Gate valve with full-bore protective sleeve

A gate valve, comprising:

• a bonnet;
• a monolithic valve body to which the bonnet is connected, the monolithic valve body defining first and second external surfaces, the second external surface being perpendicular to the first external surface, the bonnet engaging the first external surface, the monolithic valve body comprising:
• a passage formed in the first external surface along a first longitudinal center axis to define a cylindrical internal region in the monolithic valve body, the cylindrical internal region defining a first interior surface in the monolithic valve body, the first interior surface extending circumferentially about the first longitudinal center axis;
• a first fluid bore formed in the second external surface along a second longitudinal center axis, the first fluid bore intersecting the cylindrical internal region and defining a second interior surface in the monolithic valve body;
• a first annular recess formed in the second interior surface and defining a third interior surface in the monolithic valve body, the third interior surface extending circumferentially about the second longitudinal center axis and adjoining the first interior surface;
• a first annular shoulder defined in the monolithic valve body outside of the cylindrical internal region and located between:
• the first interior surface defined in the monolithic valve body by the cylindrical internal region;
• and
• the second interior surface defined in the monolithic valve body by the first fluid bore;
• and
• a second annular shoulder defined in the monolithic valve body outside of the cylindrical internal region and located between:
• the first annular shoulder;
• and
• the second interior surface defined in the monolithic valve body by the first fluid bore;
• a first monolithic seat element extending within the first annular recess and the cylindrical internal region, the first monolithic seat element comprising a second fluid bore defining a fourth interior surface in the first monolithic seat element;
• a first annular seal extending between and engaging the monolithic valve body and the first monolithic seat element;
• and
• a first protective sleeve extending on opposing sides of the first annular shoulder;
• wherein the first fluid bore of the monolithic valve body has a first full-bore inside diameter, the second fluid bore of the first monolithic seat element has a second full-bore inside diameter, and the first protective sleeve has a third full-bore inside diameter, the first, second, and third full-bore inside diameters being substantially equal;
• wherein the first protective sleeve defines an inside circumferentially-extending surface and an outside circumferentially-extending surface radially spaced from the inside circumferentially-extending surface;
• and
• wherein the first protective sleeve is devoid of any openings extending radially therethrough from the outside circumferentially-extending surface to the inside circumferentially-extending surface.

A gate valve, comprising:

• a bonnet;
• a monolithic valve body to which the bonnet is connected, the monolithic valve body defining first and second external surfaces, the second external surface being perpendicular to the first external surface, the bonnet engaging the first external surface, the monolithic valve body comprising:
• a passage formed in the first external surface along a first longitudinal center axis to define a cylindrical internal region in the monolithic valve body, the cylindrical internal region defining a first interior surface in the monolithic valve body, the first interior surface extending circumferentially about the first longitudinal center axis;
• a first fluid bore formed in the second external surface along a second longitudinal center axis, the first fluid bore intersecting the cylindrical internal region and defining a second interior surface in the monolithic valve body;
• a first annular recess formed in the second interior surface and defining a third interior surface in the monolithic valve body, the third interior surface extending circumferentially about the second longitudinal center axis and adjoining the first interior surface;
• a first annular shoulder defined in the monolithic valve body outside of the cylindrical internal region and located between:
• the first interior surface defined in the monolithic valve body by the cylindrical internal region;
• and
• the second interior surface defined in the monolithic valve body by the first fluid bore;
• and
• a second annular shoulder defined in the monolithic valve body outside of the cylindrical internal region and located between:
• the first annular shoulder;
• and
• the second interior surface defined in the monolithic valve body by the first fluid bore;
• a first monolithic seat element extending within the first annular recess and the cylindrical internal region, the first monolithic seat element comprising a second fluid bore defining a fourth interior surface in the first monolithic seat element;
• and
• a first protective sleeve extending on opposing sides of the first annular shoulder;
• wherein the first monolithic seat element abuts the monolithic valve body;
• wherein the first fluid bore of the monolithic valve body has a first full-bore inside diameter, the second fluid bore of the first monolithic seat element has a second full-bore inside diameter, and the first protective sleeve has a third full-bore inside diameter, the first, second, and third full-bore inside diameters being substantially equal;
• wherein the first protective sleeve defines an inside circumferentially-extending surface and an outside circumferentially-extending surface radially spaced from the inside circumferentially-extending surface;
• and
• wherein the first protective sleeve is devoid of any openings extending radially therethrough from the outside circumferentially-extending surface to the inside circumferentially-extending surface.