Fiber reinforced valve seal
AssigneeGd Energy Products, LLC
InventorsTroy Edward Wiegand, Pankaj H. Patel, John Chase
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A valve component utilized in a fluid end assembly of a high pressure reciprocating pump includes a valve body and a sealing element. The valve body defines a recess configured to receive the sealing element. The sealing element is composed of a fiber reinforced material. The valve component is configured to be disposed in a closed position with respect to a valve seat such that a sealing surface of the sealing element engages with a corresponding sealing surface of the valve seat in the closed position.
Claims20
A valve component for a reciprocating pump, the valve component comprising:
- a body comprising a base portion defining a recess;
- and
- a fiber reinforced sealing element configured to be positioned within the recess to form a valve sealing surface with the body, wherein the fiber reinforced sealing element comprises a plurality of fabric panel layers stacked against one another, the plurality of fabric panel layers extending between a first surface that abuts the base portion of the body and a second surface, opposite the first surface, that forms at least a portion of the valve sealing surface, wherein the plurality of fabric panel layers are each infused with elastomeric material.
A method of manufacturing a valve component, the method comprising:
- forming a plurality of fabric panel layers stacked against one another and extending between a first surface and a second surface, opposite the first surface;
- overmolding elastomeric material onto the plurality of fabric panel layers to infuse the plurality of fabric panel layers with the elastomeric material to provide a fiber reinforced sealing element;
- and
- positioning the fiber reinforced sealing element in a recess of a body of the valve component by abutting the first surface with the body to form at least a portion of a valve sealing surface with the second surface.
A valve assembly, comprising:
- a valve seat defining a bore and comprising a first tapered sealing surface;
- and
- a valve component comprising:
- a body comprising a sealing section;
- and
- a fiber reinforced sealing element secured to the body and surrounding the sealing section of the body, wherein a second tapered sealing surface of the fiber reinforced sealing element abuts against the first tapered sealing surface of the valve seat in a closed position of the valve component, and the fiber reinforced sealing element comprises a plurality of fabric panel layers stacked against one another, the plurality of fabric panel layers extending between a first surface in abutment with the body and the second tapered sealing surface, wherein the plurality of fabric panel layers are each infused with elastomeric material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.