Metal to metal single ball seat system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018187514-A1
Application number	US-201615527286-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 20, 2016
Priority date	Apr 20, 2016
Publication date	Jul 5, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A ball valve is disclosed that includes a valve housing, a first seat surface having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter, and a second seat surface having a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter. The second inner diameter is larger than the first outer diameter, and may be separated by a channel. A resilient seat surface may be disposed within the channel. The valve further includes a ball that is rotatably movable within the housing and that contacts at least one of the first seat surface and the second seat surface to form a seal.

First claim

1 . A ball valve comprising:
a valve housing; a first seat surface having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter; a second seat surface having a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter, the second inner diameter being larger than the first outer diameter, wherein the first seat surface and the second seat surface are fixed relative to each other; a resilient seat surface disposed within a channel between the first valve seat surface and the second valve seat surface; and a ball rotatably movable within the housing and contacting and at least one of the first seat surface and the second seat surface to form a seal within the ball valve; wherein pressure acting in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction increases the contact pressure of the first seat surface, resilient seat surface, and the second seat surface with the ball.

2 . The ball valve of claim 1 , wherein the resilient material is overmolded within the channel, and machined to form a common seat surface with the first seat surface and second seat surface.

3 . The ball valve of claim 1 , wherein the resilient material is overmolded within the channel, and machined to a height that is offset from the first seat surface and second seat surface when the resilient material is in an uncompressed state.

4 . The ball valve of claim 1 , wherein the resilient material comprises PEEK.

5 . The ball valve of claim 1 , wherein the first seat surface comprises a resilient material.

6 . The ball valve of claim 1 , further comprising a first seating member, wherein the first seating member comprises the first seat surface, and wherein the first seating member overlies an intermediate resilient member.

7 . A method of forming a ball valve, the method comprising:
providing a valve housing, the valve housing having a channel between a first valve seat surface and a second valve seat surface, the first valve seat surface having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter and the second seat surface having a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter, the second inner diameter being larger than the first outer diameter; and providing a ball within the housing and contacting and at least one of the first seat surface and the second seat surface to form a seal within the ball valve.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising providing a resilient material within the channel.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein providing the resilient material comprises overmolding the resilient material within the channel, and machining the resilient material to form a common seat surface with the first seat surface and second seat surface.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein providing the resilient material comprises overmolding the resilient material within the channel, and machining the resilient material to form a seat surface that is offset from the first seat surface and second seat surface when the resilient material is in an uncompressed state.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the resilient material comprises PEEK.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first seat surface comprises a resilient material.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the resilient material comprises PEEK.

14 . The method of claim 7 , wherein providing the first seat surface comprises providing a first seating member, wherein the first seating member comprises the first seat surface, and wherein the first seating member overlies an intermediate resilient member.

15 . A ball valve comprising:
a valve housing; a first seat surface having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter, wherein the first seat surface comprises a resilient material; a second seat surface having a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter, the second inner diameter being larger than the first outer diameter, wherein the first seat surface and the second seat surface are fixed relative to each other; a channel between the first valve seat surface and the second valve seat surface; and a ball rotatably movable within the housing and contacting and at least one of the first seat surface and the second seat surface to form a seal within the ball valve; wherein pressure acting in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction increases the contact pressure of the first seat surface and the second seat surface with the ball.

16 . The ball valve of claim 15 , further comprising a second resilient material disposed within the channel, wherein the ball contacts the second resilient material when in a closed position.

17 . The ball valve of claim 16 , wherein the second resilient material is overmolded within the channel, and machined to form a common seat surface with the first seat surface and second seat surface.

18 . The ball valve of claim 16 , wherein the resilient material is overmolded within the channel, and machined to a height that is offset from the first seat surface and second seat surface when the resilient material is in an uncompressed state.

19 . The ball valve of claim 15 , wherein the resilient material comprises PEEK.

20 . The ball valve of claim 15 , further comprising a first seating member, wherein the first seating member comprises the first seat surface, and wherein the first seating member overlies an intermediate resilient member.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Inglis Peter Derek Walter
• Echols Iii Ralph Harvey

Classifications

• E21B2200/04

  Ball valves · CPC title

• B23P15/001

  valves or valve housings (welding B23K; valve housings per se F16K) · CPC title

• F16K5/0673

  Composite packings · CPC title

• F16K5/0689

  between housing and plug · CPC title

• F16K5/06

  with plugs having spherical surfaces; Packings therefor · CPC title