Expandable pilot assembly for pressure regulators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11713827-B2
Application number	US-202016735785-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2020
Priority date	Apr 30, 2019
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

Abstract

A pilot assembly is configured for use with various types of flow controls. These configurations include a manifold with an internal flow network that connects pilot valves and an adjustable orifice. The pilot valves may have a fixed and variable differential pressure. In one implementation, the manifold comprises a pair of separable blocks, one each that includes part of the internal flow network. This construction also permits the manifold to expand with, for example, and additional block for an additional pilot valve. This feature configures the manifold for use in working monitor systems or those systems that deploy multi-stage pressure regulation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pilot valve assembly comprising:
a manifold with a pair of ported blocks, each ported blocking being machined with bores to collectively form an internal flow network when attached to one another; and
flow controls connected to the internal flow network to permit fluid to flow amongst them, the flow controls comprising:
a fixed pilot valve;
a first adjustable pilot valve;
an adjustable restrictor; and
a check valve.

2. The pilot valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the internal flow network connects an outlet of the first adjustable pilot valve with the adjustable restrictor.

3. The pilot valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the internal flow network connects an outlet of the first adjustable pilot valve with ports on the manifold that receive fittings.

4. The pilot valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the internal flow network connects an outlet of the fixed pilot valve to an inlet of the first adjustable pilot valve.

5. The pilot valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises blocks separable from one another, each having part of the internal flow network.

6. The pilot valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises blocks separable from one another and wherein the fixed pilot valve and the adjustable restrictor are disposed in different blocks.

7. The pilot valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises blocks separable from one another and wherein the first adjustable pilot valve and the adjustable restrictor are disposed in different blocks.

8. The pilot valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flow controls further comprise:
a second adjustable pilot valve.

9. The pilot valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises blocks separable from one another and wherein the first adjustable pilot valve and the second adjustable pilot valve are disposed in different blocks.

10. A pilot valve assembly, comprising:
a manifold with a pair of ported blocks, each ported blocking being machined with bores to collectively form an internal flow network when attached to one another; and
flow controls connected to the internal flow network to permit fluid to flow amongst them, the flow controls comprising:
a fixed pilot valve;
a first adjustable pilot valve;
an adjustable restrictor; and
a check valve,

wherein the ported blocks are separable from one another.

11. The pilot valve assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first adjustable pilot valve and the check valve are disposed in different blocks.

12. A pilot valve assembly comprising:
a manifold comprising a first ported block and a second ported block, each being machined with bores to collectively form a flow network when attached to one another;
a fixed pilot valve and a first variable pilot valve disposed on the first block;
an adjustable restrictor disposed on the second block; and
a check valve disposed on the second block,
wherein the first block is separable from the second block.

13. The pilot valve assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:
a third block disposed between the first block and the second block that forms part of the flow network when attached to one another,
wherein the third block is separable from the first block and the second block.

14. The pilot valve assembly of claim 13 , further comprising:
a second variable pilot valve disposed on the third block.

15. A pilot valve assembly comprising:
a first ported block housing a fixed pilot valve and a variable pilot valve; and
a second ported block separably attached to the first ported block, the second ported block having ports for receiving fittings, wherein each of the first ported block and the second ported block are machined with bores to collectively form an internal flow network when attached to one another, and wherein the internal flow network places outlets on the variable pilot valve in flow connection with the ports,
a check valve disposed in the internal flow network,
wherein the internal flow network includes parallel pathways that terminate at the ports and cross-wise pathways that connect the parallel pathways to one another.

16. The pilot valve assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
a variable restrictor disposed in the internal flow network.

17. The pilot valve assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
a variable restrictor disposed in one of the cross-wise pathways.

18. A pilot valve assembly comprising:
a first ported block housing a fixed pilot valve and a variable pilot valve; and
a second ported block separably attached to the first ported block, the second ported block having ports for receiving fittings, wherein each of the first ported block and the second ported block are machined with bores to collectively form an internal flow network when attached to one another, and wherein the internal network places outlets on the variable pilot valve in flow connection with the ports,
a check valve disposed in one of the cross-wise pathways,
wherein the internal flow network includes parallel pathways that terminate at the ports and cross-wise pathways that connect the parallel pathways to one another.

19. The pilot valve assembly of claim 18 , further comprising:
a variable restrictor disposed in the internal flow network.

20. The pilot valve assembly of claim 18 , further comprising:
a variable restrictor disposed in one of the cross-wise pathways.

Assignees

• Dresser LLC

Inventors

• Mears James Kenneth
• Van Doran Orie Woodman

Classifications

• F16K31/1221 Primary

  one side of the piston being spring-loaded · CPC title

• F16K17/042

  with locking or disconnecting arrangements · CPC title

• F16K39/024

  using an auxiliary valve on the main valve · CPC title

• G05D16/10

  the sensing element being a piston or plunger · CPC title

• G05D16/163 Primary

  using membranes within the main valve · CPC title