Valve seats for use in fracturing pumps

• US 9,822,894 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPM Oil & Gas Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SPM Flow Control Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bayyouk, Jacob A., Peach, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Bastianelli, John
• Application Number:
  US14/555,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20150144826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 251332-334, 251359-365, 251368
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 1/0452 Distribution members, e.g. valves machines or pumps with cam-actuated distribution members at the outer ends of the cylinders F04B1/0472; machines or pumps with cam-actuated distribution members at the inner ends of the cylinders F04B1/0531; the piston-driving cams being provided with inlets and outlets F04B1/0535
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/10 Valves; Arrangement of valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/1087 Valve seats
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/42 Valve seats for double-seat valves F16K1/44
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/465 to the valve seats
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/063 the valve being loaded by a spring
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 25/005 Particular materials for seats or closure elements

Abstract

A valve seat at least partially formed of a ceramic material for use in a fracturing pump includes a first body and a second body. The first body is configured to be inserted into a fluid passageway of the fracturing pump. The first body has an outer diameter, D1. The second body extends radially from the first body and has an outer diameter, D2, greater than the outer diameter, D1, of the first body. The second body is at least partially formed of the ceramic material.

Claims

1. A valve assembly for use in a fracturing pump, the valve assembly comprising:

a valve member reciprocatably movable into and out of engagement with a valve seat body to configure the valve assembly between open and closed positions;

wherein the valve seat body includes a first body configured to be inserted into a fluid passageway of the fracturing pump, the first body having an inner cylindrical surface and an outer cylindrical surface, wherein the outer cylindrical surface has an outer diameter, D1;

a second body extending radially from the first body having an inner surface facing the valve member and an opposed outer surface configured to contact the fluid passageway, the second body having an outer diameter, D2, greater than the outer diameter, D1, such that the difference between the diameters D2 and D1 allows the first body to be longitudinally supported by the fluid passageway; and

a recessed portion formed on the inner surface of the second body, the recessed portion sized to receive an insert formed of a ceramic material, the insert forming a portion of and extending from the inner cylindrical surface so as to form a portion of the inner surface of the second body for contacting the valve member when the valve assembly is in the closed position.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the second body is a tapered shoulder.

3. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the second body is a tapered shoulder extending radially from the first body at an angle between five and seventy-five degrees.

4. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the ceramic insert is formed having a constant thickness.

5. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the ceramic insert has a top surface that is in the same plane as the inner surface of the second body.

6. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert is press fit in the recess.

7. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve body includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced legs to slidably engage the inner cylindrical surface of the first body.

8. The valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the insert is fixed to the second body by bonding, press-fit, shrink-fit, sintering, or combination thereof.

9. The valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the insert has a height, h1, between approximately 1/32 inches to ½

inches.

10. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert is positioned to contact at least a portion of a valve body to create a seal between the insert and the portion of the valve body.

11. The valve assembly of claim 10, wherein the ceramic material has a material hardness value, H1 greater than a material hardness value, H2, of the valve body.

12. The valve assembly of claim 10, wherein the insert is fixed to the second body by bonding, press-fit, shrink-fit, sintering, or combination thereof.

13. The valve assembly of claim 10, wherein the insert has a height, h1, between approximately 1/32 inches to ½

inches.

14. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the ceramic material comprises zirconia, tungsten carbide nickel, or tungsten carbide cobalt.

15. A valve assembly for use in a fracturing pump, the valve assembly having a valve member reciprocatingly movable to position the valve assembly between open and closed positions, the valve assembly comprising:

a valve seat body including a cylindrical body having an inner surface and an opposing, outer surface, the inner surface forming a bore along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body, the outer surface configured to be fitted against a first wall of the fracturing pump, wherein the first wall forms a first fluid passageway;

a tapered shoulder extending radially from the cylindrical body having an inner surface and an opposing, outer surface, at least a portion of the inner surface having a recess to receive a ceramic material therein, the recess formed having a bottom wall and a single sidewall, the bottom wall extending from the inner surface of the cylindrical body such that the ceramic material is aligned with and forms a part of the inner surface of the cylindrical body, the ceramic material forming a portion of the inner surface of the tapered shoulder for contacting the valve member when the valve assembly is in the closed position, the outer surface of the tapered shoulder positioned against a second wall of the fracturing pump; and

wherein the second wall forms a second fluid passageway that has a larger diameter than that of the first fluid passageway.

16. The valve assembly of claim 15, wherein the ceramic material comprises zirconia, tungsten carbide nickel, or tungsten carbide cobalt.

17. The valve assembly of claim 15, wherein the cylindrical body further includes an annular groove for retaining a sealing member.

18. The valve assembly of claim 15, wherein the ceramic material is placed in contact with a metallic portion of the valve seat body and a substantially deformed sealing material when the valve assembly is the closed position.

19. A reciprocating pump assembly, comprising:

a power end coupled to a fluid end, the fluid end having a fluid inlet passage co-axially aligned with a fluid outlet passage;

a valve assembly disposed within each of the fluid inlet passage and the fluid outlet passage, each valve assembly comprising;

a valve member reciprocatably movable into and out of engagement with a valve seat body to configure the valve assembly between open and closed positions;

wherein the valve seat body includes a first body having an inner cylindrical surface and an outer cylindrical surface, wherein the outer cylindrical surface has an outer diameter, D1;

a second body extending radially from the first body having an inner surface facing the valve member and an opposed outer surface having an outer diameter, D2, greater than the outer diameter, D1, such that the difference between the diameters D2 and D1 allows the valve seat to be longitudinally supported by sidewalls forming the respective fluid inlet and outlet passages; and

a recessed portion formed on the inner surface of the second body, the recessed portion sized to receive an insert formed of a ceramic material, the insert forming a portion of and extending from the inner cylindrical bore and forming only a portion of the inner surface of the second body for contacting the valve member when the valve assembly is in the closed position.

20. The pump assembly of claim 19, wherein the ceramic material is placed in contact with a metallic portion of the valve seat body and a substantially deformed sealing material when the valve assembly is the closed position.

21. The pump assembly of claim 19, wherein the ceramic material has a top surface that is in the same plane as the inner surface of the second body.