Replaceable valve plug tip
AssigneeFisher Controls International LLC
InventorJonathan W. Richardson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve plug assembly includes a valve plug base, a valve plug tip, and a clamp that removably couples the valve plug tip to the valve plug base. The valve plug base includes a base body portion arranged for attachment to the valve stem and a base mating portion coupled to the base body portion. The valve plug tip has a tip body portion and a tip mating portion coupled to the tip body portion, the tip body portion having a sealing surface arranged to sealingly engage the valve seat. The clamp includes a clamp bore sized to receive at least a portion of the base mating portion and at least a portion of the tip mating portion.
Claims20
A valve plug assembly for use in a control valve assembly having a valve stem, a fluid flow passageway, and a valve seat disposed in the fluid flow passageway, the valve plug assembly comprising:
- a valve plug base extending along a plug base axis, the valve plug base including a base body portion attachable to the valve stem and a base mating portion coupled to the base body portion;
- a valve plug tip extending along a plug axis coaxially aligned with the plug base axis, the valve plug tip having a tip body portion and a tip mating portion coupled to the tip body portion, the tip body portion having a sealing surface arranged to sealingly engage the valve seat;
- and
- a clamp that removably couples the valve plug tip to the valve plug base, the clamp extending along a clamp axis coaxially aligned with the plug base axis and the plug axis, the clamp comprising a plurality of mating surfaces that define a clamp bore,
- wherein at least a portion of the base mating portion and at least a portion of the tip mating portion are disposed in the clamp bore such that (i) the base mating portion and the tip mating portion each engage at least one of the plurality of mating surfaces of the clamp, and (ii) an end of the valve plug base is seated directly against an end of the valve plug tip,
- wherein the base body portion is disposed outside of the clamp bore,
- wherein the base mating portion comprises a first cylindrical surface and a second cylindrical surface having a diameter larger than a diameter of the first cylindrical surface,
- wherein the plurality of mating surfaces of the clamp comprises a cylindrical mating surface that engages both the tip mating portion and the second cylindrical surface of the base mating portion,
- wherein the base mating portion has an outer diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the base body portion, and
- wherein the tip mating portion has an outer diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the tip body portion.
A method of forming a valve plug assembly for use in a control valve assembly, the control valve assembly having a valve stem, a fluid flow passageway, and a valve seat disposed in the fluid flow passageway, the method comprising:
- providing a valve plug base comprising a base body portion and a base mating portion coupled to the base body portion, wherein the base mating portion comprises a first cylindrical surface and a second cylindrical surface having a diameter larger than a diameter of the first cylindrical surface;
- arranging the base body portion for attachment to the valve stem;
- selecting a valve plug tip comprising a tip body portion and a tip mating portion coupled to the tip body portion;
- providing a clamp comprising a plurality of mating surfaces defining a clamp bore;
- disposing at least a portion of the base mating portion and at least a portion of the tip mating portion in the clamp bore such that an end of the base mating portion is seated directly against an end of the tip mating portion;
- and
- inserting a plurality of fasteners into a plurality of apertures formed in the clamp, thereby removably coupling the valve plug tip to the valve plug base,
- wherein the base body portion is disposed outside of the clamp bore,
- wherein the plurality of mating surfaces of the clamp comprises a cylindrical mating surface that engages both the tip mating portion and the second cylindrical surface of the base mating portion,
- wherein the base mating portion has an outer diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the base body portion, and
- wherein the tip mating portion has an outer diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the tip body portion.
A valve trim assembly for use in a control valve assembly having a fluid flow passageway and a valve seat disposed in the fluid flow passageway, the valve trim assembly comprising:
- a valve stem;
- and
- a valve plug assembly comprising:
- a valve plug base extending along a plug base axis, the valve plug base including a base body portion attached to the valve stem and a base mating portion coupled to the base body portion, wherein the base mating portion comprises a first cylindrical surface and a second cylindrical surface having a diameter larger than a diameter of the first cylindrical surface;
- a valve plug body tip extending along a plug axis coaxially aligned with the plug base axis, the valve plug body tip having a tip body portion and a tip mating portion coupled to the tip body portion, the tip body portion made of a ceramic or a carbide material and having a sealing surface arranged to sealingly engage the valve seat;
- and
- a clamp that removably couples the valve plug body tip to the valve plug base, the clamp comprising a plurality of mating surfaces that define a clamp bore,
- wherein the base body portion is disposed outside of the clamp bore,
- wherein the plurality of mating surfaces of the clamp comprises a cylindrical mating surface that engages both the tip mating portion and the second cylindrical surface of the base mating portion,
- wherein the base mating portion has an outer diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the base body portion, and
- wherein the tip mating portion has an outer diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the tip body portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.