Clapper valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10197172-B2
Application number	US-201715429763-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2017
Priority date	Feb 11, 2016
Publication date	Feb 5, 2019
Grant date	Feb 5, 2019

Abstract

A valve assembly adapted for use in oil and gas operations. In one aspect, the valve assembly includes a valve body defining an internal region, an inlet passageway, and an outlet passageway, the inlet and outlet passageways extending into the internal region; a valve seat connected to the valve body and defining a fluid passageway; a clapper extending within the internal region and defining an annular groove; and a seal extending within the annular groove of the clapper and adapted to sealingly engage the valve seat. In an example embodiment, the clapper is actuable between an open configuration, in which fluid flow is permitted through the fluid passageway; and a closed configuration, in which the seal sealingly engages the valve seat to at least partially restrict fluid flow through the fluid passageway.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly, comprising:
a valve body defining an internal region, an inlet passageway, and an outlet passageway, the inlet and outlet passageways extending into the internal region;
a valve seat connected to the valve body and defining a fluid passageway, the valve seat comprising a first end face extending about the fluid passageway;
a clapper extending within the internal region, the clapper comprising:
a second end face into which a first annular groove is formed; and
a circumferentially-extending exterior surface into which the first annular groove is formed, the circumferentially-extending exterior surface having a nonparallel relation with the second end face;

a seal extending within the first annular groove and adapted to sealingly engage the first end face of the valve seat;
wherein the clapper is actuable between:
an open configuration, in which fluid flow is permitted through the fluid passageway; and
a closed configuration, in which the seal sealingly engages the first end face to at least partially restrict fluid flow through the fluid passageway;

and
wherein the seal comprises a radially-extending contact surface adapted to contact the first end face when the clapper is in the closed configuration, the radially-extending contact surface being axially offset from the second end face.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein, when the clapper is in the closed configuration, the second end face contacts the first end face to limit compression of the seal against the first end face.

3. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal further comprises an annular bulbous protrusion.

4. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein, at the first annular groove, the clapper comprises first and second annular rounds and a concave surface, the first annular round adjoining the exterior surface and being axially offset from the second end face to permit radial expansion of the seal, the second annular round adjoining the second end face, and the concave surface adjoining the first and second annular rounds.

5. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve body further defines an access bore extending into the internal region; and wherein the valve assembly further comprises a hanger extending within the access bore, the clapper being pivotably coupled to the hanger so as to be pivotable between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

6. The valve assembly of claim 5 , wherein the hanger defines first and second tapered slots, the first tapered slot defining first and second end portions, the second tapered slot defining third and fourth end portions, the first and third end portions each having a first internal dimension, and the second and fourth end portions each having a second internal dimension, wherein the first internal dimension is less than the second internal dimension.

7. The valve assembly of clam 6 ,
wherein the hanger comprises first and second hinge blocks, the first tapered slot being formed in the first hinge block, and the second tapered slot being formed in the second hinge block;
wherein the clapper comprises a third hinge block extending between the first and second hinge blocks, the third hinge block defining a cylindrical passage; and
wherein the valve assembly further comprises a pin extending within the first and second tapered slots and the cylindrical passage.

8. The valve assembly of claim 7 , wherein, when the clapper is in the open configuration, the pin is urged toward the first and third end portions of the first and second tapered slots, respectively, such that the pin is at least partially restricted from moving one or more of vertically or horizontally relative to the hanger.

9. The valve assembly of claim 6 , wherein, when the clapper is in the closed configuration, the pin is urged toward the second and fourth end portions of the first and second tapered slots, respectively, to enable the pin to at least partially move one or more of vertically or horizontally relative to the hanger.

10. The valve assembly of claim 5 ,
wherein the valve body comprises an internal shoulder at the access bore; and
wherein the valve assembly further comprises a cap coupled to the valve body at the access bore and a biasing member positioned between the cap and the hanger, the biasing member urging the hanger towards the internal shoulder of the valve body.

11. The valve assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the valve body further defines a counterbore and the valve seat further defines a second annular groove, the valve seat being adapted to be removably engaged with the valve body at the counterbore; and
wherein an annular seal extends within the second annular groove and is adapted to sealingly engage a portion of the valve body when the valve seat is removably engaged with the valve body, the annular seal being configured to reduce a force imparted on the annular seal when relative motion is effected between the valve seat and the valve body.

12. The valve assembly of claim 11 , wherein, to promote face-to-face contact between the annular seal and the valve body, the annular seal includes a sealing face extending substantially parallel to the portion of the valve body with which the annular seal is adapted to be sealingly engaged.

13. A valve member adapted to be seated against a valve seat that defines a fluid passageway, the valve member comprising:
a body, comprising:
an end face into which an annular groove is formed; and
a circumferentially-extending exterior surface into which the annular groove is formed, the circumferentially-extending exterior surface having a nonparallel relation with the end face; and

a seal extending within the annular groove of the body and adapted to sealingly engage the valve seat;
wherein the valve member is actuable between:
an open configuration, in which fluid flow is permitted through the fluid passageway; and
a closed configuration, in which the seal sealingly engages the valve seat to at least partially restrict fluid flow through the fluid passageway;

and
wherein the seal comprises a radially-extending contact surface adapted to contact the valve seat when the valve member is in the closed configuration, the radially-extending contact surface being axially offset from the end face.

14. The valve member of claim 13 , wherein, when the valve member is in the closed configuration, the end face contacts the valve seat to limit compression of the seal against the valve seat.

15. The valve member of claim 13 , wherein the seal further comprises an annular bulbous protrusion.

16. The valve member of claim 15 , wherein the seal further comprises an annular concave surface axially between the exterior surface of the valve member and the annular bulbous protrusion.

17. The valve member of claim 13 , wherein, at the annular groove, the body comprises first and second annular rounds and a concave surface, the first annular round adjoining the exterior surface, the second annular round adjoining the end face, and the concave surface adjoining the first and second annular rounds.

18. The valve member of claim 17 , wherein the first annular round is axially offset from the end face to permit radial expansion of the seal.

19. A valve assembly, comprising:
a valve body defining an internal region, an inlet passageway, and an outlet passageway, the inlet and outlet passageways extending into the internal region;
a valve seat connected to the valve body and defining a fluid passageway, the valve seat comprising a first end f

Assignees

• Spm Flow Control Inc

Inventors

• Fuller Nadiya
• Said Nuder
• Witkowski Brian C

Classifications

• F16K47/00

  Means in valves for absorbing fluid energy (for pipes F16L55/00) · CPC title

• F16K15/033 Primary

  spring-loaded · CPC title

• F16K27/0227 Primary

  with the valve members swinging around an axis located at the edge of or outside the valve member · CPC title

• E21B34/10 Primary

  operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole · CPC title

• F16K1/20 Primary

  with axis of rotation arranged externally of valve member · CPC title