Back to results
US 2019/0219186 A1Published application
Pressure Relief Valve
AssigneeFMC Technologies, Inc.
InventorDaniel R. FINK
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure relief valve includes a valve body having a main bore, an inlet bore which is connected to the main bore, an outlet bore which extends through a side of the valve body, and a valve bore which connects the inlet bore with the outlet bore. A valve member is positioned in the valve bore and is movable between a closed position in which a fluid in the inlet bore is prevented from flowing into the outlet bore and an open position in which the fluid in the inlet bore is permitted to flow into the outlet bore. The valve member is movable from the closed position to the open position in response to an overpressure event in the main bore. The valve body further includes a return bore which connects the inlet bore with the main bore.
Claims28
1:
- A pressure relief valve comprising:
- a valve body which includes a main bore having an inlet end and an outlet end, an inlet bore which is connected to the main bore at a first location, an outlet bore which extends through a side of the valve body, and a valve bore which connects the inlet bore with the outlet bore;
- and
- a valve member which is positioned in the valve bore, the valve member being movable between a closed position in which a fluid in the inlet bore is prevented from flowing into the outlet bore and an open position in which the fluid in the inlet bore is permitted to flow into the outlet bore;
- wherein the valve member is movable from the closed position to the open position in response to an overpressure event in the main bore;
- the valve body further comprising a return bore which connects the inlet bore with the main bore, the return bore being connected to the main bore at a second location which is spaced apart from the first location.
3 more elements
2:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 1, further comprising a flow restrictor which is located in the main bore between the inlet bore and the return bore.
3:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 2, wherein the flow restrictor comprises a reduced diameter constriction in the main bore.
4:
- The pressure relief valve of any of claim 1, wherein the valve body further comprises a vent bore which is connected between the inlet bore and the outlet bore, and wherein the pressure relief valve further comprises:
- a first closure device which is positioned in the vent bore;
- and
- a second closure device which is positioned in the inlet bore between the main bore and the vent bore;
- wherein in operation of the pressure relief valve, pressure in the valve bore is vented through the vent bore and the outlet bore by closing the second closure device and opening the first closure device.
2 more elements
5:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 4, wherein the vent bore is connected to the inlet bore via the return bore, and wherein the pressure relief valve further comprises:
- a third closure device which is positioned in the return bore between the main bore and the vent bore;
- wherein in operation of the pressure relief valve, pressure in the valve bore is vented through the vent bore and the outlet bore by closing the second and third closure devices and opening the first closure device.
6:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 5, wherein the valve body comprises a generally rectangular block configuration.
7:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 6, wherein the main bore extends generally horizontally through the body, the inlet bore extends generally vertically through the body from the main bore, the valve bore extends generally vertically through the body from an end of the inlet bore opposite the main bore, and the outlet bore extends generally horizontally through the body from the vale bore.
8:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 7, wherein the return bore extends generally vertically through the valve body from the main bore and is connected to the inlet bore by a generally horizontally extending cross bore.
9:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 8, wherein the vent bore extends generally vertically through the valve body from the outlet bore and is connected to the inlet bore by the cross bore.
10:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 9, wherein at least one of the valve bore and the vent bore is formed coaxially with the inlet bore and the return bore, respectively.
11:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 5, wherein at least one of the main bore and the outlet bore comprises a bore liner.
12:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 11, wherein at least one of the inlet bore, the return bore, the cross bore and the vent bore comprises a bore liner.
13:
- A pressure relief valve comprising:
- a valve body which includes a main bore having an inlet end and an outlet end, an inlet bore which is connected to the main bore, an outlet bore which extends through a side of the valve body, and a valve bore which connects the inlet bore with the outlet bore;
- and
- a valve member which is positioned in the valve bore, the valve member being movable between a closed position in which a fluid in the inlet bore is prevented from flowing into the outlet bore and an open position in which the fluid in the inlet bore is permitted to flow into the outlet bore;
- wherein the valve member is movable from the closed position to the open position in response to an overpressure event in the main bore;
- and
- wherein the valve body comprises a generally rectangular block configuration;
- and
- wherein the main bore extends generally horizontally through the body, the inlet bore extends generally vertically through the body from the main bore, the valve bore extends generally vertically through the body from an end of the inlet bore opposite the main bore, and the outlet bore extends generally horizontally through the body from the vale bore.
6 more elements
(canceled)
15:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 13, wherein the valve body further comprises a return bore which connects the inlet bore with the main bore.
16:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 15, wherein the return bore extends generally vertically through the valve body from the main bore and is connected to the inlet bore by a generally horizontally extending cross bore.
17:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 16, wherein the valve body further comprises a vent bore which is connected between the inlet bore and the outlet bore, and wherein the vent bore extends generally vertically through the valve body from the outlet bore and is connected to the inlet bore by the cross bore.
18:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 17, wherein at least one of the valve bore and the vent bore is formed coaxially with the inlet bore and the return bore, respectively.
19:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 13, wherein the valve body further comprises a return bore which connects the inlet bore with the main bore.
20:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 19, further comprising a flow restrictor which is located in the main bore between the inlet bore and the return bore.
21:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 20, wherein the flow restrictor comprises a reduced diameter constriction in the main bore.
22:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 13, wherein the valve body further comprises a vent bore which is connected between the inlet bore and the outlet bore, and wherein the pressure relief valve further comprises:
- a first closure device which is positioned in the vent bore;
- and
- a second closure device which is positioned in the inlet bore between the main bore and the vent bore;
- wherein in operation of the pressure relief valve, pressure in the valve bore is vented through the vent bore and the outlet bore by closing the second closure device and opening the first closure device.
2 more elements
23:
- The pressure relief valve of claim 22, wherein the valve body further comprises a return bore which connects the inlet bore with the main bore, wherein the vent bore is connected to the inlet bore via the return bore, and wherein the pressure relief valve further comprises:
- a third closure device which is positioned in the return bore between the main bore and the vent bore;
- wherein in operation of the pressure relief valve, pressure in the valve bore is vented through the vent bore and the outlet bore by closing the second and third closure devices and opening the first closure device.
24:
- A method of operating a pressure relief valve comprising:
- directing a fluid through a main bore of a valve body;
- circulating at least a portion of the fluid from the main bore, through the valve body and back into the main bore;
- and
- upon the occurrence of an overpressure event, opening a valve member coupled to the valve body to vent the fluid in the main bore through an outlet bore of the valve body.
2 more elements
25:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the step of circulating at least a portion of the fluid through the valve body comprises directing the fluid from the main bore through a return bore which is connected between an inlet bore of the valve body and the main bore.
26:
- The method of claim 25, further comprising:
- after the step of opening the valve member to vent the fluid in the main bore through the outlet bore, isolating a valve bore of the valve body and the outlet bore from the main bore, wherein the valve member is at least partially positioned in the valve bore;
- venting the fluid in the valve bore through the outlet bore;
- closing the valve member to isolate the inlet bore from the outlet bore;
- and
- opening the inlet bore and the return bore to the main bore.
3 more elements
27:
- The method of claim 26, wherein the step of venting the fluid in the valve bore through the outlet bore comprises directing the fluid through a vent bore which is connected between the inlet bore and the valve bore.
28:
- The method of claim 27, further comprising, after the fluid is vented from the valve bore, isolating the outlet bore from the vent bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.