US 10,113,652 B2Granted

Top-entry floating ball valve

AssigneeCameron International Corporation

InventorMircea Balan

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A ball valve includes a body and a ball subassembly. The body includes a first bore extending partially through the body from a first flange of the body along a first axis, the flange defining an opening, a second bore extending in along a second axis from the first bore to a second flange, wherein the second axis is transverse to the first axis, and a third bore extending along the second axis, opposite the second bore, from the first bore to a third flange. The ball subassembly is configured to be inserted into first bore of the body through the opening. The ball subassembly includes a ball having a ball bore extending through the ball. The ball is configured to rotate about the first axis to open and close the ball valve such that the ball bore is substantially aligned with the second axis when the ball valve is open, and wherein the ball bore is substantially transverse to the second axis when the valve is closed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

inserting a first body bushing through an opening in a body, into a first bore, and into a first counterbore of a second bore of the body, wherein the first bore extends from a first flange of the body along a first axis, and the second bore extends from the first bore to a second flange of the body along a second axis, transverse to the first axis;
inserting a second body bushing through the opening in the body, into the first bore, and into a second counterbore of a third bore of the body, wherein the third bore of the body extends along the second axis, opposite the second bore from the first bore to a third flange;
assembling a ball subassembly, comprising:
coupling a first seat to a first seat retainer, wherein the first seat is disposed at least partially within a first recess of the first seat retainer;
coupling a second seat to a second seat retainer, wherein the second seat is disposed at least partially within a second recess of the second seat retainer;
positioning the first seat and the second seat such that each of the first seat and the second seat contact the ball at respective annular interfaces;
and
wherein the first seat retainer and the second seat retainer are substantially rectangular in shape;
and
inserting the ball subassembly through the opening of the body and into the first bore of the body, between the first and second body bushings, and such that the first seat retainer and the second seat retainer are in contact with a bottom end of the body.

7 more elements

A ball valve comprising:

a body comprising:
a first bore extending partially through the body from a first flange of the body along a first axis, the first flange defining an opening;
a second bore extending in along a second axis from the first bore to a second flange, wherein the second axis is transverse to the first axis;
and
a third bore extending along the second axis, opposite the second bore, from the first bore to a third flange;
and
a ball subassembly, configured to be inserted into the first bore of the body through the opening, comprising:
a ball comprising a ball bore extending through the ball, wherein the ball is configured to rotate about the first axis to open and close the ball valve such that the ball bore is substantially aligned with the second axis when the ball valve is open and wherein the ball bore is substantially transverse to the second axis when the valve is closed;
a first seat configured to contact the ball at a first annular interface;
a first seat retainer comprising a recess configured to receive and support the first seat, wherein the first seat is disposed at least partially within the recess;
and
wherein the first seat retainer is substantially rectangular in shape, and a bottom surface of the first seat retainer is configured to contact a bottom end of the body.

9 more elements

A ball valve comprising:

a body comprising:
a first bore extending partially through the body from a first flange of the body along a first axis, the first flange defining an opening;
a second bore extending in along a second axis from the first bore to a second flange, wherein the second axis is transverse to the first axis;
a first counterbore, disposed between the first bore and the second bore, wherein the first counterbore is coaxial to the second bore;
a first annular surface disposed at the intersection of the first counterbore and the second bore;
a third bore extending along the second axis, opposite the second bore, from the first bore to a third flange;
a second counterbore, disposed between the first bore and the third bore, wherein the second counterbore is coaxial to the third bore;
and
a second annular surface disposed at the intersection of the second counterbore and the third bore;
a ball subassembly, configured to be inserted into the first bore of the body through the opening, comprising:
a ball comprising a ball bore extending through the ball, wherein the ball bore is substantially aligned with the second axis when the ball valve is open, and wherein the ball bore is substantially transverse to the second axis when the valve is closed;
a first seat configured to contact the ball at a first annular interface;
a first seat retainer comprising a recess configured to receive and support the first seat, wherein the first seat is disposed at least partially within the recess;
and
wherein the first seat retainer is substantially rectangular in shape, and a bottom surface of the first seat retainer is configured to contact a bottom end of the body;
and
first and second annular body bushings disposed within the first and second counterbores, respectively, and disposed between the body and the ball.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.