Hydraulic low-torque valve conversion apparatus and method
AssigneeWright's IP Holdings, LLC
InventorDavid C. Wright
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A conversion kit creates a redundant hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical control functionality for low-torque, quarter-turn plug valves in remote production environments (i.e., rural or subsea pipelines). The conversion kit comprises at least one custom end cap fitted to the valve and comprising a socket receiving a rotator attachment. Each rotator attachment is in turn connected to a crossover which connects to a bracket remotely actuated via hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical control. The linear movement of the bracket and the attached crossover[s] is converted to rotational force which is transmitted through the rotator attachments to the at least one valve.
Claims9
A conversion kit for transmitting a rotational force to at least one quarter turn valve in a pipeline, the kit comprising:
- at least one actuating cap, wherein each respective actuating cap is connected to a respective quarter turn valve, and wherein the respective actuating cap comprises a socket facing outward and away from the respective quarter turn valve;
- at least one rotator attachment, wherein each respective rotator attachment comprises a first section fit to the respective socket of the respective actuating cap and a second section extending outward therefrom;
- and
- at least one crossover, wherein each respective crossover comprises a primary orifice receiving a respective rotator attachment second section and a groove seating an actuating bracket,
- wherein the actuating bracket receives a linear force and moves the at least one crossover, wherein the at least one crossover transmits the linear force into a rotational force on the at least one actuating cap through the respective at least one rotator attachment, and wherein the rotational force of the at least one actuating cap actuates the at least one quarter turn valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.