Flow control valve having a motion conversion device

A motion conversion device for use with a control valve, the motion conversion device comprising:

• a first bore in fluid communication with a second bore;
• a first hydraulic cylinder comprising a first rod and a first piston movable within the first bore along a first axis;
• a second hydraulic cylinder comprising a second rod and a second piston movable within the second bore along a second axis, the first axis being non-parallel to the second axis;
• the first hydraulic cylinder being hydraulically coupled to the second hydraulic cylinder such that movement of the first hydraulic cylinder along the first axis causes movement of the second hydraulic cylinder along the second axis;
• a third bore in fluid communication with the second bore;
• and
• a third hydraulic cylinder comprising a third rod and a third piston movable within the third bore along a third axis, the third hydraulic cylinder being hydraulically coupled to the second hydraulic cylinder and mechanically coupled to the first hydraulic cylinder;
• the first hydraulic cylinder being mechanically coupled to the third hydraulic cylinder such that:
• (i) movement of the first hydraulic cylinder toward the second axis causes movement of the third hydraulic cylinder away from the second axis, and (ii) movement of the first hydraulic cylinder away from the second axis causes movement of the third hydraulic cylinder toward the second axis.

A method for operating a valve, comprising:

• moving a first single-acting cylinder along a first axis to exert hydraulic or pneumatic pressure on a side of a double-acting cylinder to move the double-acting cylinder along a second axis to close the valve;
• moving a second single-acting cylinder along a third axis to exert hydraulic or pneumatic pressure on an opposite side of the double-acting cylinder to move the double-acting cylinder along the second axis to open the valve;
• wherein the first single-acting cylinder is mechanically coupled to the second single-acting cylinder such that moving the first single-acting cylinder along the first axis causes the second single-acting cylinder to move in a direction away from the second axis, and (ii) moving the second single-acting cylinder along the third axis causes the first single-acting cylinder to move in a direction away from the second axis;
• and
• wherein the second axis is non-parallel to the first axis and the third axis.

A valve comprising:

• a valve body including a flow passage;
• a closure member movable between a closed position preventing fluid flow through the flow passage and an open position permitting fluid flow through the flow passage;
• a first bore in fluid communication with a second bore;
• a third bore in fluid communication with the second bore;
• a first single-acting cylinder movable within the first bore along a first axis;
• a double-acting cylinder coupled to the closure member and movable within the second bore along a second axis;
• a second single-acting cylinder movable within the third bore along a third axis;
• the first axis being parallel to the third axis;
• the second axis being non-parallel to the first axis and the third axis;
• the first single-acting cylinder being configured to exert hydraulic or pneumatic pressure on a side of the double-acting cylinder to move the double-acting cylinder along the second axis in a direction that moves the closure member to one of the closed position and the open position;
• and
• the second single-acting cylinder being configured to exert hydraulic or pneumatic pressure on an opposite side of the double-acting cylinder to move the double-acting cylinder along the second axis in an opposite direction to move the closure member to the other one of the closed position and the open position.

A motion conversion device for use with a control valve, the motion conversion device comprising:

• a first bore in fluid communication with a second bore;
• a first hydraulic cylinder comprising a first rod and a first piston movable within the first bore along a first axis;
• a second hydraulic cylinder comprising a second rod and a second piston movable within the second bore along a second axis, the first axis being non-parallel to the second axis;
• the first hydraulic cylinder being hydraulically coupled to the second hydraulic cylinder such that movement of the first hydraulic cylinder along the first axis causes movement of the second hydraulic cylinder along the second axis;
• a third bore in fluid communication with the second bore, the third bore including a first end in fluid communication with the second bore and a second end vented to the atmosphere;
• and
• a third hydraulic cylinder comprising a third rod and a third piston movable within the third bore along a third axis, the third hydraulic cylinder being hydraulically coupled to the second hydraulic cylinder and mechanically coupled to the first hydraulic cylinder, the first axis being parallel to the third axis.