CONTROL VALVES HAVING INTEGRAL TRIM

• US 20180216738A1
• Filed: 02/02/2017
• Published: 08/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Gabriel, Thomas Nelson, McCarty, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/423,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20180216738A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/25 Direct deposition of metal particles, e.g. direct metal deposition [DMD] or laser engineered net shaping [LENS]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/28 Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/47 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 7/06 of composite workpieces or articles from parts, e.g. to form tipped tools B22F7/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/12 with streamlined valve member around which the fluid flows when the valve is opened
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/222 Shaping of the valve member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/36 Valve members for double-seat valves F16K1/44 ; for butterfly valves F16K1/222, F16K1/223
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/42 Valve seats for double-seat valves F16K1/44
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 25/005 Particular materials for seats or closure elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/02 of lift valves for reducing the flow resistance of screw-spindle lift-valves F16K1/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/0218 Butterfly valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

Control valves having integral trim are disclosed. In some examples, an apparatus includes a single-piece valve body having an integral seat. In some examples, the apparatus includes a plug irremovably located within the single-piece valve body.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a single-piece valve body including an integral seat; and

a plug irremovably located within the single-piece valve body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a stem integrally formed with the plug as a single-piece plug-stem member, a portion of the stem to protrude externally from the single-piece valve body.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the single-piece plug-stem member is moveable relative to the integral seat, the plug of the single-piece plug-stem member to mate with the integral seat to close a fluid pathway located within the single-piece valve body.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plug of the single-piece plug-stem member is shaped to control a flow of a fluid passing through the fluid pathway.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the single-piece valve body further includes an integral bonnet having a cavity to receive a stem integrally formed with the plug as a single-piece plug-stem member, a portion of the stem to protrude externally from the cavity of the integral bonnet.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a breakable support integrally formed with the plug and the single-piece valve body, the breakable support to removably couple the plug to the single-piece valve body.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the breakable support is separable from the plug and the single-piece valve body, the breakable support being removable from the single-piece valve body upon the breakable support being separated from the plug and the single-piece valve body.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising non-sintered material to support the plug within the single-piece valve body, the non-sintered material being removable from the single-piece valve body.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hardened surface layer integrally formed on an underlying surface, the underlying surface formed of a first material having a first hardness value, the hardened surface layer formed of a second material having a second hardness value that exceeds the first hardness value, the underlying surface being at least one of an interior wall surface of the single-piece valve body, a surface of the integral seat, and a surface of the plug.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a single-piece valve body including an integral seat and an integral bonnet; and

a plug irremovably located within the single-piece valve body.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a stem integrally formed with the plug as a single-piece plug-stem member, a portion of the stem to protrude externally from a cavity of the integral bonnet of the single-piece valve body.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the single-piece plug-stem member is moveable relative to the integral seat, the plug of the single-piece plug-stem member to mate with the integral seat to close a fluid pathway located within the single-piece valve body.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plug of the single-piece plug-stem member is shaped to control a flow of a fluid passing through the fluid pathway.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a breakable support integrally formed with the plug and the single-piece valve body, the breakable support to removably couple the plug to the single-piece valve body.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a hardened surface layer integrally formed on an underlying surface, the underlying surface formed of a first material having a first hardness value, the hardened surface layer formed of a second material having a second hardness value that exceeds the first hardness value, the underlying surface being at least one of an interior wall surface of the single-piece valve body, a surface of the integral seat, and a surface of the plug.

16. A method, comprising:

forming a single-piece valve body and a plug via an additive manufacturing process, the single-piece valve body including an integral seat, the plug being irremovably located within the single-piece valve body.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the single-piece valve body formed via the additive manufacturing process further includes an integral bonnet.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming a single-piece plug-stem member via the additive manufacturing process, the single-piece plug-stem member including a stem integrally formed with the plug.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming a breakable support via the additive manufacturing process, the breakable support being integrally formed with the plug and the single-piece valve body, the breakable support to removably couple the plug to the single-piece valve body.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming a hardened surface layer via the additive manufacturing process, the hardened surface layer being integrally formed on an underlying surface, the underlying surface formed of a first material having a first hardness value, the hardened surface layer formed of a second material having a second hardness value that exceeds the first hardness value, the underlying surface being at least one of an interior wall surface of the single-piece valve body, a surface of the integral seat, and a surface of the plug.