No-bolt latching system
AssigneeGE Oil & Gas Pressure Control LP
InventorsJeremy Ryan Choate, Travis Kyle McEvoy, Lloyd Cheatham, Keith M Adams, Robert Law
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes an actuator housing having a plurality of adapter lugs extending radially inward toward an axis, each adapter lug of the plurality of adapter lugs secured to the housing via a respective connector. The system also includes a bonnet having a plurality of bonnet lugs extending radially outward away from the axis, each bonnet lug of the plurality of bonnet lugs being separated by a respective space, the space being sized to permit axial movement of an adapter lug of the plurality of adapter lugs toward a lower flange arranged axially lower than the plurality of bonnet lugs.
Claims18
A valve assembly coupling system, comprising:
- an actuator for moving a valve between an open position and a closed position, comprising:
- a housing forming a chamber therein, the housing extending from a first end to a second end;
- an actuator assembly at the first end, the actuator assembly translating fluid pressure into a driving force;
- a stem coupled to the actuator assembly and extending through the actuator;
- and
- an adapter ring coupled to the second end, the adapter ring including a plurality of integrally formed adapter lugs extending radially inward toward the stem, the adapter lugs being circumferentially distributed about an inner diameter of the adapter ring and including a plurality of spaces between adjacent adapter lugs;
- a bonnet configured to be coupled to the adapter ring without threads comprising:
- a lower flange, at least a portion of the adapter ring overlapping the lower flange;
- and
- a plurality of bonnet lugs positioned axially higher than the lower flange, the plurality of bonnet lugs being circumferentially distributed about a circumference of the bonnet and including a plurality of bonnet spaces between adjacent bonnet lugs;
- and
- a groove between the lower flange and the plurality of bonnet lugs;
- and
- a locking assembly positioned at least partially within the housing, the locking assembly blocking rotational movement of the housing relative to the bonnet when in a locked position, the locking assembly comprising:
- an axially translatable latch, the axially translatable latch positioned within a cutout formed at least partially in the housing;
- a shaft coupled to the axially translatable latch and extending radially inward toward the bonnet;
- and
- a locking lug coupled to the shaft, wherein the locking lug is aligned with a bonnet lug of the plurality of bonnet lugs when in the locked position.
A valve assembly coupling system, comprising:
- an actuator housing having a plurality of adapter lugs extending radially inward toward an axis, each adapter lug of the plurality of adapter lugs secured to the housing via a respective connector and each respective connector extending through the actuator housing;
- and
- a bonnet having a plurality of bonnet lugs extending radially outward away from the axis, each bonnet lug of the plurality of bonnet lugs being separated by a respective space, the space being sized to permit axial movement of an adapter lug of the plurality of adapter lugs toward a lower flange arranged axially lower than the plurality of bonnet lugs.
A method for coupling components of a valve assembly, comprising:
- securing an adapter ring to an actuator housing, the adapter including a plurality of adapter lugs extending radially inward away from an exterior surface of the actuator housing, the adapter ring being secured to the actuator housing via connectors extending through the actuator housing;
- aligning an adapter lug of the plurality of adapter lugs with a space formed between a pair of bonnet lugs, the bonnet lugs being formed on a bonnet to extend radially outward toward the actuator housing;
- axially lowering the actuator housing to translate the adapter lug below the pair of bonnet lugs through the space;
- rotating the actuator housing to align the adapter lug with at least one bonnet lug;
- and
- locking the actuator housing in position to block rotation of the actuator housing via a locking mechanism that extends, at least partially, into the space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.