Methods and apparatus for removing fluid from fluid valves

• US 9,194,502 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2010
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerson Process Managment Regulator Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Process Managment Regulator Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Decker, Trent
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers, David A
• Application Number:
  US12/786,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20110283817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,010 Days
• Field of Search: 251/366, 251/369
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/246 Combination of a sliding valve and a lift valve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 39/024 using an auxiliary valve on the main valve
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 7/40 in a closed circulation system

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for removing fluid from fluid valves are described. An example apparatus for controlling fluid flow includes a fluid regulator having a body defining an inlet port, an outlet port and an aperture therebetween. The body further defining a bore fluidly coupled to a valve and at least one of the outlet port or the inlet port. The valve is to enable fluid contained within the body to be removed therefrom.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling fluid flow, comprising:

a fluid regulator having a body defining an inlet port, an outlet port, and an aperture between the inlet port and the outlet port, a bore fluidly coupled to a valve and at least one of the outlet port or the inlet port, wherein the valve is to enable fluid contained within the body to be removed therefrom; and

a plug that threadably engages a second aperture of the body and at least partially defines a flow path between the inlet port and the outlet port, a surface of the plug is substantially flush with an inner surface of the body to enable fluid to flow between the inlet port and the outlet port substantially unaffected by the plug, the plug comprising an externally accessible flange to enable the plug to be coupled to and removed from the second aperture, the plug being removable to enable access to a fastener within the fluid regulator through the second aperture, wherein the second aperture is different than the bore.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the bore is to receive a threaded coupling.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the bore is defined by the plug.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the bore is defined by the body.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein an opening of the bore is adjacent to a surface of one of the inlet port or the outlet port.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a ball valve.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a sample obtained from the bore is to be stored in one or more storage containers.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, further comprising a tester to test at least a portion of the sample contained in the one or more storage containers.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve further comprises a quick-disconnect coupling.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an actuator to actuate the valve to obtain a sample to be tested.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an actuator to actuate the valve based on a time interval to obtain and test fluid contained within the body.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir to contain lubricant, the reservoir to be fluidly coupled to the inlet port.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid regulator comprises a spring biased actuator to control a position of a second plug, the second plug being movable relative to the aperture to control fluid flow between the inlet port and the outlet port.

14. A method of removing fluid contained within a fluid regulator, comprising:

opening a valve to remove fluid from within a fluid regulator, wherein the valve is fluidly coupled to a body of the fluid regulator, and wherein the fluid regulator comprises an inlet port, an outlet port, and an aperture between the inlet port and the outlet port, a bore fluidly coupled to a valve and at least one of the outlet port or the inlet port, the fluid regulator being coupled to an actuator, a plug threadably engages a second aperture of the body and at least partially defines a flow path between the inlet port and the outlet port, the plug comprises an externally accessible flange to enable the plug to be coupled to and removed from the second aperture; and

removing the plug from the second aperture, via the flange, to enable a fastener to be accessed within the fluid regulator through the second aperture.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, further comprising coupling a flowline to a quick-disconnect coupling of the valve.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein opening the valve to remove fluid from within the fluid regulator comprises automatically opening the valve based on a predetermined time interval.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein a profile of the flow path defined by the plug and the body is substantially continuous to enable fluid to flow between the inlet port and the outlet port substantially unaffected by the plug.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein a coupling at least partially extends through the plug to couple the valve to the body.

19. The method as defined in claim 14, further comprising closing the valve to substantially prevent fluid flow from within the fluid regulator.

20. An apparatus for controlling fluid flow, comprising:

a fluid regulator having a body defining an inlet port, an outlet port, and an aperture between the inlet port and the outlet port, a fluid plug being moveable relative to the aperture to control fluid flow through the aperture between the inlet port and the outlet port, the body further defining a bore fluidly coupled to a valve and at least one of the outlet port or the inlet port, wherein the valve is to enable fluid contained within the body to be removed therefrom and, wherein a second plug threadably engages a second aperture of the body and at least partially defines a flow path between the inlet port and the outlet port, the second plug comprising an externally accessible flange to enable the second plug to be coupled to and removed from the second aperture, the second aperture sized to enable service access to the fluid plug through the second aperture when the second plug is removed; and

a controller to control an actuator and to generate a report based on a sample obtained from the valve.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the actuator is to actuate the valve based on a time interval.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the sample obtained from the bore is to be stored in one or more storage containers.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 22, further comprising a tester to test at least a portion of the sample contained in the one or more storage containers.

24. The apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the bore is defined by the body.

25. The apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein an opening of the bore is adjacent to a surface of one of the inlet port or the outlet port.

26. The apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the valve further comprises a quick-disconnect coupling.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein a profile of the flow path defined by the second plug and the body is substantially continuous to enable fluid to flow between the inlet port and the outlet port substantially unaffected by the second plug.

28. An apparatus for controlling fluid flow, comprising:

a fluid regulator having a body defining an inlet port, an outlet port, and an aperture between the inlet port and the outlet port, a bore fluidly coupled to a valve and at least one of the outlet port or the inlet port, wherein the valve is to enable fluid contained within the body to be removed therefrom;

a plug that threadably engages a second aperture of the body and at least partially defines a flow path between the inlet port and the outlet port, a surface of the plug is substantially flush with an inner surface of the body to enable fluid to flow between the inlet port and the outlet port substantially unaffected by the plug, the plug comprising an externally accessible flange to enable the plug to be coupled to and removed from the second aperture, the plug being removable to enable access to a fastener within the fluid regulator through the second aperture, wherein the second aperture is different than the bore;

an actuator to actuate the valve to obtain a sample to be tested; and

a controller to control the actuator and to generate a report based on the sample obtained.