkwijze volgens conclusie 14 of 15, waarbij wanneer het kleporgaan zich tussen de eerste en de tweede positie bevindt, vloeistofcommunicatie met de drukbron wordt voorkomen, en waarbij beweging van het kleporgaan van de tweede positie naar de koppelpositie de vloeistofcommunicatie tussen de drukbron en het ten minste ene kanaal mogelijk maakt.A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein when the valve member is between the first and second positions, fluid communication with the pressure source is prevented, and wherein movement of the valve member from the second position to the coupling position prevents fluid communication between the pressure source and it enables at least one channel. 17. Een werkwijze voor het achteraf inbouwen van een zittingselement volgens een van de conclusies 1 t/m 7 in een kogelklep omvattende een huidig zittingselement, waarbij de werkwijze de volgende stappen omvat:A method for retrofitting a seat element according to any one of claims 1 to 7 into a ball valve comprising a current seat element, the method comprising the following steps: a. het verwijderen van het huidige zittingselement uit de kogelklep,a. removing the current seat element from the ball valve, b. het inbrengen van het zittingselement volgens een van de conclusies 1 t/m 7 in de kogelklep,b. inserting the seat element according to any one of claims 1 to 7 into the ball valve, c. het verschaffen van een fluidumkanaal in het kleplichaam om vloeistofcommunicatie mogelijk te maken tussen de drukbron en het ten minste ene kanaal van het zittingselement.c. providing a fluid channel in the valve body to enable fluid communication between the pressure source and the at least one channel of the seat element. 18. Een werkwijze volgens conclusie 17, waarbij stap c. wordt uitgevoerd voorafgaand aan stap b. bij voorkeur na het uitvoeren van stap a.A method according to claim 17, wherein step c. is performed prior to step b. preferably after performing step a.
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