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US 12,535,141 B2Granted
Reduced stroke gate valve
AssigneeInnovex International, Inc.
InventorChris D. Bartlett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reduced stroke gate valve is provided. The reduced stroke gate valve provides a predetermined or desired flow area for a given bore size through the gate valve while reducing a total length through which the gate valve strokes between an open position and a closed position. The reduced stroke gate valve includes one or more openings that span a non-circular or non-round area within the gate. The non-circular or non-round shape or distribution of opening(s) in the gate may provide a flow area equivalent to a predetermined flow area for a single circular hole that would otherwise be used for the gate valve application, but with a shape or distribution of opening(s) that provides a reduced stroke length to move the gate valve from the open position to the closed position.
Claims20
A gate valve comprising:
- a first valve seat and a second valve seat spaced apart, wherein each of the first valve seat and the second valve seat comprise a flowpath formed therethrough;
- a gate, wherein movement of the gate in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the gate valve with respect to the first and second valve seats transitions the gate valve between an open position and a closed position;
- wherein the gate comprises one or more openings formed therein, the one or more openings extending through a thickness of the gate, the one or more openings collectively spanning an area having:
- a first dimension in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gate valve;
- and
- a second dimension in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gate valve, wherein the second dimension is longer than the first dimension;
- a stem coupled to the gate, the stem having a primary piston disposed thereon and extending radially therefrom, the primary piston being configured to move through a chamber and engage a shoulder of a secondary piston;
- and
- a first port and a second port for delivering hydraulic fluid to the chamber, wherein:
- for opening the gate, the hydraulic fluid is communicated through the first port to the chamber on a first side of the primary piston, thereby moving the primary piston until the primary piston engages the shoulder of the secondary piston, and
- for closing the gate, the hydraulic fluid is communicated through the second port to the chamber on a second side of the primary piston.
8 more elements
A tubing hanger system, comprising:
- a tubing hanger body;
- an annulus bore formed through the tubing hanger body;
- and
- a gate valve disposed in the tubing hanger body, the gate valve comprising:
- a first valve seat and a second valve seat spaced apart, wherein each of the first valve seat and the second valve seat comprise a flowpath formed therethrough;
- a gate, wherein movement of the gate in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the gate valve with respect to the first and second valve seats transitions the gate valve between an open position and a closed position;
- wherein the gate comprises one or more openings formed therein, the one or more openings extending through a thickness of the gate, the one or more openings collectively spanning an area having:
- a first dimension in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gate valve;
- and
- a second dimension in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gate valve, wherein the second dimension is longer than the first dimension;
- a stem coupled to the gate, the stem having a primary piston disposed thereon and extending radially therefrom, the primary piston being configured to move through a chamber and engage a shoulder of a secondary piston;
- and
- a first port and a second port for delivering hydraulic fluid to the chamber, wherein:
- for opening the gate, the hydraulic fluid is communicated through the first port to the chamber on a first side of the primary piston, thereby moving the primary piston until the primary piston engages the shoulder of the secondary piston, and
- for closing the gate, the hydraulic fluid is communicated through the second port to the chamber on a second side of the primary piston.
12 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a gate valve comprising:
- a first valve seat and a second valve seat spaced apart, wherein each of the first valve seat and the second valve seat comprise a flowpath formed therethrough;
- a gate, wherein movement of the gate in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the gate valve with respect to the first and second valve seats transitions the gate valve between an open position and a closed position;
- wherein the gate comprises one or more openings formed therein, the one or more openings extending through a thickness of the gate, the one or more openings collectively spanning an area having:
- a first dimension in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gate valve;
- and
- a second dimension in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gate valve, wherein the second dimension is longer than the first dimension;
- a stem coupled to the gate, the stem having a primary piston disposed thereon and extending radially therefrom, the primary piston being configured to move through a chamber and engage a shoulder of a secondary piston;
- and
- a first port and a second port for delivering hydraulic fluid to the chamber, wherein:
- for opening the gate, the hydraulic fluid is communicated through the first port to the chamber on a first side of the primary piston, thereby moving the primary piston until the primary piston engages the shoulder of the secondary piston, and
- for closing the gate, the hydraulic fluid is communicated through the second port to the chamber on a second side of the primary piston;
- and
- moving the gate in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the gate valve with respect to the first and second valve seats to transition the gate valve between an open position and a closed position.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.