Valve seats for use in fracturing pumps

• US 10,663,071 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2018
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPM Oil & Gas Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SPM Flow Control Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bayyouk, Jacob A., Peach, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Bastianelli, John
• Application Number:
  US16/026,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20180313456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 251332-334, 251359-365, 251368
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 1/0452 Distribution members, e.g. valves machines or pumps with cam-actuated distribution members at the outer ends of the cylinders F04B1/0472; machines or pumps with cam-actuated distribution members at the inner ends of the cylinders F04B1/0531; the piston-driving cams being provided with inlets and outlets F04B1/0535
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/10 Valves; Arrangement of valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/1087 Valve seats
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/42 Valve seats for double-seat valves F16K1/44
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/465 to the valve seats
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/063 the valve being loaded by a spring
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 25/005 Particular materials for seats or closure elements

Abstract

A valve assembly for use in a fracturing pump including a valve member movable into and out of engagement with a valve seat body. The valve seat body includes an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface forming a fluid bore extending between a first end and a second end of the valve seat body. The body further includes a seating surface extending radially from the inner surface and facing the valve member, the seating surface having a recessed area. An insert is disposed in the recessed area forming at least a portion of the inner surface and at least portion of the seating surface. The valve seat body first end has a diameter different from a diameter valve seat body second. The difference between diameters allows the valve seat body outer surface to be supported by the fluid passageway.

Claims

1. A valve assembly for use in a fracturing pump, the valve assembly comprising:

a valve member reciprocatably movable into and out of engagement with a valve seat body the valve member having a head portion and a tail portion, the valve seat body having an inner surface forming a fluid bore extending between a first end and a second end of the valve seat body, the fluid bore engaging at least a portion of the tail portion for supporting therein, and an outer surface for supporting the valve seat body in a fluid passageway of the fracturing pump;

a seating surface extending radially from the inner surface and facing the valve member, the seating surface having a recessed area, the recessed area having an outer diameter length;

an insert, the insert having an outer diameter length greater than the outer diameter length of recessed area prior to insertion into the recessed area such that when the insert is disposed in the recessed area, the insert is frictionally secured inside the recessed area and forming at least a portion of the inner surface and at least a portion of the seating surface contacting the valve member when the valve assembly is in a closed position; and

wherein the valve seat body first end has a diameter D1 and the valve seat body second end has a diameter D2 such that that the difference between D2 and D1 allows the valve seat body outer surface to be longitudinally supported by the fluid passageway.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the seating surface extends radially from the inner surface at an angle between five and seventy-five degrees.

3. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert has a top surface that is in the same plane as the seating surface.

4. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve member includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced legs to slidably engage the fluid bore inner surface.

5. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert is fixed to the valve seat body by bonding, shrink-fit, sintering, or combination thereof.

6. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert has a height, h1, between approximately 1/32 inches to ½

inches.

7. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert is positioned to contact at least a portion of a valve member to create a seal between the insert and the portion of the valve member.

8. The valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the insert has a material hardness value, H1, greater than a material hardness value, H2, of the valve seat body.

9. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert is formed of a ceramic.

10. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert is formed of tungsten carbide.

11. A valve seat body of a valve assembly in a fracturing pump, the valve assembly having a valve member having a head portion and a tail portion, the valve member reciprocatingly movable to position the valve assembly between open and closed positions, the valve seat body comprising:

an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming a bore along a longitudinal axis of the valve seat body between a valve seat body first end and a valve seat body second end;

a seating surface extending radially from the inner surface, at least a portion of the seating surface having a recessed area to receive an insert therein, the recess area formed having a bottom wall and a single sidewall at an outermost portion, the bottom wall extending from the inner surface such that the insert forms a part of the inner surface, the insert having an outer diameter length, prior to positioning within the recessed area, greater than an outer diameter length of the recessed area so as to be frictionally secured inside the recessed area and forming a portion of the seating surface for contacting the valve member when the valve assembly is in the closed position; and

the valve seat body first end has a diameter D1 and the valve seat body second end has a diameter D2 such that that the difference between D2 and D1 allows the valve seat body outer surface to be longitudinally supported by the fluid passageway.

12. The valve seat body of claim 11, wherein the insert is formed of a ceramic material.

13. The valve seat body of claim 11, wherein the insert is formed from at least one of zirconia, tungsten carbide nickel, tungsten carbide cobalt and combinations thereof.

14. The valve seat body of claim 11 further comprising an annular groove for retaining a sealing member.

15. The valve seat body of claim 11, wherein the insert is formed of tungsten carbide.

16. A valve seat body of a valve assembly in a fracturing pump, the valve assembly having a valve member having a head portion and a tail portion and reciprocatingly movable to position the valve assembly between open and closed positions, the valve seat body comprising:

an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming a bore along a longitudinal axis of the valve seat body, at least a portion of the outer surface configured to be seated against a fluid passageway of the fracturing pump;

a seating surface extending radially from the inner surface, at least a portion of the seating surface having a recessed area to receive an insert therein, the recess area formed having a bottom wall extending from the inner surface and a sidewall, the insert having an outer diameter of a length greater than a length of an outer diameter of the recessed area such that the insert is frictionally secured inside the recessed and forming at least a portion of the seating surface for contacting the valve member when the valve assembly is in the closed position; and

the valve seat body having a first outer diameter D1 and the valve seat body having a second outer diameter D2 different from the first outer diameter such that that the difference between D2 and D1 allows the valve seat body outer surface to be supported by the fluid passageway.

17. The valve seat body of claim 16, wherein the insert is positioned to form a part of the inner surface.

18. A valve seat body of a valve assembly in a fracturing pump, the valve assembly having a valve member having a head portion and a tail portion, the valve member_reciprocatingly movable to position the valve assembly between open and closed positions, the valve seat body comprising:

an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming a bore along a longitudinal axis of the valve seat body between a valve seat body first end and a valve seat body second end;

a seating surface extending radially from the inner surface, at least a portion of the seating surface having a recessed area to receive an insert therein, the insert having an outer diameter, the recess area formed having a bottom wall and a single sidewall, the single sidewall formed at an outermost diameter of the recessed area that is less than a length of the outer diameter of the insert, the bottom wall extending from the inner surface such that the insert forms a part of the inner surface, the insert being frictionally secured inside the recessed area and forming a portion of the seating surface for contacting the valve member when the valve assembly is in the closed position;

the single sidewall extending in a plane parallel to the plane of the inner surface; and

the valve seat body first end has a diameter D1 and the valve seat body second end has a diameter D2 such that that the difference between D2 and D1 allows the valve seat body outer surface to be longitudinally supported by the fluid passageway.