Back to results
US 8,727,314 B2Granted
Ball valve
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorChristophe Avdjian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosed embodiments include ball valves having integrated seats. The integrated seats are included in a ball body assembly of a valve body. The ball body assembly may rotate with respect to the valve body to open or close the valve. The integrated seats may contact walls of a bore to sealingly close the valve.
Claims18
A ball valve comprising:
- a first ball body assembly comprising a ball body, a first annular groove disposed in the ball body, a first annular seat disposed in the first annular groove, and a first spring disposed in the first annular groove between the ball body and the first annular seat, wherein the first spring biases the first annular seat outwardly from the ball body;
- a first fluid chamber disposed along the first annular groove between the ball body and the first annular seat, and the first fluid chamber is configured to use fluid pressure to bias the first annular seat outwardly from the ball body;
- and
- a valve body having a fluid passage in fluid communication with the first ball body assembly, wherein the first ball body assembly is disposed inside the valve body and is configured to rotate relative to the valve body to open and close the fluid passage.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- an integrated seat assembly, comprising:
- an annular seat having an outer surface opposite from an inner surface, wherein the inner surface is configured to mount within an annular groove on a ball body;
- a spring disposed along the inner surface of the annular seat, wherein the spring is configured to bias the annular seat to move over a distance outwardly from the annular groove of the ball body;
- and
- a seat ring recessed into the annular seat along the inner surface, wherein the seat ring is configured to limit displacement of the annular seat relative to the ball body, wherein the integrated seat assembly is configured to substantially seal a fluid passage of a valve body when the ball body is in a closed position.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- selectively blocking a fluid passage through a valve body with a first ball body assembly disposed within the valve body, wherein the first ball body assembly comprises a ball body, a first annular groove disposed in the ball body, a first annular seat disposed in the first annular groove, and a first spring disposed in the first annular groove between the ball body and the first annular seat;
- coupling the first annular seat to the ball body with a first seat ring;
- sealing the first annular seat to the ball body with a first seal;
- biasing the first annular seat outwardly from the ball body with a first fluid chamber, wherein the first seal, the first seat ring, and the first fluid chamber are each disposed along the first annular groove between the ball body and the first annular seat;
- and
- seating the first annular seat against the valve body, wherein seating comprises biasing the first annular seat outwardly from the ball body with the first spring.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.