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US 11,105,428 B2Granted
Valve seats, valve assemblies, and related methods
AssigneeFlowserve Management Company
InventorPaul Simon Warbey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Valve seats may include an insert and a housing. The insert may comprise a first material and the housing may comprise a second material. The second material of the housing may exhibit a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the first material of the insert. Valve assemblies and related method may include valve seats.
Claims20
A valve seat comprising:
- an insert comprising a first polymer material, the insert configured to be positioned proximate and to contact a valve member in a valve body and define a seal between the valve member and the valve seat;
- a seal housing comprising a second polymer material, at least a portion of the insert configured to be positioned within the seal housing, the seal housing configured to border the valve body only at an axial end surface and a radial side surface of the seal housing;
- and
- an outer body seal comprising at least two sealing rings comprising a third polymer material, the outer body seal positioned at an outer extent of the seal housing, the outer body seal configured to define another seal between the valve seat and the valve body,
- wherein the second polymer material of the seal housing exhibits a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the first polymer material of the insert and the third polymer material of the outer body seal, and
- wherein the outer body seal and the insert comprise substantially similar materials configured to elastically deform when substantially the same level of force is applied to the outer body seal and the insert by the valve member.
3 more elements
A valve assembly comprising:
- a valve body comprising at least one port;
- a valve member positioned within the valve body and configured to selectively enable fluid to pass through the at least one port in the valve body;
- and
- at least one valve seat comprising:
- a seat member comprising a polymer material, the seat member positioned adjacent and configured to define a first seal against the valve member, wherein the seat member is unconstrained in one axial direction of the at least one valve seat;
- and
- a support member comprising another polymer material, the support member positioned between the seat member and the valve body and configured to seal against the valve body and to define a secondary seal against the valve member, wherein the support member borders and contacts the valve body at an axial extent and a radial extent of the support member.
4 more elements
A method of providing a seal in a ball valve, the method comprising:
- defining a seat between a movable ball and a valve body of the ball valve, comprising:
- positioning a flexible insert comprising a first polymer material in a support member between the movable ball and the support member, the support member comprising a second polymer material, the flexible insert being unconstrained in one axial direction of the seat;
- positioning another flexible insert comprising a third polymer material in the support member between the support member and the valve body;
- and
- forcing the movable ball toward the support member to deform the flexible insert and the another flexible insert to define the seal between the movable ball and the valve body with the seat, the seal including a first seating surface between the movable ball and the flexible insert and a second seating surface between the movable ball and the support member.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.