Fixed cone sleeve valve having cone supported by means downstream of the gate in its closed position

• US 7,493,912 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian T. Hartman, Thomas A. Hartman
• Original Assignee: Brian T. Hartman, Thomas A. Hartman
• Inventors: Hartman, Brian T., Hartman, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle; Stephen M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schneider; Craig M
• Application Number:
  US11/450,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20070284002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 137/219, 251/324, 251/326
• US Class Current: 137/219
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/123 with stationary valve member and moving sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/265 with a sleeve sliding in the direction of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3367 Larner-Johnson type valves; i.e., telescoping internal valve in expanded flow line section

Abstract

A sleeve valve comprising a conduit, a gate, and a shut-off member. The conduit and the shut-off member are fixed in position relative to each other. The gate is movable relative to the shut-off member between opened and closed positions. The gate engages the shut-off member when the gate is in the closed position in a manner preventing fluid from flowing through the fluid passageway of the gate. The opened position of the gate allows fluid to flow through the valve. The valve is devoid of any structure within the fluid passageway of the gate attaching the shut-off member to the conduit.

Claims

1. A valve comprising a conduit, a gate, and a shut-off member, the conduit and the shut-off member being fixed in position relative to each other, the conduit having a fluid passageway extending therethrough, the gate having a fluid passageway bound by an inner surface of the gate and extending therethrough and the gate being movable relative to the shut-off member between opened and closed positions, at least a portion of the conduit being slidably received within the fluid passageway of the gate, the fluid passageway of the conduit being in fluid communication with the fluid passageway of the gate when the gate is in the opened position and when the gate is in the closed position, the gate being engaged with the shut-off member when the gate is in the closed position in a manner preventing fluid from flowing through the fluid passageway of the gate, the opened position of the gate allowing fluid to flow through the fluid passageway of the gate, the valve being devoid of any structure within the fluid passageway of the gate attaching the shut-off member to the conduit, the fluid passageway of the gate having a center axis along which that gate moves linearly between the opened and closed positions, the gate having an intermediate position that is between the opened and closed positions, the valve further comprising guide members that extend from the shut off member toward the conduit, each of the guide members being configured and adapted to limit radial movement of the gate relative to the center axis by engaging the inner surface of the gate from within the fluid passageway of the pate when the pate is between the closed position and the intermediate position, the guide members being spaced from each other in a manner allowing fluid to flow through the fluid passageway of the gate when the gate is in any position other than the closed position.

2. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the valve further comprises a housing, the housing has a cavity, the gate and the shut off member are positioned within the cavity of the housing, and the housing is rigidly connected to the conduit and to the shut-off member.

3. A valve in accordance with claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the cavity of the housing external to the conduit, the gate, and the shut-off member constitutes a fluid passageway of the housing, the fluid passageway of the housing is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway of the gate when the gate is in the opened position, fluid communication between the fluid passageway of the housing and the fluid passageway of the gate is prevented when the gate is in the closed position, the valve is configured and adapted to allow fluid to pass therethrough via the fluid passageway of the conduit, the fluid passageway of the gate, and the fluid passageway of the housing when the gate is in the opened position, and the valve is configured and adapted to prevent fluid from passing therethrough when the gate is in the closed position.

4. A valve in accordance with claim 3 wherein the valve further comprises a plurality of ribs within the interior cavity of the housing, each rib extends radially from the shut off member to the housing relative to the center axis, the ribs rigidly connect the shut off member to the housing, and the fluid passageway of the housing extends between at least two of the ribs.

5. A valve in accordance with claim 4 wherein the ribs are oriented in manner to induce rotational flow about the center axis on fluid passing between the ribs when the gate is in the opened position and fluid is passing through the valve.

6. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the guide members are oriented in manner to induce rotational flow about the center axis on fluid passing between the guide members when the gate is in the intermediate position and fluid is passing through the valve.

7. A valve in accordance with claim 4 wherein the guide members and the ribs are oriented in manner to induce rotational flow about the center axis on fluid passing through the fluid passageway of the housing.

8. A valve in accordance with claim 1 when the shut off member has a conical surface and extends into the fluid passageway of the gate when the gate is in the closed position.

9. A valve comprising a conduit, a gate, and a shut-off member, the conduit having a fluid passageway extending therethrough, the gate having a fluid passageway bound by an inner surface of the gate and extending therethrough and the gate being movable relative to the shut-off member between opened and closed positions, the conduit and the shut off member being rigidly fixed in position relative to each other by structure external to the fluid passageway of the gate, at least a portion of the conduit being slidably received within the fluid passageway of the gate, the fluid passageway of the conduit being in fluid communication with the fluid passageway of the gate when the gate is in the opened position and when the gate is in the closed position, the gate being engaged with the shut-off member when the gate is in the closed position in a manner preventing fluid from flowing through the fluid passageway of the gate, the opened position of the gate allowing fluid to flow through the fluid passageway of the gate, the fluid passageway of the gate having a center axis along which that gate moves linearly between the opened and closed positions, the gate having an intermediate position that is between the opened and closed positions, the valve further comprising guide members that extend from the shut off member toward the conduit, each of the guide members being configured and adapted to limit radial movement of the gate relative to the center axis by engaging the inner surface of the gate from within the fluid passageway of the gate when the gate is between the closed position and the intermediate position, the guide members being spaced from each other in a manner allowing fluid to flow through the fluid passageway of the gate when the gate is in any position other than the closed position.

10. A valve in accordance with claim 9 wherein the valve further comprises a housing, the housing has a cavity, the gate and the shut off member are positioned within the cavity of the housing, and the housing is rigidly connected to the conduit and to the shut-off member.

11. A valve in accordance with claim 10 wherein at least a portion of the cavity of the housing external to the conduit, the gate, and the shut-off member constitutes a fluid passageway of the housing, the fluid passageway of the housing is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway of the gate when the gate is in the opened position, fluid communication between the fluid passageway of the housing and the fluid passageway of the gate is prevented when the gate is in the closed position, the valve is configured and adapted to allow fluid to pass therethrough via the fluid passageway of the conduit, the fluid passageway of the gate, and the fluid passageway of the housing when the gate is in the opened position, and the valve is configured and adapted to prevent fluid from passing therethrough when the gate is in the closed position.

12. A valve in accordance with claim 11 wherein the valve further comprises a plurality of ribs within the interior cavity of the housing, each rib extends radially from the shut off member to the housing relative to the center axis, the ribs rigidly connect the shut-off member to the housing, and the fluid passageway of the housing extends between at least two of the ribs.

13. A valve in accordance with claim 12 wherein the ribs are oriented in manner to induce rotational flow about the center axis on fluid passing between the ribs when the gate is in the opened position and fluid is passing through the valve.

14. A valve in accordance with claim 9 wherein the guide members are oriented in manner to induce rotational flow about the center axis on fluid passing between the guide members when the gate is in the intermediate position and fluid is passing through the valve.

15. A valve in accordance with claim 12 wherein the guide members and the ribs are oriented in manner to induce rotational flow about the center axis on fluid passing through the fluid passageway of the housing.

16. A valve in accordance with claim 9 when the shut off member has a conical surface and extends into the fluid passageway of the gate when the gate is in the closed position.