US 2019/0226590 A1 · Subsea Control Valve

Abstract

The present invention relates to a subsea control valve (10) for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to a subsea fluid-actuated device (4). The valve comprises a housing (11) with an input fluid line bore (16) connectable to a input fluid system (2), a return fluid line bore (17) connectable to a return fluid system (3) and an actuator fluid line bore (18) connectable to the fluid-actuated device (4). A ball valve member (20) with a through bore (21) is pivotably connected within the housing (11) between the input fluid line bore (16), the return fluid line bore (17) and the actuator fluid line bore (18), the ball valve member (20) having a first and a second position. The actuator fluid line bore (18) and the return fluid line bore (17) are connected to each other via the through bore (21) when the ball valve member (20) is in its first position, thereby allowing fluid to be returned from the fluid-actuated device (4) to the return fluid system (3). The input fluid line bore (16) and the actuator fluid line bore (18) are connected to each other via the through bore (21) when the ball valve member (20) is in its second position, thereby allowing fluid to flow from the input fluid system (2) to the fluid-actuated device (4).

Claims28

Dependent claims

A subsea control valve for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to a subsea fluid-actuated device, the subsea control valve comprising:

a housing comprising an input fluid line bore connectable to a input fluid system, a return fluid line bore connectable to a return fluid system and an actuator fluid line bore connectable to the fluid-actuated device;
and
a ball valve member comprising a through bore, the ball valve member being pivotably connected within the housing between the input fluid line bore, the return fluid line bore and the actuator fluid line bore and having a first and a second position;
wherein the actuator fluid line bore and the return fluid line bore are connected to each other via the through bore when the ball valve member is in its first position, thereby allowing fluid to be returned from the fluid-actuated device to the return fluid system;
and
wherein the input fluid line bore and the actuator fluid line bore are connected to each other via the through bore when the ball valve member is in its second position, thereby allowing fluid to flow from the input fluid system to the fluid-actuated device.

3 more elements

A system for controlling operation of a subsea fluid-actuated device between an initial state and an actuated state, the device comprising an actuator member which is biased with a biasing force to the initial state;

wherein the system comprises:
a subsea control valve comprising a ball valve member, an input fluid line bore, a return fluid line bore and an actuator fluid line bore;
an input fluid system connected to the input fluid line bore, wherein a fluid pressure of the input fluid system is configured to be higher than a pressure needed to counteract the biasing force of the actuator member;
a return fluid system connected to the return fluid line bore, wherein a fluid pressure of the return fluid system is configured to be lower than the pressure needed to counteract the biasing force of the actuator member;
wherein the actuator fluid line bore is connectable to the fluid-actuated device;
wherein the actuator fluid line bore and the return fluid line bore are connected to each other when the ball valve member is in a first position, thereby allowing fluid to return from the actuator fluid line bore to the return fluid bore;
and
wherein the input fluid line bore and the actuator fluid line bore are connected to each other when the ball valve member is in a second position, thereby allowing fluid to flow from the input fluid system to the actuator fluid line bore.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Subsea Control Valve

Life of this patent

Subsea Control Valve

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28