Abstract: A ball valve having a valve body, a ball mounted in the valve body and mounting means for the valve body and the ball whereby the ball may be rotated between an open position allowing flow of fluid through the mounting means, the body and the ball and a closed position preventing such flow. The mounting means is fitted on each side of the ball and body with a seat ring and resilient means urging the seat ring toward the ball and is formed with a pair of grooves encircling the opening in the body. A seal ring is seated in each of such grooves, one such ring being hard and better suited to seal under high pressure, the other ring being softer and better suited to seal under low pressure, and to conform to irregularities in the surface of the ball. Preferably the pair of grooves on each side of the ball have an edge in common and the hard seal ring protrudes from its groove and under pressure deforms the softer ring and augments its sealing function.

Abstract: Valve such as a ball valve with a metal seat ring assembly comprising an outer ring seated in the valve body and an inner ring seated in the outer ring. The outer ring is formed with a lip projecting inwardly and presenting a sealing surface for contact with the valve closure member. The inner ring is formed with a lip behind which is an annular groove which permits flexing of such lip. The inner ring is seated within the outer ring. There is a small clearance between the lip and the outer ring which causes sealing between the closure member and the inner ring following by sealing between the closure member and the outer ring. The configuration and clearances of such lips is such that in initial closing the valve closure member contacts the lip of the inner ring causing it to flex and on final closing it contacts the lip of the outer ring causing it to flex.

Abstract: A top entry expansible tube valve has a generally cylindrical receptacle in the valve body disposed transversely of the flow passageways to receive a slotted core sleeve with a central barrier and expansible elastomer sleeve sealed around it. A generally circular cap closure is bolted to the valve body to seal around the access opening and a perforated sleeve is secured between the cap closure and the core sleeve so that the cap closure and core sleeve, with expansible tube thereon, may be removed as a unit for inspection.

Abstract: A multi-stage pressure regulating system including a pilot-governed main pressure reducing regulator, with one or more passive back pressure regulators arranged in tandem therewith. The regulators are valves of the type conditioned to open when the upstream pressure therein overcomes a jacket pressure. The jacket in the main valve is loaded by upstream fluid, but a pilot, which monitors a particular fluid flow characteristic, such as pressure, at a selected location in the pipeline, controls bleeding of the jacket as necessary to regulate flow through the main valve so as to maintain a predetermined value or level of the characteristic being monitored. Hence, flow through the main valve is controlled solely by the pilot device, but its discharge to the ultimate downstream level is through at least one auxiliary valve, the jacket of which is loaded with a pneumatic pressure at a suitable level, so that the pressure drop to the downstream level is in two or more stages.

Abstract: A pipe flange with a heavy welding neck which is hot formed from a circular section of steel plate having a small co-axial hole in the center.The steel around the hole is shear-formed downward and outward by a tapered die plug which is forced through the small hole, forming an integral neck on the flange. A supporting ring die is radiused at its inner corner to form a suitable fillet radius at the junction of the neck with the flange proper. A suitable preforming or post-forming operation may be required to compensate for any deflection in the workpiece out of planar configuration.

Abstract: A throttling ball valve with an array of closed spaced horizontal plates secured across the flow passage through the ball. The leading edges of the plates are streamlined so that the flow stream will be divided into a plurality of laminar flow streams, each with a boundary layer across a surface of the plate. Energy is absorbed in the boundary layer phenomenon. The array of horizontal plates is preferably contained in a cylindrical sleeve which is inserted and secured into the cylindrical flow passageway through the valve ball.

Abstract: An orifice meter including a carrier, which is movable between two parallel body walls while maintaining sealing engagement therewith. In one position it seals around the pipeline flow passage, and in a second position it seals around an orifice disc service opening in one of the body plates. A small, axially movable valve plug in the body plate adjacent the service opening is operative in one position to equalize the pressure in the space within the carrier seals with the rest of the valve body and in a second position to vent that space to atmosphere. Interengaging means on the valve plug and a rotatable closure for the service opening prevent removal of the closure unless the valve plug is in its venting position. The valve plug has two annular grooves, each carrying an O-ring to seal against inner surfaces of axially aligned inner equalizing passage and outer vent passage. A transfer duct opens from between the two passages to the space within the service opening.

Abstract: A valve structure for an undersea pipeline including a valve cartridge received in a cage formed by a pair of thick parallel plates secured together by threaded studs. The studs entered in U-shaped rows down along the sides of the plate and in an arc near the bottom from side to side. There are no studs across the top. With the nuts loosened at one end of the studs, hydraulic rams, which connect the thick plates near the four corners thereof, may be extended to separate the plates slightly for removal and replacement of the valve module. Stop members prevent complete separation of the nuts from their studs.

Abstract: A line-removable valve structure comprising a pipeline-supporting cage and a cartridge containing the working valve components. The cage comprises a pair of thick steel end plates connected by studs and a balanced array of hydraulic rams. With nuts on the studs loosened, the rams can force the end plates apart for removal of the valve cartridge. Sliding guide means are provided to enable such axial movement of the end plates but to prevent relative radial movement thereof, thus maintaining the integrity of the pipeline.

Abstract: A line-removable ball valve including a rigid framework or box with opposing, parallel, thick steel end plates. A valve cartridge with all components carried therein is received between the parallel plates and a seal carrier ring, carried on and sealed with an end closure of the cartridge, is biased outward to seal against the inner surface of each of the parallel plates to form a fluid-tight unitary structure. The biasing force acting against the seal carrier is relieved for removal of the valve cartridge from between the steel plates.

Abstract: A modular orifice meter construction comprising a main housing wherein an orifice disc carrier is positioned to seal around axially aligned flow tubes. A service housing with an access opening for replacement of orifice discs may be bolted into the main housing. A closure for said access opening is pivoted to the service housing and is normally held closed by a wedging clamp lock. A pinion rotatably mounted on the service housing raises and lowers the orifice disc carrier by engagement with a rack on the carrier. An isolating gate valve may be mounted between the main and service housings.

Abstract: A valve construction wherein a streamlined flow diverter is centered within a cylindrical valve body. A slidable annular seat ring is biased upstream to seal against a seating surface on the inwardly tapered downstream side of the flow diverter and is biased by fluid pressure so that the valve opens when line pressure exceeds the control pressure. The inner contour of the retractable seat ring and the tapered outer contour of the downstream side of the flow diverter are such that the minimum flow area between them occurs a short distance downstream of the seating surface and is thereafter maintained or slightly increased gradually to an abrupt termination of the tapered surface.

Abstract: An orifice meter with a gate-like orifice disc carrier along the lower edge of which is a valve closure member. There is a restricted passageway across the top of the valve body and a seal ring carried around the valve closure member seals off the valve body when the carrier is moved upward from its normal working position across the flow passage. With the valve body sealed off, a hollow, hinged lid into which the carrier is moved, may be raised for servicing or replacing an orifice on the carrier.

Abstract: An expansible tube type valve wherein a flexible tube, which is sealed around its ends in a valve body, is stretched to seal around a barrier in the flow passage. Thin rings of thermal insulation material are disposed around the ends of the flexible tube, interposed between it and parts of the valve body normally in contact therewith, so as to isolate the tube from the body and preclude transmission of high temperatures thereto, as in the event of a fire in the area.

Abstract: An orifice meter wherein a disc carrier plate has two openings, one being a receptacle for an orifice disc and the other a through flow port. When the carrier is raised for replacement of the disc, the flow port is aligned with the flow passages. Seals around the flow port seal off the flow passages so that pipeline flow may be resumed during the orifice disc replacement.

Abstract: An orifice meter having a working housing with flow tubes and an isolation chamber for servicing the orifice. An annular member in the working housing isolated into one position to align an access opening with the isolation chamber to enable movement of a gate-like orifice carrier into and out of the working housing, and into another position wherein it seals off the isolation chamber.

Abstract: An orifice meter with an isolation valve plate pivotally suspended from the bottom of the orifice disc carrier. The valve plate is eccentrically mounted so that it drops to horizontal position when the carrier is raised free of the flow passage sealing surfaces, to seal off an upper chamber into which the disc carrier is raised. When again lowered, the valve plate engages a cam member which cams its back into vertical position nested in a recess along the bottom of the disc carrier.

Abstract: A line-removable valve structure wherein a cartridge containing a movable valve closure member and seals is received in a line-support structure including a pair of rigidly interconnected end plates forming line flanges. With the cartridge in place, seat rings threaded in the end plates, are turned to move axially inward to engage and seal against the ends of the cartridge. The seat rings are selectively turned by a worm gear or by hydraulically driven racks meshing with gear teeth around the seat rings.

Abstract: An orifice meter with a pair of parallel, flat steel body plates. Flow tubes of predetermined sizes are welded in mounting rings to be bolted to the opposing body plates with the inner ends of the tube extending into the body space in alignment with the orifice disc. Wide grooves around the tubes ensure communication of pressure tap ports through the tube with lateral pressure tap ducts through the body plates. Ducts through the upstream body plate from the groove to the body space and through the downstream plate from the body space to the exterior, enable one, by removal of a plug, to flush the bottom of the body space with upstream pressure.

Abstract: An orifice meter comprising a gate valve type of body with an oval body band clamped between a pair of parallel plates. A gate-like carrier slides between the plates and carries an orifice disc with seal ring surrounding it. The seal rings seal around the flow passage and the orifice disc is large enough to be held place by engagement with the adjacent wall plate. In a more remote position, the seal rings may seal around an access opening, which is larger than the orifice disc so that by removing a closure plate, the orifice disc can be rapidly replaced.