Eccentric Seating Patents (Class 251/315.07)
  • Patent number: 9446485
    Abstract: Ball valves and ball valve components usable to control the flow of fluids and methods for manufacturing said ball valve components. Ball valves include a ball member comprising two curved segments of like shape and size, which are integrally joined and disposed symmetrically to one another relative to the axis of rotation of the ball member. A bore extends through the joined first and the second curved segments, wherein the first end of the bore is located on the first curved segment and the second end of the bore is located on the second curved segment. Each curved segment is disposed symmetrically to one another, relative to the axis of rotation. The area of separation, between the curved segments, defines shoulders of like configuration, wherein each shoulder is located symmetrically with respect to the other relative to the ball member's axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin Vincent, Charlie Partridge, Miguel Barroso, Fred Casey, Blake Smith
  • Patent number: 8960643
    Abstract: Ball valves and ball valve components usable to control the flow of fluids and methods for manufacturing said ball valve components. Ball valves include a ball member comprising two curved segments of like shape and size, which are integrally joined and disposed symmetrically to one another relative to the axis of rotation of the ball member. A bore extends through the joined first and the second curved segments, wherein the first end of the bore is located on the first curved segment and the second end of the bore is located on the second curved segment. Each curved segment is disposed symmetrically to one another, relative to the axis of rotation. The area of separation, between the curved segments, defines shoulders of like configuration, wherein each shoulder is located symmetrically with respect to the other relative to the ball member's axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin Vincent, Charlie Partridge, Miguel Barroso, Fred Casey, Blake Smith
  • Publication number: 20140263360
    Abstract: An isolating valve includes a body having a canal for the passage of fluid, which is intended to be shut off by upstream and downstream spherical plugs, that can be actuated independently of one another between positions allowing the passage of fluid through the canal and positions of shutting off the canal, and a sealing checker, opening into the canal and between the two spherical plugs. The upstream plug is equipped with an upstream seat of the “simple piston effect” type and has no downstream seat. The downstream plug is equipped with an upstream seat of the “simple piston effect” type and with a downstream seat of the “double piston effect” type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: TOTAL S.A.
    Inventor: Dominique Malnou
  • Patent number: 8727315
    Abstract: A ball valve includes a first ball clamping assembly that defines a first seat surface in contact with an exterior of the ball. A second ball clamping assembly defines a second, sealing seat surface in contact with and adapted to seal with the exterior of the ball. The second ball clamping assembly is coupled to the first ball clamping assembly to clamp the ball between the first and second seat surfaces. The second ball clamping assembly includes a seat ring holder and a seat ring carried by the seat ring holder. The seat ring of the second ball clamping assembly has a sealing seat surface. A springing member is provided between the seat ring and the seat ring holder and springingly biases the seat ring toward the ball. The seat ring holder has a shoulder that supports the seat ring against fully compressing the springing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul David Ringgenberg
  • Patent number: 8308132
    Abstract: An improved hemi-wedge type valve is disclosed that has upstream and downstream sealing surfaces that cooperate with opposed surfaces on the hemi-wedge valve member. This results in improved sealing and less leakage, at both high and low pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Chromatic Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles C. Partridge
  • Publication number: 20120012771
    Abstract: Apparatuses for restricting fluid flow through a well conduit comprise a tubular member having a helically-shaped seat member disposed within the tubular member. The helically-shaped seat member comprises first and second ends, a first position in which the first and second ends relative to each other to provide a first diameter opening through the helically-shaped seat member for receiving a plug element, and a second position in which the second end is disposed axially below and radially outward relative to the first end to provide a second diameter opening through the helically seat member, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter thereby facilitating the plug element passing through the helically-shaped seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Lale Korkmaz, Michael H. Johnson, André J. Porter
  • Patent number: 7963339
    Abstract: A bearing mounted ball valve (10) comprises a housing (12) having a throughbore and a valve seat (16) and an apertured ball (18) mounted within the housing in continuous engagement with the valve seat. The apertured ball is rotatable by rotation means (20), about an axis of rotation, between a throughbore open position and a throughbore closed position. The bearing mounted ball valve further comprises bearing means (26) coupled between the apertured ball and the housing for constraining the rotation of the apertured ball about the axis of rotation between the throughbore open and the throughbore closed position. In the throughbore closed position, the bearing means is adapted to release the apertured ball from the axis of rotation to permit the apertured ball to float into a sealing engagement with the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Enovate Systems Limited
    Inventors: Gavin David Cowie, Jeffrey Charles Edwards
  • Patent number: 7775502
    Abstract: A ball valve having a reduced sized is provided, that includes a first shaft that extends into a housing accommodating a valve body along a rotational axis of the valve body and is connected to the valve body; and a second shaft that extends into the housing to be oppositely located to the first shaft and is rotatable about an axis line, and has a pressing part that projects radially outwardly from at least a part of the outer circumference of the second shaft. The ball valve is capable of instantly and securely opening and closing communication passages, and changing the direction of fluid flow, while being capable of minimizing the wearing of a seat member for shutting off the communication passages, by having a valve body rotatable while being kept out of contact or substantial contact with the seat member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Hisaka Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kozi Ohta
  • Patent number: 7484710
    Abstract: A control valve of the ball type with bi-directional shutoff capabilities is disclosed. The ball valve including an inlet and an outlet, a ball element and a seal assembly. When closing the valve, the ball element, which is eccentrically mounted on a shaft, rotates to abut the seal assembly. While closed, the seal assembly including a seal housing, a main seal and a resilient member, contacts the ball element at the main seal, while the resilient member biases the main seal toward the ball element. The seal assembly further includes a secondary flowpath between the main seal and seal housing, which is restricted by a high temperature seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: David John Koester, Sarah Lynn Dvorak, Lynn Dean Mahncke, Brandon Wayne Bell, Ronald R. Brestel
  • Patent number: 6981691
    Abstract: A ball valve has a valve body defining an inner seat and having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet and a control ball element rotatably mounted in the inner seat. The control ball element has a partially spherical outer surface, a flow passage having a leading edge, a first inner control surface abutting the leading edge, and a second inner control surface abutting the leading edge at an angle oblique to the first inner control surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian J. Caprera
  • Patent number: 6974121
    Abstract: A control valve of the ball type with bi-directional shutoff capabilities is disclosed. The ball valve including an inlet and an outlet, a ball element and a seal assembly. When closing the valve, the ball element, which is eccentrically mounted on a shaft, rotates to abut the seal assembly. While closed, the seal assembly including a seal housing, a main seal and a resilient member, contacts the ball element at the main seal, while the resilient member biases the main seal toward the ball element. The seal assembly further includes a secondary flowpath between the main seal and seal housing, which is restricted by two unidirectional seal rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.
    Inventors: David John Koester, Sarah Lynn Dvorak, Lynn Dean Mahncke, Brandon Wayne Bell, Loree Lee Bovee, Gary Alan Witt
  • Patent number: 6971633
    Abstract: A ball valve assembly having two end bodies selectively detachable from each other with each end body defining a fluid conveying bore is provided. A rotatable ball valve element is disposed within the end bodies and defines a central passage having an axis, with the rotatable ball valve element having an open position in which the central passage is aligned with the fluid conveying bores and a closed position in which the passage is not aligned with the fluid conveying bores. The ball valve assembly also includes a pair of seals, with a seal disposed in each end body and in selective abutting engagement with the rotatable ball valve element. The structure of the rotatable ball valve element is controlled such that the ball valve assembly is assembled with the ball in an open position, thereby substantially eliminating the significant force normally required for assembly of the ball valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Banjo Corporation
    Inventor: Mark E. Gillen
  • Patent number: 6651958
    Abstract: A valve including an at least partially spherical valve control member and a valve seat where the valve control member is rotatable within a valve housing to obturate and to open at least one opening of the housing by bringing a passage through the valve control member out of and into alignment with the opening. The valve seat includes a radially outer disc portion which lies in a plane transverse to an axis of the opening and a radially inner generally frusto-conical, annular extension free at its narrower-diameter end. The frusto-conical extension is adapted to lie in the opening with a larger-diameter end inward of the housing, and to make substantially a line contact with an at least partially spherical surface of the valve control member when the latter obturates the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventors: Alan David James, David Colston Beauchamp
  • Patent number: 6485000
    Abstract: A ball valve having a valve housing with an inlet and an outlet, a valve body with a bore and sealing bodies, and valve seats which are in sealing planes parallel to one another forming an oblique angle with the inlet and the outlet, and in which the sealing bodies are positioned in body planes parallel to one another, forming a similar oblique angle with the axis of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventors: Ingolf Klyde, Erling Røyrvik, Einar Saghaug
  • Patent number: 6367771
    Abstract: The device concerns a device for adjusting the relative distance or position between a check valve and the base on which it rests when it is closed. Said device consists of a valve body (1), a valve shaft (5), a check valve (5) and two bearings (2 and 3) and a base (6). The inner bores of the bearings are offset relative to their external diameter. The adjustment is carried out by appropriately positioning the bearings inside the valve body. The device is particularly designed for rotating butterfly or ball taps and valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventor: Lucien Mazot