Two-piece manifold

• US 5,988,203 A
• Filed: 10/01/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Century Industries Company
• Original Assignee: Peter B. Hutton
• Inventors: Hutton, Peter B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferensic, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FARID, RAMYAR M
• Application Number:
  US08/941,951
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 137/884, 137/597, 137/557, 137/269, 137/271
• US Class Current: 137/271
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/36 the pressure or differential pressure being created by the use of flow constriction
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0015 using switching means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5283 Units interchangeable between alternate locations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87885 Sectional block structure

Abstract

A two-piece, modular valve manifold adapted to be positioned between a main flowline and a pressure sensor to control fluid flow from the main flowline to the sensor, the manifold comprising a first module that adapts to a pressure sensor, such as a differential pressure transmitter, and a second module that is connected to a source of process fluid, the second module containing a block valve system, the first module containing an equalizer valve system and a vent valve system, the modules being connected together whereby process fluid can be transferred through the first module to the second module and ultimately, to the pressure sensor.

Claims

1. A modular valve manifold adapted to be positioned between a main flowline and a pressure sensor to control fluid flow from said main flowline to said pressure sensor, comprising:

a first module, said first module having an instrument face and a peripheral wall, said peripheral wall including a first mating surface, a high pressure transmitter plenum and a low pressure transmitter plenum being formed in said instrument face, a high pressure outlet opening into said high pressure plenum and a low pressure outlet opening into said low pressure plenum;

an equalizer valving system disposed in said first module for selectively controlling fluid communication between said high pressure outlet and said low pressure outlet;

a vent valving system disposed in said first module for selectively venting fluid from said high pressure and low pressure plenums exteriorly of said first module;

a high pressure inlet formed in said first mating face, said high pressure inlet being in open fluid communication with said high pressure outlet, a low pressure inlet being formed in said first mating face, said low pressure inlet being in open fluid communication with said low pressure outlet;

a second module, said second module having a second mating surface adapted to mate with first mating surface on said first module, said second module including a high pressure process fluid inlet and a low pressure process fluid inlet;

a high pressure process fluid outlet being formed in said second mating face, a low pressure process fluid outlet being formed in said second mating face, said high pressure process fluid inlet and said high pressure process fluid outlet being selectively in fluid communication, said low pressure process fluid inlet and said low pressure process fluid outlet being selectively in fluid communication, said high pressure and low pressure process fluid outlets being in register with said high pressure and low pressure inlets, respectively, formed in said first mating face;

a high pressure block valve disposed in said second module for selectively controlling fluid flow from said high pressure process fluid inlet to said high pressure process fluid outlet;

a low pressure block valve disposed in said second module for selectively controlling fluid flow from said low pressure process fluid inlet to said low pressure process fluid outlet;

a seal effecting first fluid-tight communication between said high pressure process fluid outlet and said high pressure inlet, and second fluid-tight communication between said low pressure process fluid outlet, and said low pressure inlet; and

a connector selectively securing said first and second modules together, said connector being separate and spaced from structure forming a flow path between said high pressure process fluid outlet and said high pressure fluid inlet or said low pressure process fluid outlet and said low pressure fluid inlet.

2. The manifold of claim 1 wherein said seal includes high pressure and low pressure tubular formations projecting as to one and receiving as to the other of said first module and said second module, said high pressure tubular formation interconnecting said high pressure process fluid outlet and said high pressure inlet, said low pressure tubular formation interconnecting said low pressure process fluid outlet and said low pressure inlet.

3. The manifold of claim 2 wherein each of said tubular formations has a first end and a second end, each of said first ends being received in interference fit in respective first and second bores formed in said high and low pressure process fluid outlets, said second ends being slidably received in respective first and second bores formed in said high and low pressure inlet.

4. The manifold of claim 2 wherein said high pressure process fluid outlet and said high pressure fluid inlet, and said low pressure process fluid outlet and said low pressure inlet define first and second annular grooves, respectively, in surrounding relationship to said first and second tubular formations, respectively, when said first and second modules are connected, a first deformable seal ring being received in said first annular groove, a second deformable seal ring being received in said second annular groove, said connecting means serving to deform said first and second seal rings into fluid-tight engagement with said first and second tubular formations, respectively, said first module and said second module.

5. The manifold of claim 1 wherein said connector includes a threaded bore formed in said first mating surface and said second module has an end face spaced from and generally parallel to said second mating surface, a throughbore extending through said end face and said second mating surface and a threaded bolt extending through said throughbore and threadedly received in said threaded bore in said first mating surface.

6. The manifold of claim 5 wherein there are two of said threaded bores, said throughbores, and said bolts.

7. The manifold of claim 1 wherein said second module includes a high pressure process fluid passageway selectively interconnecting said high pressure process fluid inlet and said high pressure process fluid outlet and a low pressure process fluid passageway selectively connecting said low pressure process fluid inlet and said low pressure process fluid outlet, a high pressure block valve pocket being formed in said second module, said high pressure block valve pocket intersecting said high pressure process fluid passageway, said high pressure block valve being disposed in said high pressure block valve pocket for selectively controlling flow through said high pressure process fluid passageway and a low pressure block valve pocket being formed in said second module and intersecting said low pressure process fluid passageway, said low pressure block valve being disposed in said low pressure block valve pocket for selectively controlling flow through said low pressure process fluid passageway.

8. The manifold of claim 1 wherein said second module includes first and second lobes, said first lobe defining said high pressure process fluid inlet, said second lobe defining said low pressure process fluid inlet.

9. The manifold of claim 7 wherein said second module includes a main body portion defining a top, generally planar surface, said main body portion further defining a first, planar side wall and a second, opposed planar side wall, said first and second side walls forming equal, obtuse angles with said top planar surface, said high pressure block valve pocket being formed in said first side surface, said low pressure block valve pocket being formed in said second side surface.

10. The manifold of claim 1 wherein said equalizer valving system includes at least one equalizer valve pocket formed in said peripheral wall surface, a first passageway providing open fluid communication between said equalizer valve pocket and said high pressure plenum, a second passageway providing open fluid communication between said low pressure plenum and said equalizer valve pocket and an equalizer valve disposed in said valve pocket for controlling fluid communication between said first and second passageways.

11. The manifold of claim 10 wherein said peripheral wall includes a rear surface and first and second, opposed side walls disposed between said rear surface and said first mating surface and there are first and second vent ports formed in said first and second side walls, respectively, said first vent port being in open communication with said first passageway, said second vent port being in open communication with said second passageway.

12. The manifold of claim 11 wherein said first and second vent ports are threaded for threadedly receiving first and second vent fittings, respectively.

13. The manifold of claim 10 wherein said peripheral wall includes first and second opposed side walls, a first equalizer valve pocket being formed in said first side wall, a second equalizer valve pocket being formed in said second side wall, an equalizer passageway extending between and being in open fluid communication with said first and second equalizer valve pockets, a first stub passageway being in open fluid communication with said high pressure plenum and said first equalizer valve pocket, a second stub passageway being in open fluid communication with said low pressure plenum and said second equalizer valve pocket, a first equalizer valve received in said first equalizer valve pocket and a second equalizer valve being received in said second equalizer valve pocket whereby said first equalizer valve controls fluid communication between said high pressure plenum and said equalizer passageway and said second equalizer valve controls fluid communication between said low pressure plenum and said equalizer passageway.

14. The manifold of claim 1 wherein said first module includes a main body segment and a neck body segment, said neck body segment defining a rear surface opposed to said first mating surface, first and second vent ports being formed in said rear surface, said first vent port being connected by a first vent passageway to said high pressure plenum, said second vent port being connected by a second vent passageway to said low pressure plenum, said neck body segment defining a first neck body segment surface and a second neck body segment surface, said first and second neck body segment surfaces being on opposite sides of said neck body segment, a first vent valve pocket being formed in said first neck body segment surface, a second vent valve pocket being formed in said second neck segment surface, said first vent valve pocket intersecting said first vent passageway, said second vent valve pocket intersecting said second vent passageway, a first vent valve being disposed in said first vent valve pocket for controlling flow through said first vent passageway, a second vent valve being disposed in said second vent valve pocket for controlling flow through said second vent passageway.

15. The manifold of claim 14 wherein said first and second vent passageways have first runs extending from said first and second vent ports, which are substantially parallel to one another and to said instrument face and second runs, which are generally parallel to one another and transverse to said first runs.

16. The manifold of claim 15 wherein said high pressure inlet is connected to said high pressure outlet by a first high pressure passageway having a first run portion and a second run portion, said first run portion of said high pressure passageway being generally coaxial with said first run of said first vent passageway, said low pressure inlet being connected to said low pressure outlet by a low pressure passageway, said low pressure passageway having a first run portion and a second run portion, said first run portion of said low pressure passageway being generally coaxial with said first run of said second vent passageway.

17. The manifold of claim 14 wherein said instrument face is planar and forms a common surface over said main body segment and said neck body segment and said first and second neck segment surfaces form equal, obtuse angles with said common surface.

18. The manifold of claim 1, further including a blanking plate for securing to said second module when said first and second modules are separated, said blanking plate having a third mating surface adapted to mate with said second mating surface, said blanking plate including a high pressure relief outlet formed in said third mating face and a low pressure relief outlet formed in said third mating face, said high pressure and low pressure relief outlet being in open communication with a relief passageway, said relief passageway being in open communication with a relief outlet, said relief outlet being adapted to receive a pressure relief valve, said sealing means effecting first, fluid-tight communication between said high pressure process fluid outlet and said high pressure relief outlet and second fluid-tight communication between said low pressure process fluid outlet and said low pressure relief outlet, said connector securing said blanking plate to said second module.

19. The manifold of claim 1 wherein said second module includes a first flange having a first flange surface coplanar with said second mating surface and an opposed second flange having a second flange surface coplanar with said second mating surface, each of said first and second flanges having at least one throughbore passing through said first and second flange surfaces and said first module has a third flange having a third flange surface coplanar with said first mating surface and a fourth flange having a fourth flange surface coplanar with said first mating surface, each of said third and fourth flanges having at least one threaded hole therein and wherein threaded bolts are received through said bolt holes in said first and second flanges and are threadedly received in said threaded bores in said third and fourth flanges, respectively, to secure said first and second modules together.

20. The manifold of claim 19 wherein each of said first and second flanges is provided with a plurality of throughbores and each of said third and fourth flanges is provided with a plurality of threaded bores, respective ones of said throughbores in said first and second flanges being in register with respective ones of said threaded bores in said third and fourth flanges, respectively.

22. The modular valve manifold of claim 1 wherein said first and second modules are free of construction holes.

21. A valve module adapted to be attached to a main flowline containing a flow restrictor providing a high pressure source of fluid and a low pressure source of fluid on opposed sides of said flow restrictor, comprising:

a valve body providing a first mating surface, said valve body further including a high pressure process fluid inlet to receive fluid from said high pressure source of fluid and a low pressure process fluid inlet to receive fluid from said low pressure source of fluid;

a high pressure process fluid outlet being formed in said first mating surface, a low pressure process fluid outlet being formed in said first mating surface, said high pressure process fluid inlet and said high pressure process fluid outlet being selectively in fluid communication, said low pressure process fluid inlet and said low pressure process fluid outlet being selectively in fluid communication;

a high pressure block valve disposed in said body for selectively controlling fluid flow from said high pressure process fluid inlet to said high pressure process fluid outlet;

a low pressure block valve disposed in said body for selectively controlling fluid flow from said low pressure process fluid inlet to said low pressure process fluid outlet; and

a blanking plate selectively secured to said valve body, said blanking plate having a second mating surface adapted to mate with said first mating surface on said valve body, said blanking plate including a high pressure relief outlet formed in said second mating surface and a low pressure relief outlet formed in said second mating surface, said high pressure and low pressure relief outlets being in open communication with a pressure relief passageway, said pressure relief passageway being in open communication with a vent, said vent being adapted to receive a pressure relief valve, a first seal to effect first, fluid-tight communication between said high pressure process fluid outlet and said high pressure relief outlet and a second seal to effect second fluid-tight communication between said low pressure process fluid outlet and said low pressure relief outlet and a connector selectively securing said blanking plate to said body.

23. A modular valve manifold adapted to be positioned between a main flowline and a pressure sensor to control fluid flow from said main flowline to said pressure sensor, comprising:

a first module, said first module having an instrument face and a peripheral wall, said peripheral wall including a first mating surface, a high pressure transmitter plenum and a low pressure transmitter plenum being formed in said instrument face, a high pressure outlet opening into said high pressure plenum and a low pressure outlet opening into said low pressure plenum;

an equalizer valving system disposed in said first module for selectively controlling fluid communication between said high pressure outlet and said low pressure outlet, said equalizer valving system including at least one equalizer valve pocket formed in said peripheral wall, a first passageway providing open fluid communication between said equalizer valve pocket and said high pressure plenum, a second passageway providing open fluid communication between said low pressure plenum and said equalizer valve pocket and an equalizer valve disposed in said valve pocket for controlling fluid communication between said first and second passageways;

a vent valving system disposed in said first module for selectively venting fluid from said high pressure and low pressure plenums exteriorly of said first module;

a high pressure inlet formed in said first mating face, said high pressure inlet being in open fluid communication with said high pressure outlet, a low pressure inlet being formed in said first mating face, said low pressure inlet being in open fluid communication with said low pressure outlet;

a second module, said second module having a second mating surface adapted to mate with first mating surface on said first module, said second module including a high pressure process fluid inlet and a low pressure process fluid inlet;

a high pressure process fluid outlet being formed in said second mating face, a low pressure process fluid outlet being formed in said second mating face, said high pressure process fluid inlet and said high pressure process fluid outlet being selectively in fluid communication, said low pressure process fluid inlet and said low pressure process fluid outlet being selectively in fluid communication, said high pressure and low pressure process fluid outlets being in register with said high pressure and low pressure inlets, respectively, formed in said first mating face;

a high pressure block valve disposed in said second module for selectively controlling fluid flow from said high pressure process fluid inlet to said high pressure process fluid outlet;

a low pressure block valve disposed in said second module for selectively controlling fluid flow from said low pressure process fluid inlet to said low pressure process fluid outlet;

a seal effecting first fluid-tight communication between said high pressure process fluid outlet and said high pressure inlet, and second fluid-tight communication between said low pressure process fluid outlet, and said low pressure inlet; and

a connector selectively securing said first and second modules together, said connector being separate and spaced from structure forming a flow path between said high pressure process fluid outlet and said high pressure fluid inlet or said low pressure process fluid outlet and said low pressure fluid inlet.

24. The manifold of claim 23 wherein said seal includes high pressure and low pressure tubular formations projecting as to one and receiving as to the other of said first module and said second module, said high pressure tubular formation interconnecting said high pressure process fluid outlet and said high pressure inlet, said low pressure tubular formation interconnecting said low pressure process fluid outlet and said low pressure inlet.

25. The manifold of claim 24 wherein each of said tubular formations has a first end and a second end, each of said first ends being received in interference fit in respective first and second bores formed in said high and low pressure process fluid outlets, said second ends being slidably received in respective first and second bores formed in said high and low pressure inlet.

26. The manifold of claim 24 wherein said high pressure process fluid outlet and said high pressure fluid inlet, and said low pressure process fluid outlet and said low pressure inlet define first and second annular grooves, respectively, in surrounding relationship to said first and second tubular formations, respectively, when said first and second modules are connected, a first deformable seal ring being received in said first annular groove, a second deformable seal ring being received in said second annular groove, said connecting means serving to deform said first and second seal rings into fluid-tight engagement with said first and second tubular formations, respectively, said first module and said second module.

27. The manifold of claim 23 wherein said connector includes a threaded bore formed in said first mating surface and said second module has an end face spaced from and generally parallel to said second mating surface, a throughbore extending through said end face and said second mating surface and a threaded bolt extending through said throughbore and threadedly received in said threaded bore in said first mating surface.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein there are two of said threaded bores, said throughbores, and said bolts.

29. The manifold of claim 23 wherein said second module includes a high pressure process fluid passageway selectively interconnecting said high pressure process fluid inlet and said high pressure process fluid outlet and a low pressure process fluid passageway selectively connecting said low pressure process fluid inlet and said low pressure process fluid outlet, a high pressure block valve pocket being formed in said second module, said high pressure block valve pocket intersecting said high pressure process fluid passageway, said high pressure block valve being disposed in said high pressure block valve pocket for selectively controlling flow through said high pressure process fluid passageway and a low pressure block valve pocket being formed in said second module and intersecting said low pressure process fluid passageway, said low pressure block valve being disposed in said low pressure block valve pocket for selectively controlling flow through said low pressure process fluid passageway.

30. The manifold of claim 23 wherein said second module includes first and second lobes, said first lobe defining said high pressure process fluid inlet, said second lobe defining said low pressure process fluid inlet.

31. The manifold of claim 29 wherein said second module includes a main body portion defining a top, generally planar surface, said main body portion further defining a first, planar side wall and a second, opposed planar side wall, said first and second side walls forming equal, obtuse angles with said top planar surface, said high pressure block valve pocket being formed in said first side surface, said low pressure block valve pocket being formed in said second side surface.

32. The manifold of claim 23 wherein said peripheral wall includes a rear surface and first and second, opposed side walls disposed between said rear surface and said first mating surface and there are first and second vent ports formed in said first and second side walls, respectively, said first vent port being in open communication with said first passageway, said second vent port being in open communication with said second passageway.

33. The manifold of claim 32 wherein said first and second vent ports are threaded for threadedly receiving first and second vent fittings, respectively.

34. The manifold of claim 23 wherein said peripheral wall includes first and second opposed side walls, a first equalizer valve pocket being formed in said first side wall, a second equalizer valve pocket being formed in said second side wall, an equalizer passageway extending between and being in open fluid communication with said first and second equalizer valve pockets, a first stub passageway being in open fluid communication with said high pressure plenum and said first equalizer valve pocket, a second stub passageway being in open fluid communication with said low pressure plenum and said second equalizer valve pocket, said first and second stub passageways being generally transverse to said equalizer passageway, a first equalizer valve received in said first equalizer valve pocket and a second equalizer valve being received in said second equalizer valve pocket whereby said first equalizer valve controls fluid communication between said high pressure plenum and said equalizer passageway and said second equalizer valve controls fluid communication between said low pressure plenum and said equalizer passageway.

35. The manifold of claim 23 wherein said first module includes a main body segment and a neck body segment, said neck body segment defining a rear surface opposed to said first mating surface, first and second vent ports being formed in said rear surface, said first vent port being connected by a first vent passageway to said high pressure plenum, said second vent port being connected by a second vent passageway to said low pressure plenum, said neck body segment defining a first neck body segment surface and a second neck body segment surface, said first and second neck body segment surfaces being on opposite sides of said neck body segment, a first vent valve pocket being formed in said first neck body segment surface, a second vent valve pocket being formed in said second neck segment surface, said first vent valve pocket intersecting said first vent passageway, said second vent valve pocket intersecting said second vent passageway, a first vent valve being disposed in said first vent valve pocket for controlling flow through said first vent passageway, a second vent valve being disposed in said second vent valve pocket for controlling flow through said second vent passageway.

36. The manifold of claim 35 wherein said first and second vent passageways have first runs extending from said first and second vent ports, which are substantially parallel to one another and to said instrument face and second runs, which are generally parallel to one another and transverse to said first runs.

37. The manifold of claim 36 wherein said high pressure inlet is connected to said high pressure outlet by a first high pressure passageway having a first run portion and a second run portion, said first run portion of said high pressure passageway being generally coaxial with said first run of said first vent passageway, said low pressure inlet being connected to said low pressure outlet by a low pressure passageway, said low pressure passageway having a first run portion and a second run portion, said first run portion of said low pressure passageway being generally coaxial with said first run of said second vent passageway.

38. The manifold of claim 35 wherein said instrument face is planar and forms a common surface over said main body segment and said neck body segment and said first and second neck segment surfaces form equal, obtuse angles with said common surface.

39. The manifold of claim 23, further including a blanking plate for securing to said second module when said first and second modules are separated, said blanking plate having a third mating surface adapted to mate with said second mating surface, said blanking plate including a high pressure relief outlet formed in said third mating face and a low pressure relief outlet formed in said third mating face, said high pressure and low pressure relief outlet being in open communication with a relief passageway, said relief passageway being in open communication with a relief outlet, said relief outlet being adapted to receive a pressure relief valve, said sealing means effecting first, fluid-tight communication between said high pressure process fluid outlet and said high pressure relief outlet and second fluid-tight communication between said low pressure process fluid outlet and said low pressure relief outlet, said connector securing said blanking plate to said second module.

40. The manifold of claim 23 wherein said second module includes a first flange having a first flange surface coplanar with said second mating surface and an opposed second flange having a second flange surface coplanar with said second mating surface, each of said first and second flanges having at least one throughbore passing through said first and second flange surfaces and said first module has a third flange having a third flange surface coplanar with said first mating surface and a fourth flange having a fourth flange surface coplanar with said first mating surface, each of said third and fourth flanges having at least one threaded hole therein and wherein threaded bolts are received through said bolt holes in said first and second flanges and are threadedly received in said threaded bores in said third and fourth flanges, respectively, to secure said first and second modules together.

41. The manifold of claim 40 wherein each of said first and second flanges is provided with a plurality of throughbores and each of said third and fourth flanges is provided with a plurality of threaded bores, respective ones of said throughbores in said first and second flanges being in register with respective ones of said threaded bores in said third and fourth flanges, respectively.

42. The manifold of claim 23 wherein said first and second modules are free of construction holes.