Single-piece valve closure members having integral flow paths formed via additive manufacturing
AssigneeFisher Controls International LLC
InventorJeffrey Michael Von Arb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Single-piece valve closure members (e.g., discs, plugs, balls, etc.) including integral flow paths formed via additive manufacturing processes are disclosed. In some examples, an apparatus includes a single-piece valve closure member. In some examples of the apparatus, the single-piece valve closure member includes an integral flow path to direct a flow of fluid within the valve closure member. In some examples, a method includes forming, via an additive manufacturing process, a single-piece valve closure member. In some examples of the method, the single-piece valve closure member includes an integral flow path to direct a flow of fluid within the valve closure member.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a single-piece valve closure member including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an integral flow path in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the fluid inlet being parallel to the fluid outlet, the flow path extending transversely from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, the flow path being adjacent a sealing surface of the valve closure member and tracing a circular-shaped profile of the sealing surface, the flow path being configured to receive a fluid from the fluid inlet, circulate the fluid through the flow path, and exhaust the fluid via the fluid outlet, the flow path being parallel to a bore formed in the valve closure member, the bore defining a longitudinal axis and being configured to receive a shaft, the shaft to rotate about the longitudinal axis to position the valve closure member relative to a valve seat.
A method, comprising:
- forming, via an additive manufacturing process, a single-piece valve closure member including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an integral flow path in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the fluid inlet being parallel to the fluid outlet, the flow path extending transversely from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, the flow path being adjacent a sealing surface of the valve closure member and tracing a circular-shaped profile of the sealing surface, the flow path being configured to receive a fluid from the fluid inlet, circulate the fluid through the flow path, and exhaust the fluid via the fluid outlet, the flow path being parallel to a bore formed in the valve closure member, the bore defining a longitudinal axis and being configured to receive a shaft, the shaft to rotate about the longitudinal axis to position the valve closure member relative to a valve seat.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a single-piece valve disc including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an integral flow path in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the fluid inlet being parallel to the fluid outlet, the flow path extending transversely from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, the flow path being adjacent a sealing surface of the valve disc and tracing a circular-shaped profile of the sealing surface, the flow path being configured to receive a fluid from the fluid inlet, circulate the fluid through the flow path, and exhaust the fluid via the fluid outlet, the flow path being parallel to a bore formed in the valve disc, the bore defining a longitudinal axis and being configured to receive a shaft, the shaft to rotate about the longitudinal axis to position the valve disc relative to a valve seat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.