Isolatable non-slam piston check valve

• US 9,791,054 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Al-Amri, Omar M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reid, Michael R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gray, Paul J
• Application Number:
  US14/546,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20160138723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 1376142, 137240
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/02 with guided rigid valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/18 with actuating mechanism; Combined check valves and actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1848 Check valves combined with valves having a rotating tap or cock
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/067 with spherical plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/04 yieldingly resisting the actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/10 Means for additional adjustment of the rate of flow

Abstract

A valve assembly includes a valve body with a central passage, an upstream end for receiving a fluid, and a downstream end for discharging the fluid. A segment ball valve rotates between a valve open position to allow the fluid to flow through the central passage, and a valve closed position to prevent the fluid from flowing through the central passage. A check valve located within the central passage downstream from the segment ball valve is biased to prevent the fluid from traveling upstream through the central passage, and to allow the fluid to travel downstream past the check valve. A locking mechanism secures the check valve in a locked position to prevent the fluid from flowing past the check valve. A sealable cavity is located between the segment ball valve and the check valve, to contain a neutral media to achieve a double block and bleed feature.

Claims

1. A valve assembly comprising:

an integrally formed single member valve body comprising;

a central passage having a central axis;

an upstream end for receiving a fluid and a downstream end for discharging the fluid;

a ball valve seat, the ball valve seat being annular and located on an inner diameter of the central passage;

a check valve seat, the check valve seat being annular and located on the inner diameter of the central passage of the same integrally formed single member valve body as the ball valve seat, the ball valve seat being closer to the upstream end and the check valve seat being closer to the downstream end; and

a cavity located between the ball valve seat and the check valve seat;

a segment ball operable to rotate between a valve open position with the segment ball spaced from the ball valve seat and a valve closed position with the segment ball in sealing engagement with the ball valve seat;

a check valve piston biased to prevent the fluid from traveling upstream through the central passage and to allow the fluid to travel downstream past the check valve piston the check valve piston having an upstream facing sealing surface and a downstream facing surface opposite the upstream facing sealing surface;

a locking mechanism selectively engaging the check valve piston and securing the check valve piston in a locked position in sealing engagement with the check valve seat, the locking mechanism directly engaging the downstream facing surface of the check valve piston, wherein the locking mechanism comprises two manual needle locks operable to directly engage the downstream facing surface of the check valve piston; and

wherein

the cavity comprises a sealed space when the segment ball is in the valve closed position and the check valve piston is in the locked position.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the single member valve body includes an upstream flange and a downstream flange, the upstream and downstream flanges selectively connecting the valve assembly between flanges of a standardized piping system.

3. The valve assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vent extending into the cavity, the vent providing a fluid flow path operable to vent the fluid located in the cavity when the segment ball is in the valve closed position and the check valve piston is in the locked position; and

a port extending into the cavity, the port providing a fluid flow path operable to inject an inert fluid into the cavity through the port.

4. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein when the segment ball is in the valve closed position, the fluid is prevented from reaching the check valve piston and the check valve piston is urged to a check valve closed position with a spring.

5. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the check valve piston is spaced axially from the segment ball when the segment ball is in both the valve open position and the valve closed position.