Integrated equalization valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11971113-B2
Application number	US-202318139720-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2023
Priority date	Nov 9, 2020
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

An equalization valve includes a valve body defining an inlet body, an outlet body, and a gate slot, the inlet body defining an inlet passage and the outlet body defining an outlet passage; a gate defining an equalization chamber, a first equalization channel, and a second equalization channel, the equalization chamber and the first and second equalization channels defining an equalization pathway across the gate; and an actuation stem slidable within the equalization chamber between a first chamber position, wherein the actuation stem blocks the equalization pathway, and a second chamber position, wherein the actuation stem unblocks the equalization pathway; wherein the actuation stem is further slidable within the gate slot of the valve body between a first valve position, wherein the gate is seated with the valve body, and a second valve position, wherein the gate is unseated from the valve body.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. An equalization valve comprising:
a valve body defining an inlet body, an outlet body, and a gate slot, the inlet body defining an inlet passage and the outlet body defining an outlet passage;
a gate defining an equalization chamber, a first equalization channel, and a second equalization channel, the equalization chamber and the first and second equalization channels defining an equalization pathway across the gate; and
an actuation stem slidable within the equalization chamber between a first chamber position, wherein the actuation stem blocks the equalization pathway, and a second chamber position, wherein the actuation stem unblocks the equalization pathway;
wherein the actuation stem is further slidable within the gate slot of the valve body between a first valve position, wherein the gate is seated with the valve body, and
a second valve position, wherein the gate is unseated from the valve body; and wherein:
the actuation stem defines a free distal end disposed within the equalization chamber;
the equalization chamber extends into a sidewall of the gate;
a chamber opening of the equalization chamber is formed at the sidewall;
in the second chamber position, the free distal end of the actuation stem is disposed longitudinally between the chamber opening and the first and second equalization channels;
the first equalization channel is radially offset from the second equalization channel, such that 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; and
the second height is different from the first height.

2. The equalization valve of claim 1 , wherein, in the first chamber position, the free distal end of the actuation stem is disposed longitudinally between the first equalization channel and the second equalization channel.

3. The equalization valve of claim 1 , wherein, in the first chamber position, the free distal end of the actuation stem is disposed longitudinally between the equalization pathway and a closed end of the equalization chamber opposite the chamber opening.

4. The equalization valve of claim 1 , wherein, in the first valve position, a gate seating surface of the gate is configured to seat with a slot seating surface of the gate slot, an inlet seating portion of the gate is configured to seat with the inlet body, and an outlet seating portion of the gate is configured to seat with the outlet body.

5. The equalization valve of claim 4 , wherein the gate is slidably received within the gate slot, and wherein:
the gate slot defines a first gate slot end and a second gate slot end;
the gate is configured to seat with the first gate slot end in the first valve position; and
the gate is unseated from the first gate slot end and moved towards the second gate slot end in the second valve position.

6. The equalization valve of claim 5 , wherein:
the valve body further comprises a central body between the inlet body and the outlet body;
the gate slot is defined in the central body; and
the gate seals the inlet passage off from the outlet passage in the first valve position.

7. The equalization valve of claim 1 , wherein the gate defines a first face, a second face, and the sidewall extending between the first face and second face, the equalization chamber extending into the sidewall, the first equalization channel extending from the first face to the equalization chamber, and the second equalization channel extending from the second face to the equalization chamber.

8. The equalization valve of claim 7 , wherein the equalization chamber extends into the sidewall at a top end of the gate, and wherein a chamber opening of the equalization chamber is formed at the top end.

9. The equalization valve of claim 8 , wherein the sidewall of the gate is a substantially annular sidewall defining a flat portion at the top end, and wherein the chamber opening is formed in the flat portion of the substantially annular sidewall.

10. The equalization valve of claim 8 , wherein the actuation stem defines a lower portion slidably engaged with the equalization chamber.

11. The equalization valve of claim 10 , wherein:
the lower portion of the actuation stem defines an annular stem groove;
an annular stem packing is received in the annular stem groove; and
the annular stem packing engages a chamber wall of the equalization chamber to create an airtight seal between the actuation stem and the chamber wall.

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F16K3/0227 Primary

  Packings · CPC title

• F16K39/04

  for sliding valves · CPC title

• F16K3/30

  Details · CPC title

• F16K3/0209 Primary

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