Back to results
US 11,079,032 B2Granted
Regulating overtravel in bi-furcated plugs for use in valve assemblies
AssigneeDresser, Inc.
InventorThomas Henry Cunningham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gap control device that works with a plug on a valve assembly for use in high-temperature applications. The plug may include two parts and a compressible seal that, when compressed, engages with an adjacent wall of a cylinder or “cage” typical of a trim assembly. In one embodiment, the gap control device forms a hard stop that expands in response to high temperatures. This feature prevents excess over-travel between the two parts of the plug in the high-temperature applications so as to limit stress and wear on the compressible seal.
Claims19
A valve assembly, comprising:
- a trim assembly with a closure member comprising two pieces that are moveable in a first direction relative to one another under load, each of the pieces having a surface that is perpendicular to the first direction;
- and
- a gap control device disposed in proximity to the two pieces of the closure member, the gap control device comprising a hard stop that resides between the surface of the two pieces and that prevents relative movement between the two pieces,
- wherein the hard stop comprises a thermally-active member disposed in one of the two pieces of the closure member and comprised of material that expands and contracts in the first direction between the two pieces in response to different temperatures, and
- wherein the material of the thermally-active member expands under temperature at a rate that is different from material of at least one of the two pieces of the closure member.
2 more elements
A valve assembly, comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a plug disposed inside of the cylinder, the plug comprising a first part and a second part that are moveable in a first direction relative to one another in the cylinder, each of the first part and the second part having a surface that is perpendicular to the first direction;
- and
- a gap control device that resides between the surface of first part and the second part and that prevents relative movement between the first part and the second part,
- wherein the gap control device comprises a thermally-active member having an end that changes position in the first direction relative to the first part and the second part in response to temperature differential of material that flows proximate the plug, and
- wherein the material of the thermally-active member expands under temperature at a rate that is different from material of at least one of the first part and the second part of the plug.
3 more elements
A valve assembly, comprising:
- a two-part plug with a first part and a second part, each with a surface that is perpendicular to a direction of travel of the two-part plug;
- and
- a hard stop integrated into the two-part plug between the surface on the first part and the second part, the hard stop comprising thermally-active material that expands under temperature at a rate that is different from either the first part or the second part,
- wherein the hardstop has an end that changes position in the direction of travel relative to the first part and the second part in response to temperature differential of material that flows proximate the plug.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.