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US 12,655,917 B2Granted
Valve assemblies including a sealed housing and related systems and methods
AssigneeFlowserve Pte. Ltd.
InventorsGifford Decker, Varadharajen Lakshamanan, Fred Cain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Valve assemblies include a first actuation element coupled to the valve member, where the first actuation element is configured to move the valve member between a first closed position and a second open position. An inner housing encloses the first actuation element and is statically sealed to a valve body. A second actuation element is configured to be coupled to a valve actuator for moving the second actuation element relative to the first actuation element, where movement of the second actuation element is configured to indirectly apply a force to the first actuation element through the inner housing.
Claims20
A valve assembly, comprising:
- a valve body having a fluid passage through the valve body, the valve body comprising a seat portion;
- a valve member disposed in a chamber of the valve body that is in communication with the fluid passage, the valve member being movable relative to the valve body to inhibit fluid flow in a first closed position when the valve member is in contact with the seat portion and to enable fluid flow in a second open position;
- a first actuation element coupled to the valve member, the first actuation element comprising one or more magnets and configured to move the valve member in an axial direction of the valve assembly between the first closed position and the second open position;
- a single-piece inner housing statically sealed to the valve body and enclosing the first actuation element, the inner housing comprising a metal alloy material, the inner housing extending continuously from a static seal with the body to surround the first actuation element on all lateral sides and an upper portion of the first actuation element opposing the valve member to define a containment system for fluid in the valve body, wherein the single-piece inner housing further extends radially inward from the static seal with the body to a location adjacent to the valve member to define the opening through which a portion of the valve member passes;
- a second actuation element comprising one or more magnets, the second actuation element configured to be coupled to a valve actuator for moving the second actuation element relative to the first actuation element, the valve body, and the inner housing via magnetic force applied between the one or more magnets of the first actuation element and the one or more magnets of the second actuation element, wherein movement of the second actuation element is configured to indirectly apply a force to the first actuation element through the inner housing, and wherein the one or more magnets of the first actuation element are at least partially axially aligned with the one or more magnets of the second actuation element and laterally spaced from the one or more magnets of the second actuation element in a lateral direction of the valve assembly that is transverse to the axial direction of the valve assembly;
- and
- an outer housing directly abutting the inner housing, wherein the second actuation element is enclosed between the inner housing and the outer housing, and wherein the outer housing is configured to be removed from direct abutment with the inner housing for maintenance of the second actuation element without exposing the fluid to atmosphere.
4 more elements
A valve assembly, comprising:
- a valve member on a shaft to be disposed in a chamber of a valve body that is in communication with a fluid passage through the valve body, the valve member being movable via the shaft to inhibit fluid flow through the fluid passage in a first closed position and to enable fluid flow in a second open position through the fluid passage;
- an inner actuation assembly coupled to the valve member, the inner actuation assembly configured to move the valve member between the first closed position and the second open position;
- a housing having an outer circumference enclosing the inner actuation assembly and configured to be statically sealed to the valve body, a lowermost portion of the housing being received within a recess in the valve body and extending continuously laterally inward from the outer circumference to define an opening configured for the shaft of the valve member to extend;
- a static seal in the recess in the valve body and positioned between the lowermost portion of the housing and the valve body;
- an outer actuation assembly positioned over at least a portion of the inner actuation assembly, the outer actuation assembly configured to be coupled to a valve actuator for moving the outer actuation assembly relative to the inner actuation assembly and the housing, wherein movement of the outer actuation assembly is configured to apply an indirect force to the inner actuation assembly through the housing;
- and
- an outer housing abutting a portion of the housing and positioned over the outer actuation assembly.
4 more elements
A method of actuating a valve assembly, comprising:
- disposing a valve member in a chamber of a valve body that is in communication with a fluid passage through the valve body;
- and
- moving the valve member between a first closed position to inhibit fluid flow through the fluid passage and a second close position to enable fluid flow through the fluid passage, the moving the valve member comprising:
- driving an outer actuation assembly with a valve actuator;
- and
- applying an indirect force to an inner actuation assembly coupled to the valve member with the outer actuation assembly in primarily a radial direction through a housing enclosing the inner actuation assembly to the valve body, the housing extending around the inner actuation assembly and radially inward to a location adjacent to the valve member to enclose and seal the inner actuation assembly, the valve assembly lacking any sliding seals or rotating seals between the fluid passage and the housing such that the valve assembly is operated using only static seals to separate interior liquid flow through the fluid passage from external rotating parts of the outer actuation assembly.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.