Valve for Reciprocating Pump Assembly

• US 20170002947A1
• Filed: 07/01/2016
• Published: 01/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPM Oil & Gas Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SPM Flow Control Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hensley, Charles, Bayyouk, Jacob A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,221,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/1087 Valve seats
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/026 the valve member being a movable body around which the medium flows when the valve is open
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/162 of the non reverse-buckling-type F16K17/1633 takes precedence

Abstract

The valve member includes a valve body and a seal. The valve body defines a first frusto-conical surface and an outside annular cavity. The seal extends within the outside annular cavity and includes a first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface adapted to sealingly engage the tapered surface of the valve seat. In another aspect, the seal includes an annular bulbous protrusion from which the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface angularly extends, the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface extending between the annular bulbous protrusion and the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body. In another aspect, an offset distance is defined between the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body and at least a portion of the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface of the seal, the offset distance extending in a direction that is perpendicular to at least the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body.

Claims

1. A valve member for a reciprocating pump assembly, the valve member comprising:

a valve body comprising a first frusto-conical surface, the valve body defining an outside annular cavity formed therein; and

a seal extending within the outside annular cavity, the seal comprising;

a first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface adapted to sealingly engage a tapered surface of a valve seat of the reciprocating pump assembly; and

an annular bulbous protrusion from which the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface angularly extends, the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface extending between the annular bulbous protrusion and the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body.

2. The valve member of claim 1, wherein the seal further comprises a channel formed in the exterior thereof, the channel being positioned between the annular bulbous protrusion of the seal and a top surface of the valve body.

3. The valve member of claim 1, wherein the valve member defines a first axis adapted to be coaxial with a second axis defined by the valve seat;

wherein the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body defines a first angle, as measured from the first axis; and

wherein the tapered surface of the valve seat defines a taper angle, as measured from the second axis, the taper angle being substantially equal to the first angle.

4. The valve member of claim 3, wherein the valve body further comprises a second frusto-conical surface, the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body extending angularly between the second frusto-conical surface of the valve body and the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface of the seal;

and

wherein the second frusto-conical surface of the valve body defines a second angle, as measured from the first axis, the second angle being greater than the first angle.

5. The valve member of claim 1, wherein the valve body and the seal define first and second surface areas, respectively, adapted to contact the tapered surface of the valve seat;

and

wherein a ratio of the first surface area to the second surface area ranges from about 0.9 to about 1.2.

6. The valve member of claim 1, wherein an offset distance is defined between the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body and at least a portion of the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface of the seal, the offset distance extending in a direction that is perpendicular to at least the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body.

7. The valve member of claim 6, wherein the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body defines a first angle, as measured from a first axis defined by the valve member, the first axis being adapted to be coaxial with a second axis defined by the valve seat;

wherein the at least a portion of the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface of the seal defines a second angle, as measured from the first axis, the second angle being substantially equal to the first angle; and

wherein the first and second angles are substantially equal to a taper angle defined by the tapered surface of the valve seat and measured from the second axis.

8. The valve member of claim 1, wherein the seal further comprises:

a second tapered and circumferentially-extending surface extending angularly between the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface of the seal and the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body; and

an annular contact portion defined by an intersection between the first and second tapered and circumferentially-extending surfaces, the annular contact portion comprising at least a portion of the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface.

9. The valve member of claim 8, wherein the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body defines a first angle, as measured from a first axis defined by the valve member, the first axis being adapted to be coaxial with a second axis defined by the valve seat;

wherein the first and second tapered and circumferentially-extending surfaces of the seal define second and third angles, respectively, as measured from the first axis, the second angle being less than the third angle and substantially equal to the first angle.

10. The valve member of claim 1, wherein the valve body further defines a counterbore formed along a first axis of the valve body, the first axis being adapted to be coaxial with a second axis defined by the valve seat, the counterbore defining an enlarged diameter portion, a reduced-diameter portion, and an internal shoulder in the valve body, the reduced-diameter portion defining a fluid passage;

and

wherein the valve member further comprises a rupture disc disposed in the enlarged-diameter portion of the counterbore and engaging the internal shoulder of the valve body.

11. A valve member for a reciprocating pump assembly, the valve member comprising:

a valve body comprising a first frusto-conical surface, the valve body defining an outside annular cavity formed therein; and

a seal extending within the outside annular cavity, the seal comprising a first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface adapted to sealingly engage a tapered surface of a valve seat of the reciprocating pump assembly;

wherein an offset distance is defined between the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body and at least a portion of the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface of the seal, the offset distance extending in a direction that is perpendicular to at least the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body.

12. The valve member of claim 11, wherein the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body defines a first angle, as measured from a first axis defined by the valve member, the first axis being adapted to be coaxial with a second axis defined by the valve seat;

wherein the at least a portion of the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface of the seal defines a second angle, as measured from the first axis, the second angle being substantially equal to the first angle; and

wherein the first and second angles are substantially equal to a taper angle defined by the tapered surface of the valve seat and measured from the second axis.

13. The valve member of claim 11, wherein the seal further comprises:

a second tapered and circumferentially-extending surface extending angularly between the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface of the seal and the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body; and

an annular contact portion defined by an intersection between the first and second tapered and circumferentially-extending surfaces, the annular contact portion comprising at least a portion of the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface.

14. The valve member of claim 13, wherein the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body defines a first angle, as measured from a first axis defined by the valve member, the first axis being adapted to be coaxial with a second axis defined by the valve seat;

wherein the first and second tapered and circumferentially-extending surfaces of the seal define second and third angles, respectively, as measured from the first axis, the second angle being less than the third angle and substantially equal to the first angle.

15. The valve member of claim 11, wherein the seal further comprises:

an annular bulbous protrusion from which the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface angularly extends, the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface extending between the annular bulbous protrusion and the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body; and

a channel formed in the exterior thereof, the channel being positioned between the annular bulbous protrusion of the seal and a top surface of the valve body.

16. The valve member of claim 11, wherein the valve member defines a first axis adapted to be coaxial with a second axis defined by the valve seat;

wherein the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body defines a first angle, as measured from the first axis; and

wherein the tapered surface of the valve seat defines a taper angle, as measured from the second axis, the taper angle being substantially equal to the first angle.

17. The valve member of claim 16, wherein the valve body further comprises a second frusto-conical surface, the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body extending angularly between the second frusto-conical surface of the valve body and the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface of the seal;

and

wherein the second frusto-conical surface of the valve body defines a second angle, as measured from the first axis, the second angle being greater than the first angle.

18. The valve member of claim 11, wherein the valve body and the seal define first and second surface areas, respectively, adapted to contact the tapered surface of the valve seat;

and

wherein a ratio of the first surface area to the second surface area ranges from about 0.9 to about 1.2.

19. The valve member of claim 11, wherein the valve body further defines a counterbore formed along a first axis of the valve body, the first axis being adapted to be coaxial with a second axis defined by the valve seat, the counterbore defining an enlarged diameter portion, a reduced-diameter portion, and an internal shoulder in the valve body, the reduced-diameter portion defining a fluid passage.

20. The valve member of claim 19, further comprising:

a rupture disc disposed in the enlarged-diameter portion of the counterbore and engaging the internal shoulder of the valve body; and

an annular seal sealingly engaging at least the rupture disc and the internal shoulder.