Hollow ball valve assembly
AssigneeNational Oilwell Varco, L.P.
InventorsAndrew Dale Riley, Mark A. Staggs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for constructing a valve comprising a sealing member and a hollow ball operable to sealingly engage the sealing member. A guide housing disposed about said hollow ball and does not constrain rotation of said hollow ball. A spring is disposed between the hollow ball and the guide housing so as to bias the hollow ball into sealing engagement with the sealing member. The hollow ball is constructed from two unequal sized portions and may comprise a hollow, spherical body having an aperture and a plug sized so as to closely fit within the aperture.
Claims17
A valve comprising:
- a sealing member;
- a hollow ball having an outer circumference and operable to sealingly engage said sealing member, wherein said hollow ball is constructed from unequal sized portions comprising:
- a hollow, spherical body having an aperture therethrough;
- a plug sized so as to closely fit within the aperture, the plug having a hole therethrough;
- and
- a dowel inserted into the hole;
- and
- a guide housing disposed about said hollow ball, wherein said guide housing does not constrain rotation of said hollow ball;
- and
- a spring disposed between said hollow ball and said guide housing, wherein said spring is operable to bias said hollow ball into sealing engagement with said sealing member.
A pump assembly comprising:
- a fluid-end assembly having a conduit in fluid communication with a reciprocating piston;
- a fluid supply in fluid communication with the conduit;
- a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the conduit;
- a suction valve comprising a hollow ball having a circumference and biased into sealing engagement with a sealing member so as to prevent fluid communication between said fluid supply and the conduit;
- and
- a discharge valve comprising a hollow ball having a circumference and biased into sealing engagement with a sealing member so as to prevent fluid communication between said fluid discharge and the conduit;
- wherein the hollow ball of said discharge valve and the hollow ball of said suction valve are each constructed from two unequal sized spherical portions having spherical outer surfaces that are nonthreadingly engaged.
A method for constructing a valve comprising:
- joining two unequal sized spherical portions to form a hollow ball forming a post on one spherical portion;
- disposing the hollow ball within a guide housing;
- and
- disposing a spring between the hollow ball and the guide housing so as to urge the hollow ball into sealing engagement with a sealing member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.