Rupture disk controlled hydraulically actuated valve assembly

A bypass assembly for bypassing a valve located within a primary conduit in the event of valve failure, said bypass assembly comprising:

• a bypass valve comprising
• a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat therein,
• an actuating unit including
• a mechanism that defines a collapsible fluid chamber,
• structure that defines a relief chamber fluidly connected to the fluid chamber, and
• a first fluid line providing selective access to the fluid chamber and a second fluid line providing selective access to the relief chamber,
• said actuating unit further including a moveable pressure responsive valve member positioned in engagement with the valve seat to normally block communication between the inlet and outlet and to experience the pressure conditions at the inlet, with the valve member being operably coupled with the mechanism to cause collapsing of the fluid chamber when the valve member moves relative to the valve seat for establishing communication between the inlet and outlet;
• and
• a rupture disk fluidly interposed between the fluid and relief chambers so that the disk blocks flow between the chambers until being ruptured,
• said rupture disk being associated with the mechanism to prevent collapsing of the fluid chamber and corresponding movement of the valve member until the valve member experiences a predetermined maximum pressure at the inlet, whereupon the valve member moves away from the valve seat an amount sufficient to communicate the inlet and outlet and causes the disk to rupture and the fluid chamber to collapse;
• inlet and outlet conduits respectively in communication with the primary conduit on opposite sides of the primary conduit valve and the bypass valve inlet and outlet;
• and
• a removable elongated body presenting opposite first and second ends,
• said body including a bore that extends inwardly from the first end and is capable of communicating with the fluid chamber at least one fluid passageway that projects outwardly from the bore to fluidly intercommunicate the bore and relief chamber at a point spaced between the first and second ends, and an outer sealing surface that is configured to sealingly engage the structure between said point and the first end,
• said rupture disk being fixed to the body adjacent the first end to block flow between the chambers until being ruptured.

A rupture disk apparatus for use in a pressure responsive valve assembly having a collapsible fluid chamber that collapses when the valve is actuated, said apparatus comprising:

• an elongated body presenting opposite first and second ends,
• said body including a bore that extends inwardly from the first end and is capable of communicating with the fluid chamber, at least one fluid passageway that projects outwardly from the bore to fluidly expose the bore at a point spaced between the ends, an outer sealing surface that is configured to sealingly engage the valve assembly between said point and the first end;
• and
• a rupture disk adjacent the first end of the body, with the disk being configured to prevent fluid from flowing through the bore until the disk is ruptured.

A pressure responsive valve assembly comprising:

• a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat therein;
• an actuating unit including
• a mechanism that defines a collapsible fluid chamber,
• structure that defines a relief chamber fluidly connected to the fluid chamber, and
• a first fluid line providing selective access to the fluid chamber and a second fluid line providing selective access to the relief chamber,
• said actuating unit further including a moveable pressure responsive valve member that is engageable with the valve seat, positioned to experience the pressure conditions at the inlet, and operably coupled with the mechanism to cause collapsing of the fluid chamber when the valve member moves relative to the valve seat to establish or close communication between the inlet and outlet;
• a rupture disk fluidly interposed between the fluid and relief chambers so that the disk blocks flow between the chambers until being ruptured and associated with the mechanism to prevent collapsing of the fluid chamber and corresponding movement of the valve member until the valve member experiences a predetermined maximum pressure at the inlet, whereupon the valve member moves relative to the valve seat and causes the disk to rupture and the fluid chamber to collapse;
• and
• a removable elongated body presenting opposite first and second ends,
• said body including a bore that extends inwardly from the first end and is capable of communicating with the fluid chamber, at least one fluid passageway that projects outwardly from the bore to fluidly intercommunicate the bore and relief chamber at a point spaced between the first and second ends, and an outer sealing surface that is configured to sealingly engage the structure between said point and the first end,
• said rupture disk being fixed to the body adjacent the first end to block flow between the chambers until being ruptured.

A pressure responsive valve assembly comprising:

• a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat therein;
• an actuating unit including a mechanism that defines a collapsible fluid chamber,
• said mechanism including a cylinder and a piston slidable within the cylinder, with the piston and cylinder cooperatively defining the collapsible fluid chamber,
• said actuating unit further including a moveable pressure responsive valve member that is engageable with the valve seat, positioned to experience the pressure conditions at the inlet, and operably coupled with the mechanism to cause collapsing of the fluid chamber when the valve member moves relative to the valve seat to establish or close communication between the inlet and outlet;
• a rupture disk associated with the mechanism to prevent collapsing of the fluid chamber and corresponding movement of the valve member until the valve member experiences a predetermined maximum pressure at the inlet, whereupon the valve member moves relative to the valve seat and causes the disk to rupture and the fluid chamber to collapse;
• and
• a return spring located within the cylinder and compressible upon moving of the valve member from an initial position to a position corresponding to rupture of the disk, said return spring serving to return the valve member toward the initial position thereof after rupturing of the disk.

A pressure responsive valve assembly comprising:

• a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat therein;
• an actuating unit including
• a mechanism that defines a collapsible fluid chamber,
• an actuating rod that is connected to the valve member and projects outwardly from the housing, and
• a linkage assembly operatively coupled between the actuating rod outside the housing and the mechanism,
• said actuating unit further including a moveable pressure responsive valve member that is engageable with the valve seat, positioned to experience the pressure conditions at the inlet, and operably coupled with the mechanism to cause collapsing of the fluid chamber when the valve member moves relative to the valve seat to establish or close communication between the inlet and outlet;
• and
• a rupture disk associated with the mechanism to prevent collapsing of the fluid chamber and corresponding movement of the valve member until the valve member experiences a predetermined maximum pressure at the inlet, whereupon the valve member moves relative to the valve seat and causes the disk to rupture and the fluid chamber to collapse.

A bypass assembly for bypassing a valve located within a primary conduit in the event of valve failure, said bypass assembly comprising:

• a bypass valve comprising
• a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat therein,
• an actuating unit including
• a mechanism that defines a collapsible fluid chamber,
• structure that defines a relief chamber fluidly connected to the fluid chamber, and
• a first fluid line providing selective access to the fluid chamber and a second fluid line providing selective access to the relief chamber
• said actuating unit further including a moveable pressure responsive valve member positioned in engagement with the valve seat to normally block communication between the inlet and outlet and to experience the pressure conditions at the inlet, with the valve member being operably coupled with the mechanism to cause collapsing of the fluid chamber when the valve member moves relative to the valve seat for establishing communication between the inlet and outlet;
• and
• a rupture disk fluidly interposed between the fluid and relief chambers so that the disk blocks flow between the chambers until being ruptured and associated with the mechanism to prevent collapsing of the fluid chamber and corresponding movement of the valve member until the valve member experiences a predetermined maximum pressure at the inlet, whereupon the valve member moves away from the valve seat an amount sufficient to communicate the inlet and outlet and causes the disk to rupture and the fluid chamber to collapse;
• and
• inlet and outlet conduits respectively in communication with the primary conduit on opposite sides of the primary conduit valve and the bypass valve inlet and outlet.

A bypass assembly for bypassing a valve located within a primary conduit in the event of valve failure, said bypass assembly comprising:

• a bypass valve comprising
• a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat therein,
• an actuating unit including a mechanism that defines a collapsible fluid chamber,
• said actuating unit further including a moveable pressure responsive valve member positioned in engagement with the valve seat to normally block communication between the inlet and outlet and to experience the pressure conditions at the inlet, with the valve member being operably coupled with the mechanism to cause collapsing of the fluid chamber when the valve member moves relative to the valve seat for establishing communication between the inlet and outlet;
• and
• a rupture disk associated with the mechanism to prevent collapsing of the fluid chamber and corresponding movement of the valve member until the valve member experiences a predetermined maximum pressure at the inlet, whereupon the valve member moves away from the valve seat an amount sufficient to communicate the inlet and outlet and causes the disk to rupture and the fluid chamber to collapse;
• inlet and outlet conduits respectively in communication with the primary conduit on opposite sides of the primary conduit valve and the bypass valve inlet and outlet;
• and
• a return spring compressible upon movement of the valve member from an initial position to a position corresponding to rupture of the disk,
• said return spring serving to return the valve member toward the initial position thereof after rupture of the disk,
• said mechanism including a cylinder and a piston slidable within the cylinder, with the piston and cylinder cooperatively defining the collapsible fluid chamber, and
• said return spring being located within the cylinder.

A bypass assembly for bypassing a valve located within a primary conduit in the event of valve failure, said bypass assembly comprising:

• a bypass valve comprising
• a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat therein,
• an actuating unit including
• a mechanism that defines a collapsible fluid chamber,
• an actuating rod that is connected to the valve member and projects outwardly from the housing, and
• a linkage assembly operatively coupled between the actuating rod outside the housing and the mechanism,
• said actuating unit further including a moveable pressure responsive valve member positioned in engagement with the valve seat to normally block communication between the inlet and outlet and to experience the pressure conditions at the inlet, with the valve member being operably coupled with the mechanism to cause collapsing of the fluid chamber when the valve member moves relative to the valve seat for establishing communication between the inlet and outlet;
• and
• a rupture disk associated with the mechanism to prevent collapsing of the fluid chamber and corresponding movement of the valve member until the valve member experiences a predetermined maximum pressure at the inlet, whereupon the valve member moves away from the valve seat an amount sufficient to communicate the inlet and outlet and causes the disk to rupture and the fluid chamber to collapse;
• and
• inlet and outlet conduits respectively in communication with the primary conduit on opposite sides of the primary conduit valve and the bypass valve inlet and outlet.