Pressure activated flow balancing double quad valve
AssigneeA.O. International II, Inc.
InventorsAndre Orban, Daniel Maurice Lerner, Andrew Lerner, Ranjit K Singh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A double quad valve design and associated use and system is presented that provides a user to control directional, bidirectional and in some cases tri-directional balanced flow into and out of three (or more) ports that together with one or more sets of springs and sliding seats ensures an ability to allow for a completely static condition that is absent any fluid or fluid flow leaks as well as completely balanced flow that eliminates hydraulic seizure during the operation of one or more mechanical, hydraulic, electro-mechanical, and/or electro-hydraulic devices.
Claims20
A method of controlling fluid flow using a double quad valve, said method comprising:
- providing a double quad valve having a valve body with a first port on an inlet side, a second port on an outlet side, and a third port located between said inlet side and said outlet side, wherein said third port is connected to a reservoir;
- maintaining a static closed position by positioning a first sliding seat against a first sliding seat outer stop and a second sliding seat against a second sliding seat outer stop using a balanced pressure spring disposed between said first and second sliding seats;
- sealing said first port and said second port using check elements seated against said first and second sliding seats respectively;
- and
- preventing fluid flow between any of said three ports when said double quad valve is in said static closed position.
A double quad valve assembly for protecting a hydraulic power unit from pressure damage, said assembly comprising:
- a valve body having a first port connectable to a first side of a hydraulic power unit, a second port connectable to a second side of said hydraulic power unit, and a third port connectable to a pressure-compensated reservoir;
- a first sliding seat movable between a first sliding seat outer stop and a first sliding seat inner stop;
- a second sliding seat movable between a second sliding seat outer stop and a second sliding seat inner stop;
- a balanced pressure spring disposed between said first and second sliding seats and configured to push said sliding seats toward their respective outer stops;
- a first check element seated against said first sliding seat and controlled by a first pressure check release spring;
- a second check element seated against said second sliding seat and controlled by a second pressure check release spring;
- a first cross pressure release rod attached to said first check element;
- and
- a second cross pressure release rod attached to said second check element;
- wherein said balanced pressure spring has a K-factor of at least twice that of said first and second pressure check release springs.
A double quad valve configured for tri-directional fluid flow, said valve comprising:
- a valve body having a first port, a second port, and a third port disposed between said first and second ports;
- first and second sliding seats disposed within said valve body;
- first and second check elements configured to seat against said first and second sliding seats respectively;
- first and second cross pressure release rods attached to said first and second check elements respectively, each cross pressure release rod having a cross pressure release rod tip;
- and
- a balanced pressure spring disposed between said first and second sliding seats;
- wherein said valve is configured to simultaneously allow fluid flow into said third port and out of both said first port and said second port when pressure at said third port exceeds pressure at both said first port and said second port.
A hydraulic system for downhole petrochemical well applications, said system comprising:
- a double quad valve having:
- a first port connected to a first hydraulic power unit,
- a second port connected to a second hydraulic power unit, and
- a third port connected to a pressure-compensated reservoir that operates at or near hydrostatic pressure of a well;
- wherein said double quad valve comprises sliding seats movable between inner stops and outer stops, check elements seated against said sliding seats, and cross pressure release rods attached to said check elements;
- and
- wherein said double quad valve is configured to relieve pressure differentials caused by changes in hydrostatic pressure of said well to prevent damage to mechanical components of said hydraulic power units.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.