Isolatable Non-Slam Piston Check Valve

• US 20160138723A1
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Al-Amri, Omar M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,791,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/02 with guided rigid valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/18 with actuating mechanism; Combined check valves and actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1848 Check valves combined with valves having a rotating tap or cock
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/067 with spherical plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/04 yieldingly resisting the actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/10 Means for additional adjustment of the rate of flow

Abstract

A valve assembly includes a valve body with a central passage, an upstream end for receiving a fluid, and a downstream end for discharging the fluid. A segment ball valve rotates between a valve open position to allow the fluid to flow through the central passage, and a valve closed position to prevent the fluid from flowing through the central passage. A check valve located within the central passage downstream from the segment ball valve is biased to prevent the fluid from traveling upstream through the central passage, and to allow the fluid to travel downstream past the check valve. A locking mechanism secures the check valve in a locked position to prevent the fluid from flowing past the check valve. A sealable cavity is located between the segment ball valve and the check valve, to contain a neutral media to achieve a double block and bleed feature.

Claims

1. A valve assembly comprising:

a valve body with a central passage having a central axis, an upstream end for receiving a fluid, and a downstream end for discharging the fluid;

a segment ball valve operable to rotate between a valve open position to allow the fluid to flow through the central passage and a valve closed position to prevent the fluid from flowing through the central passage;

a check valve located within the central passage downstream from the segment ball valve, biased to prevent the fluid from traveling upstream through the central passage and to allow the fluid to travel downstream past the check valve;

a locking mechanism selectively securing the check valve in a locked position to prevent the fluid from flowing past the check valve; and

a cavity located between the segment ball valve and the check valve, the cavity sealable between the segment ball valve in the valve closed position and the check valve in the locked position to contain a neutral media.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the valve body is a single member valve body and the segment ball valve and the check valve are located within the central passage.

3. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the valve body includes an upstream flange and a downstream flange, the upstream and downstream flanges selectively connecting the valve assembly to a standardized flanged piping system.

4. The valve assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a port extending into the cavity for injecting the neutral media into the cavity.

5. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises two manual needle locks operable to secure a sealing surface of the check valve against a check valve seat located in the central passage.

6. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the check valve is spaced axially from the segment ball valve when the segment ball valve is in both the valve open position and the valve closed position.

7. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein when the segment ball valve is in the valve closed position, the fluid is prevented from reaching the check valve and the check valve is urged to a check valve closed position.

8. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the check valve is a piston check valve having a check valve piston with a sealing surface that faces upstream and a piston stem extending from the check valve piston in a direction opposite the sealing surface, the check valve further comprising a spring circumscribing the piston stem, urging the sealing surface in an upstream direction.

9. The valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism engages a downstream facing surface of the check valve piston.

10. A valve assembly comprising:

a single member valve body comprising;

a central passage having a central axis;

an upstream end for receiving a fluid and a downstream end for discharging the fluid;

a ball valve seat, the ball valve seat being annular and located on an inner diameter of the central passage;

a check valve seat, the check valve seat being annular and located on the inner diameter of the central passage, the ball valve seat being closer to the upstream end and the check valve seat being closer to the downstream end; and

a cavity located between the ball valve seat and the check valve seat;

a segment ball operable to rotate between a valve open position with the segment ball spaced from the ball valve seat and a valve closed position with the segment ball in sealing engagement with the ball valve seat;

a check valve piston biased to prevent the fluid from traveling upstream through the central passage and to allow the fluid to travel downstream past the check valve piston;

a locking mechanism selectively engaging the check valve piston and securing the check valve piston in a locked position in sealing engagement with the check valve seat; and

wherein

the cavity comprises a sealed space when the segment ball is in the valve closed position and the check valve piston is in the locked position.

11. The valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein the single member valve body includes an upstream flange and a downstream flange, the upstream and downstream flanges selectively connecting the valve assembly between flanges of a standardized piping system.

12. The valve assembly according to claim 10, further comprising:

a vent extending into the cavity for selectively venting the fluid located in the cavity when the segment ball is in the valve closed position and the check valve piston is in the locked position; and

a port extending into the cavity for selectively injecting a neutral media into the cavity through the port.

13. The valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism comprises two manual needle locks operable to engages a downstream facing surface of the check valve piston.

14. The valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein when the segment ball is in the valve closed position, the fluid is prevented from reaching the check valve piston and the check valve piston is urged to a check valve closed position with a spring.

15. The valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein the check valve piston is spaced axially from the segment ball when the segment ball is in both the valve open position and the valve closed position.

16. A method for controlling flow of a fluid, the method comprising:

(a) providing a valve assembly having a single member valve body with both a segment ball valve and a check valve located within a central passage of the single member valve body, the segment ball valve having a open position to allow the fluid to flow through the central passage, and the check valve biased to prevent the fluid from traveling in an upstream direction through the central passage and to allow the fluid to travel in a downstream direction past the check valve

(b) rotating the segment ball valve to a valve closed position to prevent the flow of the fluid through an upstream end of the central passage;

(c) moving a locking mechanism of the valve assembly to secure the check valve in a locked position; and

(d) containing a neutral media in a cavity located between the segment ball valve and the check valve.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising before step (d) injecting the neutral media into the cavity through a port that extends through the single member valve body.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising confirming a seal integrity of the segment ball valve and the check valve by monitoring a pressure of the neutral media.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the valve assembly further comprises an upstream flange and a downstream flange and step (a) further comprises securing the valve assembly between two flanges of a standardized flanged piping system with the upstream flange and the downstream flange.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein step (c) comprises manually operating a needle lock to secure a sealing surface of the check valve to a check valve seat located in the central passage.