Valve assemblies, valve assemblies for use with downhole pumps and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12460630-B2
Application number	US-202217691051-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2022
Priority date	Sep 24, 2020
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

Valve assemblies and related pumps and methods may include an insert disposed in an internal flow path of a casing where an outer surface of the insert is fixedly engaged with an inner surface the casing with fluid sealing. The insert includes protrusions, each individually extending into the internal flow path of the casing and converging at an apex of the insert to define a cage in which the restriction element is configured to move axially through the internal flow path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A valve assembly comprising:
a restriction element; a casing defining an internal flow path through the casing, the casing comprising at least one axial connection for connecting with a component of a fluid-handling device; an insert disposed in the internal flow path through the casing, an outer surface of the insert being fixedly engaged with an inner surface the casing, the insert comprising at least three axially extending protrusions, each of the at least three axially extending protrusions individually extending inward into the internal flow path of the casing and converging at an apex of the insert to define a cage in which the restriction element is configured to move axially through the internal flow path, wherein the at least three axially extending protrusions each exhibit a curved profile that extends inward in a radial direction to meet at the apex, the apex extending through a longitudinal axis of the insert and configured to obstruct the internal flow path at the longitudinal axis, the at least three axially extending protrusions defining laterally inward openings positioned about the apex, and wherein the at least three axially extending protrusions have a lateral width extending along a circumference of the insert that gradually reduces along substantially an entire length as the at least three axially extending protrusions extend in a longitudinal direction along a spiral path toward the apex; and a seat positioned opposite to the apex of the insert to contain the restriction element in the insert, the at least three axially extending protrusions exhibiting a diameter at the apex that is less than an internal diameter of the seat; wherein:
in an open position, the restriction element is configured to be displaced toward the apex of the insert to enable fluid flow through the internal flow path and through the laterally inward openings defined between the at least three axially extending protrusions; and
in a closed position, the restriction element is configured to engage with the seat to restrict fluid flow through the internal flow path.

2 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the at least three axially extending protrusions exhibit a spiral shape as the at least some of the at least three axially extending protrusions extend from a base portion of the insert in a counterclockwise direction to the apex of the insert.

3 . The valve assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least some of the at least three axially extending protrusions exhibit the spiral shape along an entire length that curves along a circumference of the insert.

4 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a ring opposite the apex and the at least three axially extending protrusions extend from the ring to the apex.

5 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein an entirety of an outermost diameter of the insert is secured to the casing with an interference fit to provide fluid sealing and balancing of forces between the outermost diameter of the insert and an inner diameter of the casing.

6 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert is configured to be secured in the casing in a manner that cannot be removed without deforming the insert and/or the casing.

7 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein a base portion of the insert comprises a tapered surface that abuts with a complementary tapered surface of the casing.

8 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the apex comprises a frustoconical shape having an internal concave surface configured to engage a surface of the restriction element.

9 . The valve assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least some of the at least three axially extending protrusions exhibit a lateral width extending along a circumference of the insert that tapers as the at least some of the at least three axially extending protrusions extend radially inward toward the longitudinal axis.

10 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the casing or the insert comprises a material including a low alloy steel, a brass alloy, a stainless steel alloy, a duplex stainless steel, a nickel base alloy, a nickel alloy, or a super alloy.

11 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the casing or the insert comprises a material including a surface treatment including at least one of electroplating, an electroless plating, a chemical vapor deposition, a physical vapor deposition, a plasma coating, a spray-metal coating, a solid-state diffusion treatment, or a surface heat-treat process.

12 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the casing or the insert comprises is machined from at least one of a bar stock, a powder-sintered blank, a casted blank, or a forged blank, wherein an outside diameter of the casing is about 1 inch to about 6 inches and a length of the casing is about 3 inches to about 10 inches.

13 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the casing or the insert comprises is machined from at least one of a bar stock, a powder-sintered blank, a casted blank, or a forged blank, wherein an outside diameter of the insert is about 0.5 inch to about 4 inches and a length of the insert is about 1 inches to about 6 inches.

14 . A downhole pump comprising:
a barrel comprising an interior cavity; a plunger; a valve rod mechanically connected to the plunger and configured to drive the plunger within the interior cavity of the barrel; and at least one valve assembly comprising the valve assembly of claim 1 .

15 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a base ring, the base ring including scallop cutouts leading into the laterally inward openings defined between the at least three axially extending protrusions, the scallop cutouts configured to provide a relatively larger volume for diverging the fluid flow when the valve assembly is in the open position.

16 . The valve assembly of claim 15 , wherein an uphole portion of the valve assembly is configured to converge the fluid flow after the fluid flow is diverged by the scallop cutouts.

17 . A valve assembly comprising:
a restriction element; a casing defining an internal flow path through the casing, the casing comprising at least one axial connection for connecting with a component of a fluid-handling device; an insert disposed in the internal flow path through the casing, an outer surface of the insert being fixedly engaged with an inner surface the casing, the insert comprising at least three axially extending protrusions, each of the at least three axially extending protrusions individually extending along a longitudinal axis of the insert inward into the internal flow path of the casing and converging at an apex of the insert to define a cage in which the restriction element is configured to move axially through the internal flow path, the apex extending through the longitudinal axis and configured to obstruct the internal flow path along the longitudinal axis, the at least three axially extending protrusions at least partially defining laterally inward quartic lima bean-shaped openings positioned about the apex; and a seat positioned opposite to the apex of the insert to contain the restriction element in the insert; wherein:
in an open position, the restriction element is configured to be displaced toward the apex of the insert to enable fluid flow through the internal flow path and through the laterally inward quartic lima bean-shaped openings defined between the at least three axially extending protrusions; and
in a closed position, th

Assignees

• Championx Llc

Inventors

• Narasimhan Ramamurthy
• Pugliese Juan Felipe Correa
• Salloom Riyadh
• De Werff Randy
• Rogers Bradley C
• Kemp Jimmy
• Bishop Matthew

Classifications

• E21B43/127

  Adaptations of walking-beam pump systems · CPC title

• E21B34/08

  responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained (E21B34/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B2200/04

  Ball valves · CPC title

• F04B53/10

  Valves; Arrangement of valves · CPC title

• F04B19/04

  Pumps for special use · CPC title