Quick closing valve system and methodology

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11293263-B2
Application number	US-202016741265-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2020
Priority date	Jan 13, 2020
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

A technique facilitates rapid transitioning of a valve, e.g. a gate valve. According to an embodiment, a system comprises a valve actuator constructed for coupling with a valve to actuate the valve between closed and open positions. Hydraulic actuation fluid may be supplied to the valve actuator under pressure via a hydraulic supply system to enable selective shifting of the valve actuator, and thus the valve, from a closed position to an open position. The system also comprises a dump tank coupled to the valve actuator in a manner to receive hydraulic fluid. In a rapid valve actuation operation, e.g. closing operation, the dump tank receives hydraulic fluid from the valve actuator rather than returning the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic supply system. This, in turn, enables rapid shifting of the valve actuator and thus rapid shifting of the valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for use in facilitating rapid valve actuation, comprising:
a valve actuator having:
an actuator housing defining a piston chamber;
a piston slidably positioned in the piston chamber;
an actuator member coupled to the piston; and
a spring biasing the piston and the actuator member to a first operational position, the actuator housing further comprising a port through which hydraulic fluid may be delivered to the piston chamber from a hydraulic supply line and under sufficient pressure to shift the piston against the spring to transition the piston and the actuator member to a second operational position; and
a dump tank in fluid communication with the piston chamber to receive hydraulic fluid rather than returning hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic supply line during rapid transition of the valve actuator from the second operational position to the first operational position, the dump tank comprising an energizer element which energizes when the hydraulic fluid is received into the dump tank, the energizer element facilitating discharge of the hydraulic fluid from the dump tank.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the dump tank is mounted along an exterior of the actuator housing.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the dump tank is mounted along an interior of the actuator housing.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the energizer element comprises a compressible element.

5. The system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the compressible element comprises a plurality of compressible balls.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a valve coupled to the actuator member.

7. The system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the first operational position of the valve actuator corresponds with a closed position of the valve.

8. The system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the second operational position of the valve actuator corresponds with an open position of the valve.

9. The system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the valve is a gate valve.

10. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the dump tank is in fluid communication with the piston chamber via a quick exhaust valve and the port.

11. A system, comprising:
a valve;
a valve actuator coupled to the valve to actuate the valve between closed and open positions;
a hydraulic supply system coupled to the valve actuator via a hydraulic supply line to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure for shifting the valve actuator when actuating the valve from the closed position to the open position; and
a dump tank coupled to the valve actuator in a manner to receive hydraulic fluid discharged from the valve actuator rather than returning the hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic supply line during rapid closure of the valve; wherein the dump tank comprises a discharge valve to facilitate controlled discharge of fluid from the dump tank.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the valve actuator comprises an actuator housing defining a piston chamber; a piston slidably positioned in the piston chamber; an actuator member coupled to the piston and to the valve; and a spring biasing the piston and the valve to a closed position, the actuator housing further comprising a port through which hydraulic fluid may be delivered to the piston chamber from the hydraulic supply line and under sufficient pressure to shift the piston against the spring to transition the piston and the valve to an open position.

13. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the dump tank is mounted along an exterior of the actuator housing.

14. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the dump tank is mounted along an interior of the actuator housing.

15. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the dump tank comprises an energizer element which energizes when the hydraulic fluid is received into the dump tank, the energizer element facilitating discharge of the hydraulic fluid from the dump tank.

16. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the energizer element comprises a plurality of compressible enclosures.

17. A method, comprising:
coupling a hydraulic valve actuator with a dump tank;
providing the hydraulic valve actuator with a spring biased piston slidably mounted in a piston chamber such that introduction of hydraulic fluid into the piston chamber under pressure shifts the spring biased piston and causes the hydraulic valve actuator to shift from a first operational position to a second operational position;
maintaining fluid communication between the piston chamber and the dump tank such that release of pressure on the hydraulic fluid enables the spring biased piston to rapidly discharge hydraulic fluid from the piston chamber into the dump tank, and
providing the dump tank with an energizer element which energizes when the hydraulic fluid is received into the dump tank and facilitates discharge of the hydraulic fluid from the dump tank.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 , further comprising connecting the hydraulic valve actuator with a valve in a well system.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 , further comprising shifting the valve from a closed position to an open position by introducing the hydraulic fluid into the piston chamber via a hydraulic supply line in fluid communication with the piston chamber and with a hydraulic fluid supply system.

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Mclin Jermetris
• Mcgilvray Jr Mark
• Martino Jerry
• Toups Carl

Classifications

• F15B20/00

  Safety arrangements for fluid actuator systems; Applications of safety devices in fluid actuator systems; Emergency measures for fluid actuator systems · CPC title

• E21B34/102 Primary

  with means for locking the closing element in open or closed position (E21B34/105 and E21B34/108 take precedence) · CPC title

• F15B15/225

  with valve stems operated by contact with the piston end face or with the cylinder wall · CPC title

• F15B2211/8752

  Emergency operation mode, e.g. fail-safe operation mode · CPC title

• F16K3/32

  Means for additional adjustment of the rate of flow · CPC title