Pneumatic reset relief valve

• US 6,918,407 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: W.W. Offshore, Inc.
• Inventors: White, Chris, Williams, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/214,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20030029505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 137/514.7, 137/559, 137/553, 137/514, 251/15, 251/49
• US Class Current: 137/514.7
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/02 opening on surplus pressure on one side; closing on insufficient pressure on one side check valves F16K15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7853 Enlarged piston on end of valve stem
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8225 Position or extent of motion indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 Inspection means

Abstract

A safety device protects a mud pump from an over pressure condition, which can occur during normal operation. The mud pump discharge couples to a high pressure inlet at the bottom of a valve body and the discharge outlet from the valve discharges to the side of the body, ninety degrees to the inlet. In a first aspect, the safety device includes a load piston mounted to a shaft which passes through a pressure chamber cap and connects to a pneumatic cylinder assembly on the top side of the pressure chamber cap. The pneumatic cylinder assembly is operated by a control valve mounted to the base of the cylinder to set the pressure at which the safety device actuates. In a further aspect, the safety device includes a light transmissive indicator cylinder, with a flag therein mounted on a rod coupling the valve to a pneumatic actuator piston, between the actuator piston and the valve.

Claims

1. A pressure regulator valve assembly for connection to the output of a pressure varied supply source, the assembly comprising:

(a) a valve body having an inlet port and a discharge port, wherein the supply source output is delivered through the inlet port;

(b) a pressure chamber between the inlet and outlet ports, the pressure chamber defining a cap;

(c) a load piston in the pressure chamber for modulating flow between the inlet and outlet ports;

(d) a rod coupled to the load piston and penetrating the cap;

(e) a pneumatic control chamber counted to the cap;

(f) a top piston connected to the rod and positioned within the pneumatic control chamber; and

(g) a pneumatic control valve connected to the pneumatic control chamber, the pneumatic control valve adapted to set the pressure of the supply source at which the valve assembly opens.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the load piston defines a chamber between the load piston and the cap.

3. The valve assembly of claim 2, further comprising a port through the load piston to convey pressure to the chamber.

4. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the rod defines a rod portion above the cap, and the rod portion defines a rocker arm to actuate the pneumatic control valve.

5. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising a port into the pneumatic control chamber adapted to receive pressurized air to reset the valve assembly.

6. A pressure regulator valve assembly for connection to the output of a pressure varied supply source, the assembly comprising:

(a) a valve body having an inlet port and a discharge port, wherein the supply source output is delivered through the inlet port;

(b) a pressure chamber between the inlet and outlet ports, the pressure chamber defining a cap;

(c) a load piston in the pressure chamber for modulating flow between the inlet and outlet ports;

(d) a rod coupled to the load piston and penetrating the cap;

a valve position indicator mounted to the cap;

(f) a pneumatic control chamber mounted to the indicator;

(g) a control piston connected to the rod and positioned within the pneumatic control chamber, and

(h) a pneumatic control valve connected to the pneumatic control chamber, the pneumatic control valve adapted to set the pressure of the supply source at which the valve assembly opens.

7. The pressure regulator valve assembly of claim 6, wherein the valve position indicator comprises a light transmissive enclosure and a flag coupled to the rod, and wherein position of the flag indicates the position of the load piston.

8. The pressure regulator of claim 6, wherein the pneumatic control chamber comprises:

a. an air cylinder;

b. a piston within the air cylinder;

c. a stop tube beneath the piston

d. a booster spring adjacent the stop tube and beneath the piston; and

e. a vent line from the air cylinder at a point above the piston coupled to the pneumatic control valve.