Ball valve seat and seal apparatus and assembly method
First Claim
1. The method of assembling a valve apparatus including a valve ball, a valve body having an annular valve body seat pocket, and an annular valve seat, said method comprising the steps of:
- designing and manufacturing the annular valve body seat pocket to have a floor, an inner wall intersecting said floor to form an inner corner, and an outer wall intersecting said floor to form an outer corner;
designing and manufacturing the annular valve seat to have an inner diameter surface, an outer diameter surface, and a bottom side surface intersecting said inner diameter surface to form a lower inner diameter corner and intersecting said outer diameter surface to form a lower outer diameter corner,wherein a radius of said lower inner diameter corner of the annular valve seat approximates a radius of said inner corner of the annular valve body seat pocket, andwherein a radius of said lower outer diameter corner of the annular valve seat is less than a radius of said outer corner of the annular valve body seat pocket;
seating said annular valve seat into the annular valve body seat pocket,wherein said lower inner diameter corner of the annular valve seat engages said inner corner of the annular valve body seat pocket, andwherein said lower outer diameter corner of the annular valve seat is spaced from said outer corner of the annular valve body seat pocket;
conforming said inner diameter surface of the annular valve seat to the valve ball by forcing the valve ball against the annular valve seat; and
levering the annular valve seat by forcing the valve ball against the annular valve seat, wherein said lower inner diameter corner disengages from said inner corner of the annular valve body seat pocket to wedge against said inner wall of the annular valve body seat pocket.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A resilient cylindrical seat ring and pocket apparatus for supporting and sealing a valve ball in a valve body.
A method for creating and energizing a seal between an annular valve seat and a valve ball during the assembly of a valve apparatus. The valve body of the valve apparatus includes an annular valve body seat pocket. The annular valve seat is seated within the annular valve body seat pocket as the valve ball is positioned on an inner diameter corner of the annular valve seat. Next, the valve ball is forced on the inner diameter corner causing the inner diameter surface of annular valve seat to contact and conform to the valve ball. As a result, the inner diameter surface of the annular valve seat is sealed to the valve ball. The seal is energized from the resiliency of the annular valve seat. The seal is further energized from the interaction between the annular valve seat and the annular valve body seat pocket.
24 Citations
18 Claims
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1. The method of assembling a valve apparatus including a valve ball, a valve body having an annular valve body seat pocket, and an annular valve seat, said method comprising the steps of:
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designing and manufacturing the annular valve body seat pocket to have a floor, an inner wall intersecting said floor to form an inner corner, and an outer wall intersecting said floor to form an outer corner; designing and manufacturing the annular valve seat to have an inner diameter surface, an outer diameter surface, and a bottom side surface intersecting said inner diameter surface to form a lower inner diameter corner and intersecting said outer diameter surface to form a lower outer diameter corner, wherein a radius of said lower inner diameter corner of the annular valve seat approximates a radius of said inner corner of the annular valve body seat pocket, and wherein a radius of said lower outer diameter corner of the annular valve seat is less than a radius of said outer corner of the annular valve body seat pocket; seating said annular valve seat into the annular valve body seat pocket, wherein said lower inner diameter corner of the annular valve seat engages said inner corner of the annular valve body seat pocket, and wherein said lower outer diameter corner of the annular valve seat is spaced from said outer corner of the annular valve body seat pocket; conforming said inner diameter surface of the annular valve seat to the valve ball by forcing the valve ball against the annular valve seat; and levering the annular valve seat by forcing the valve ball against the annular valve seat, wherein said lower inner diameter corner disengages from said inner corner of the annular valve body seat pocket to wedge against said inner wall of the annular valve body seat pocket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. The method of assembling a valve apparatus including a valve ball, a valve body having an annular valve body seat pocket, and an annular valve seat, said method comprising the steps of:
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designing and manufacturing the annular valve body seat pocket to have an inner wall and an outer wall opposing said inner wall; designing and manufacturing the annular valve seat to have an inner diameter surface, and an outer diameter surface opposing said inner diameter surface, wherein a radius of said inner diameter surface of the annular valve seat approximates a radius of said inner wall of the annular valve body seat pocket, and wherein a radius of said outer diameter surface of the annular valve seat is less than a radius of said outer wall of the annular valve body seat pocket; seating said annular valve seat into the annular valve body seat pocket, wherein a lower halve of said inner diameter surface of the annular valve seat abuts said inner wall of the annular valve body seat pocket, and wherein said outer diameter surface of the annular valve seat is spaced from said outer wall of the annular valve body seat pocket; conforming said inner diameter surface of the annular valve seat to the valve ball by forcing the valve ball against the annular valve seat; and levering the annular valve seat by forcing the valve ball against the annular valve seat, wherein a portion of said lower halve of said inner diameter surface of the annular valve seat is spaced from said inner wall of the annular valve body seat pocket. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. The method of assembling a valve apparatus including a valve ball, a valve body having an annular valve body seat pocket, and an annular valve seat, said method comprising the steps of:
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designing and manufacturing the annular valve body seat pocket to have an inner wall and an outer wall opposing said inner wall; designing and manufacturing the annular valve seat to have an inner diameter surface, and an outer diameter surface opposing said inner diameter surface, wherein a radius of said inner diameter surface of the annular valve seat approximates a radius of said inner wall of the annular valve body seat pocket, and wherein a radius of said outer diameter surface of the annular valve seat is less than a radius of said outer wall of the annular valve body seat pocket; seating said annular valve seat into the annular valve body seat pocket, wherein a lower halve of said inner diameter surface of the annular valve seat abuts said inner wall of the annular valve body seat pocket, and wherein said outer diameter surface of the annular valve seat is spaced from said outer wall of the annular valve body seat pocket; conforming said inner diameter surface of the annular valve seat to the valve ball by forcing the valve ball against the annular valve seat; and levering the annular valve seat by forcing the valve ball against the annular valve seat, wherein a portion of said outer diameter surface of the annular valve seat abuts said outer wall of the annular valve body seat pocket. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification