No-bolt valve assembly system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11326712-B2
Application number	US-201916728213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2019
Priority date	Dec 31, 2012
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

A valve assembly includes an actuator adapted to drive movement of a valve member between an open position and a closed position. The valve assembly also includes a bonnet coupled to the actuator and a valve body coupled to the bonnet, the bonnet arranged between at least a portion of the actuator and the valve body. The valve assembly further includes a quick connector adapted to couple the bonnet to the valve body. The quick connector includes a plurality of bonnet lugs separated by a plurality of spaces, the plurality of bonnet lugs extending radially outward from an axis. The quick connector also includes a plurality of valve body lugs configured to interact with the plurality of bonnet lugs, the plurality of bonnet lugs being arranged to axially align with the plurality of valve body lugs to block axial movement of the bonnet with respect to the valve body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly, comprising:
an actuator adapted to drive movement of a valve member between an open position and a closed position;
a bonnet coupled to the actuator;
a valve body coupled to the bonnet, the bonnet arranged between at least a portion of the actuator and the valve body;
a quick connector adapted to couple the bonnet to the valve body, the quick connector comprising:
a plurality of bonnet lugs separated by a plurality of spaces, the plurality of bonnet lugs extending radially outward from an axis; and
a plurality of valve body lugs configured to interact with the plurality of bonnet lugs, the plurality of bonnet lugs being arranged to axially align with the plurality of valve body lugs to block axial movement of the bonnet with respect to the valve body;

a first seal positioned between the bonnet and the actuator, the first seal positioned axially above at least one valve body lug of the plurality of valve body lugs and at least one bonnet lug of the plurality of bonnet lugs;
a second seal positioned between the bonnet and the valve body, the second seal arranged on a shoulder formed along an opening in the valve body, the shoulder having a shoulder outer diameter that is greater than an opening outer diameter that receives the bonnet; and
a bonnet groove formed, at least in part, by a bonnet lug of the plurality of bonnet lugs and a lower flange, the lower flange arranged axially lower than the bonnet lug of the plurality of bonnet lugs, the bonnet groove receiving a valve body lug of the plurality of valve body lugs.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of valve body spaces arranged between the valve body lugs.

3. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein a circumferential length of each valve body lug of the plurality of valve body lugs is less than a circumferential length of each space of the plurality of spaces.

4. The valve assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a locking mechanism formed in at least one of the bonnet or the valve body, the locking mechanism moving between an engaged position that blocks rotational movement of the bonnet and a disengaged position that enables rotational movement of the bonnet.

5. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second seal is arranged axially lower than the bonnet lugs.

6. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein a groove receiving the first seal is formed within the bonnet and a diameter of the first seal is approximately equal to a bonnet lug diameter.

7. A valve assembly, comprising:
an actuator configured to drive movement of a valve stem between a first position and a second position;
a valve body;
a valve member coupled to the valve stem, wherein movement of the valve stem drives movement of the valve member between the first position and the second position;
a bonnet adapted to couple the actuator to the valve body, the bonnet being arranged between the actuator and the valve body, comprising:
a first connector adapted to couple to the actuator, the first connector comprising a plurality of first bonnet lugs having a plurality of first spaces between adjacent first bonnet lugs of the plurality of first bonnet lugs, the first spaces arranged to permit movement of corresponding actuator lugs to move axially with respect to the bonnet through the first spaces and to block axial movement of the actuator relative to the bonnet when the plurality of first bonnet lugs are axially aligned with the actuator lugs; and
a second connector adapted to couple to the valve body, the second connector comprising a plurality of second bonnet lugs having a plurality of second spaces between adjacent second bonnet lugs of the plurality of second bonnet lugs, the second spaces arranged to permit movement of corresponding valve body lugs to move axially with respect to the bonnet through the second spaces and to block axial movement of the valve body relative to the bonnet when the plurality of second bonnet lugs are axially aligned with the valve body lugs;

a first seal positioned between the bonnet and the actuator, the first seal arranged axially lower than the plurality of first bonnet lugs;
a second seal positioned between the bonnet and the valve body, the second seal arranged axially higher than the plurality of second bonnet lugs and axially lower than the first seal; and
a third seal positioned between the bonnet and the valve body, the third seal arranged axially lower than the second seal, the third seal arranged along an opening formed in the valve body and positioned to at least partially overlap a lower portion of the bonnet, the third seal isolating the plurality of first bonnet lugs and the plurality of second bonnet lugs from working fluid within the valve body.

8. The valve assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
a spacer section of the bonnet arranged between the first connector and the second connector.

9. The valve assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
a first bonnet groove formed, at least in part, by the plurality of first bonnet lugs and a lower flange arranged axially lower than the plurality of first bonnet lugs, the first bonnet groove receiving the plurality of actuator lugs; and
a second bonnet groove formed, at least in part, by the plurality of second bonnet lugs and an upper flange arranged axially higher than the plurality of second bonnet lugs, the second bonnet groove receiving the plurality of valve body lugs.

10. The valve assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
a valve body groove formed, at least in part, by the plurality of valve body lugs and a valve body lower flange arranged axially lower than the plurality of valve body lugs, the valve body groove receiving the plurality of second bonnet lugs.

11. The valve assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
a first locking mechanism, formed in the actuator, the first locking mechanism moving between an engaged position to block rotational movement of the actuator relative to the bonnet and a disengaged position to permit rotation movement of the actuator relative to the bonnet; and
a second locking mechanism, formed in the valve body, the second locking mechanism moving between an engaged position to block rotational movement of the valve body relative to the bonnet and a disengaged position to permit rotation movement of the valve body relative to the bonnet.

12. The valve assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first locking extension, coupled to a first body of the first locking mechanism, the first locking extension extending radially inward toward a first space of the plurality of first spaces, the first locking extension contacting a first bonnet lug of the plurality of first bonnet lugs in response to a rotational force applied to one of the bonnet or the actuator; and
a second locking extension, coupled to a second body of the second locking mechanism, the second locking extension extending radially inward toward a second space of the plurality of second spaces, the second locking extension contacting a second bonnet lug of the plurality of second bonnet lugs in response to a rotational force applied to one of the bonnet or the valve body.

13. The valve assembly of claim 7 , wherein a first seal diameter is substantially equal to a second seal diameter, and a third seal outer diameter is less than a first seal outer diameter.

14. The valve assembly of claim 7 , wherein a first seal diameter is substantially equal to a first plurality of lugs diameter and a second seal diameter is substantially equal to a second plurality of lugs diameter.

15. The valve assembly of claim 7 ,

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc

Inventors

• Choate Jeremy Ryan
• Adams Keith M
• Cheatham Lloyd
• Law Robert K

Classifications

• F16K37/0008

  Mechanical means (F16K37/0075 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K27/00

  Construction of housing (methods for welding housings B23K); Use of materials therefor · CPC title

• F16K27/044

  slide valves with flat obturating members · CPC title

• F16K31/1262 Primary

  one side of the diaphragm being spring loaded · CPC title

• Y10T137/6065

  Assembling or disassembling reciprocating valve · CPC title