Radial valves and pumps including radial valves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9488176-B2
Application number	US-201414246807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 7, 2014
Priority date	Apr 7, 2014
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

A valve assembly includes a valve body having an outer surface, and an inner fluid chamber having a central axis. The valve body also has an aperture extending radially through the valve body from the outer surface to the inner fluid chamber. The valve assembly also includes a valve member movably coupled to the valve body. The valve member is configured to move radially relative to the valve body between a closed position preventing fluid flow through the aperture and an open position allowing fluid flow through the aperture. The valve assembly also has a retainer extending across the aperture and the valve member and attached to the valve body. The valve assembly further includes a biasing member coupled to the retainer and the valve member. The biasing member is configured to bias the valve member to the closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly, comprising:
a valve body having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an outer surface extending from the first end to the second end, and an inner surface extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the inner surface defines an inner fluid chamber having a central axis, wherein the valve body includes a first a aperture extending radially through the valve body from the outer surface to the inner fluid chamber;
a first valve member moveably coupled to the valve body, wherein the first valve member is configured to move radially relative to the valve body between a dosed position preventing fluid flow through the first aperture and an open position allowing fluid flow through the first aperture;
a first retainer extending across the first aperture and the first valve member, wherein the first retainer has a first end fixedly attached to the valve body;
a first biasing member coupled to the first retainer and the first valve member, wherein the first biasing member is configured to bias the first valve member to the closed position;
wherein the first biasing member is radially positioned between the first retainer and the first valve member;
wherein the first valve member, the first retainer, and the first biasing member are positioned radially outside the valve body.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first retainer has a second end fixedly attached to the valve body.

3. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first retainer has a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the central axis of the valve body.

4. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture is an elongated slot having a length and a width less than the length.

5. The valve assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first plurality of circumferentially-spaced valve members, wherein the first plurality of circumferentially-spaced valve members includes the first valve member;
wherein the valve body includes a first plurality of circumferentially-spaced apertures, wherein each aperture extends radially through the valve body from the outer surface to the inner fluid chamber, and wherein each valve member is moveably coupled to the valve body and is configured to move radially relative to the valve body between a closed position preventing fluid flow through one of the apertures and an open position allowing fluid flow through one of the apertures;
a first plurality of retainers, wherein each retainer extends across one of the apertures and one of the valve members, and wherein each retainer has a first end fixedly attached to the valve body;
a first plurality of biasing members, wherein one biasing member is radially positioned between one of the valve members and one of the retainers, wherein each biasing member is configured to bias the corresponding valve member to the closed position.

6. The valve assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second valve member moveably coupled to the valve body;
a second retainer; and
a second biasing member;
wherein the valve body includes a second aperture axially spaced from the first aperture and extending radially through the valve body from the outer surface to the inner fluid chamber;
wherein the second valve member is configured to move radially relative to the valve body between a closed position preventing fluid flow through the second aperture and an open position allowing fluid flow through the second aperture;
wherein the second retainer extends across the second aperture and the second valve member, wherein the second retainer has a first end fixedly attached to the valve body;
wherein the second biasing member is radially positioned between the second retainer and the second valve member, wherein the second biasing member is configured to bias the second valve member to the closed position;
wherein the second valve member, the second retainer, and the second biasing member are positioned radially within the valve body.

7. The valve assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first slot has a longitudinal axis extending circumferentially about the central axis.

8. The valve assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a second plurality of circumferentially-spaced valve members axially spaced from the first plurality of circumferentially-spaced valve members;
wherein the valve body includes a second plurality of circumferentially-spaced apertures axially spaced from the first plurality of circumferentially-spaced apertures, wherein each of the second plurality of apertures extends radially through the valve body from the outer surface to the inner fluid chamber, and wherein each of the second plurality of valve members is moveably coupled to the valve body and is configured to move radially relative to the valve body between a closed position preventing fluid flow through one of the second plurality of apertures and an open position allowing fluid flow through one of the second plurality of apertures;
a second plurality of retainers, wherein each of the second plurality of retainers extends across one of the second plurality of apertures and one of the second plurality of valve members, and wherein each of the second plurality of retainers has a first end fixedly attached to the valve body;
a second plurality of biasing members, wherein one of the second plurality of biasing members is radially positioned between one of the second plurality of valve members and one of the second plurality of retainers, wherein each of the second plurality of biasing members is configured to bias the corresponding one of the second plurality of valve members to the closed position.

9. The valve assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first plurality of valve members, the first plurality of retainers, and the first plurality of biasing members are disposed along the outer surface of the valve body; and
wherein the second plurality of valve members, the second plurality of retainers, and the second plurality of biasing members are disposed along the inner surface of the valve body.

10. A valve assembly, comprising:
a valve body having a first end, a second end axially opposite the first end, an outer surface extending axially from the first end to the second end, and inner surface defining an inner fluid chamber having a central axis, wherein the valve body includes a first elongated slot having a length and a width less than the length, wherein the first elongated slot extends radially through the valve body from the outer surface to the inner chamber;
a first elongated valve member having a length and a width less than the length, wherein the first valve member is moveably coupled to the valve body and is configured to move radially relative to the valve body between a closed position preventing fluid flow through the first slot and an open position allowing fluid flow through the first slot.

11. The valve assembly of claim 10 wherein the first slot has a longitudinal axis extending circumferentially about the central axis.

12. The valve assembly of claim 10 , wherein the valve body includes a second elongated slot having a length and a width less than the length, wherein the second elongated slot extends radially through the valve body from the outer surface to the inner chamber;
a second elongated valve member having a length and a width less than the length, wherein the first valve member is moveably coupled to the valve body and is configured to move radially relative to the valve body between a closed position preventing fluid flow through the second slot and an open position allowing fluid flow through the second slot.

13. The valve assembly of claim 12 , f

Assignees

• Nat Oilwell Varco Lp

Inventors

• Moeller Manuel

Classifications

• F04B47/00 Primary

  Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps (by using positive or negative pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped F04F1/00) · CPC title

• F04C14/24 Primary

  characterised by using valves controlling pressure or flow rate, e.g. discharge valves {or unloading valves}(F04C14/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F04B53/10

  Valves; Arrangement of valves · CPC title

• F16K15/16

  with tongue-shaped laminae · CPC title

• F16K17/0493

  with a spring other than a helicoidal spring · CPC title