Integrated equalization valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11359727-B2
Application number	US-202017092828-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2020
Priority date	Nov 9, 2020
Publication date	Jun 14, 2022
Grant date	Jun 14, 2022

Abstract

Example aspects of an equalization valve are disclosed. The equalization valve can comprise a gate defining a first face, a second face, and a sidewall extending between the first face and second face, the gate further defining an equalization chamber extending into the sidewall, a first equalization channel extending from the first face to the equalization chamber, and a second equalization channel extending from the second face to the equalization chamber; and an actuation stem defining a lower portion slidably engaged with the equalization chamber, the actuation stem movable between a first position, wherein the actuation stem blocks the first equalization channel to prevent the flow of one of gas and fluid through the equalization valve, and a second position, wherein the actuation stem unblocks the first equalization channel to allow the flow of the one of gas and fluid through the equalization valve.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. An equalization valve comprising:
a gate defining a first face, a second face, and a sidewall extending between the first face and second face, the gate further defining an equalization chamber extending into the sidewall, a first equalization channel extending from the first face to the equalization chamber, and a second equalization channel extending from the second face to the equalization chamber;
an actuation stem defining a lower portion slidably engaged with the equalization chamber, the actuation stem movable between a first position, wherein the actuation stem blocks the first equalization channel to prevent the flow of one of gas and fluid through the equalization valve, and a second position, wherein the actuation stem unblocks the first equalization channel to allow the flow of the one of gas and fluid through the equalization valve, wherein a fastener slot extends through the lower portion of the actuation stem; and
a gate fastener coupled to the gate, the gate fastener extending transversely through the equalization chamber of the gate and through the fastener slot.

2. The equalization valve of claim 1 , wherein the first equalization channel is oriented at a first height along a length of the gate and the second equalization channel is oriented at a second height along the length of the gate, the second height different from the first height.

3. The equalization valve of claim 1 , wherein:
the actuation stem defines an annular stem groove adjacent to a distal end of the actuation stem;
an annular stem packing is received in the annular stem groove; and
the stem packing engages a chamber wall of the equalization chamber to create an airtight seal between the actuation stem and the chamber wall.

4. The equalization valve of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to move the actuation stem between the first and second positions.

5. The equalization valve of claim 1 , wherein
the fastener slot defines an upper fastener slot end and a lower fastener slot end.

6. The equalization valve of claim 5 , wherein the actuation stem is movable relative to the gate fastener, the gate fastener oriented proximate to the upper fastener slot end in the first position and oriented proximate to the lower fastener slot end in the second position.

7. The equalization valve of claim 5 , wherein the gate defines a fastener opening extending from one of the first face and second face to the equalization chamber, and wherein the gate fastener extends through the fastener opening, across the equalization chamber, and into a fastener recess formed in the gate.

8. The equalization valve of claim 7 , wherein the gate fastener defines a head and a threaded tail, the head abutting a shoulder of the fastener opening, the threaded tail extending through the fastener opening and equalization chamber and into the fastener recess.

9. A valve assembly comprising:
a valve body defining a valve channel and a gate slot;
a gate slidably received within the gate slot, the gate defining an equalization chamber, the equalization chamber at least partially defining an equalization pathway, the gate movable between a lowered orientation, wherein the gate blocks the valve channel to prevent the flow of one of gas and fluid through the valve channel, and a raised orientation, wherein the gate unblocks the valve channel to allow the one of gas and fluid to flow through the valve channel; and
an actuation stem engaging the equalization chamber of the gate and moveable within the equalization chamber between a first position, wherein the actuation stem blocks the equalization pathway to prevent the flow of the one of gas and fluid therethrough, and a second position, wherein the actuation stem unblocks the equalization pathway to allow the flow of the one of gas and fluid therethrough, wherein a fastener slot extends through the actuation stem; and
a gate fastener coupled to the gate, the gate fastener extending transversely through the equalization chamber of the gate and through the fastener slot;
wherein the gate is in the lowered orientation when the actuation stem is in the first and second positions, and wherein the actuation stem is further movable to a third position, wherein the gate is in the raised orientation.

10. The valve assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the valve body comprises an inlet body, an outlet body, and a central body between the inlet body and the outlet body;
the inlet body defines an inlet passage and the outlet body defines an outlet passage;
the gate slot is defined in the central body; and
the gate seals the inlet passage off from the outlet passage in the lowered orientation.

11. The valve assembly of claim 10 , wherein, in the lowered orientation, a gate seating surface of the gate seats with a slot seating surface of the gate slot, an inlet seating portion of the gate seats with the inlet body, and an outlet seating portion of the gate seats with the outlet body.

12. The valve assembly of claim 9 , wherein the equalization pathway comprises a first equalization channel, a second equalization channel, and the equalization chamber between the first equalization channel and the second equalization channel.

13. The valve assembly of claim 12 , wherein:
the gate defines a first face, a second face, and a gate sidewall extending between the first face and the second face;
the equalization chamber extends into the gate sidewall;
the first equalization channel extends from the first face to the equalization chamber; and
the second equalization channel extends from the second face to the equalization chamber.

14. The valve assembly of claim 12 , wherein a lower portion of the actuation stem extends into the equalization chamber, the actuation stem blocking the first equalization channel in the first position and unblocking the first equalization channel in the second position.

15. The valve assembly of claim 12 , wherein:
the fastener slot defines an upper fastener slot end and a lower fastener slot end;
and
the gate fastener is oriented proximate to the upper fastener slot end in the first position and oriented proximate to the lower fastener slot end in the second position.

16. The valve assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the gate slot defines a lower gate slot end and an upper gate slot end;
the gate seats with the lower gate slot end in the lowered orientation; and
the lower fastener slot end of the actuation stem engages and pushes the gate fastener upward to move the gate to the raised orientation.

17. A method of operating a valve assembly comprising:
providing the valve assembly comprising a valve body, a gate, and an actuation stem coupled to the gate by a gate fastener, the valve body defining a valve channel and a gate slot, the gate defining an equalization pathway, wherein a fastener slot extends through the actuation stem, and wherein the gate fastener extends transversely through each of the equalization chamber and the fastener slot;
moving the actuation stem from a first position to a second position within an equalization chamber of the gate, wherein, in the first position, the equalization pathway is blocked by the actuation stem, and in the second position, the equalization pathway is unblocked; and
moving the actuation stem from the second position to a third position relative to the valve body, wherein, in the second position, the gate is in a lowered orientation within the gate slot and the valve channel is blocked by the gate, and in the third position, the gate is in a raised orientation within t

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Stern Timothy Wayne
• Powell Jr Rock Allen
• Qasim Mohammad Unnus

Classifications

• F16K39/04

  for sliding valves · CPC title

• F16K3/0209 Primary

  the valve having a particular passage, e.g. provided with a filter, throttle or safety device · CPC title

• F16K3/30

  Details · CPC title

• F16K3/0227 Primary

  Packings · CPC title