Patents by Inventor Gerald A. Stunkard

Gerald A. Stunkard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8601634
    Abstract: A pig launching and retrieval valve, which is adapted to be mounted within a pipeline for fluid flow control and for inserting and retrieving pig devices, such as round nosed cylinders, balls, scrapers and the like, for pipeline cleaning, for separation of fluids within the pipeline and for other pipeline inspection and servicing activities. The pig valve is of universal nature, having sub flanges for adaptation of special flange mounting and/or API standard flange mounting. The pig valve has a trunnion supported valve ball and pressure energized seat members that are enabled to shift laterally within respective seat recesses and thus establish self-centering with the valve ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventor: Gerald A. Stunkard
  • Patent number: 7690626
    Abstract: A trunnion type ball valve having valve seats that are laterally moveable within seat recesses of the valve and establish sealing engagement with a valve ball member that is trunnion supported for rotational movement between open and closed positions. The valve seat members are self-centering for optimum sealing engagement with the spherical sealing surface of the ball member. The internal geometry of the seat assemblies are designed to permit optimum flow through the valve mechanism even under circumstances where the seat members are located in laterally off-center relation with respect to the centerline of the flow passages due to self-centering seat movement. The ball valve is readily adapted for fire-safe application via the use of heat resistant seals and metal-to-metal sealing of components to prevent or minimize leakage in the event of seal destruction or degradation by excess heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Gerald A. Stunkard
  • Publication number: 20090095931
    Abstract: A trunnion type ball valve having valve seats that are laterally moveable within seat recesses of the valve and establish sealing engagement with a valve ball member that is trunnion supported for rotational movement between open and closed positions. The valve seat members are self-centering for optimum sealing engagement with the spherical sealing surface of the ball member. The internal geometry of the seat assemblies are designed to permit optimum flow through the valve mechanism even under circumstances where the seat members are located in laterally off-center relation with respect to the centerline of the flow passages due to self-centering seat movement. The ball valve is readily adapted for fire-safe application via the use of heat resistant seals and metal-to-metal sealing of components to prevent or minimize leakage in the event of seal destruction or degradation by excess heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventor: Gerald A. Stunkard
  • Publication number: 20080308159
    Abstract: A top entry in-line repairable swing check valve having a valve body adapted for connection within a flow-line and having flow passages and a valve chamber and further defining a seat recess at the juncture of a flow passage and the valve chamber. A removable seat assembly within the seat recess establishes sealing with the valve body. A swing check member is pivotal within the valve chamber between an open position permitting flow through the flow passages and a closed position in sealing engagement with the seat assembly. The valve body has an access opening to the valve chamber of sufficient dimension for movement of the seat assembly and the swing check member therethrough. A bonnet closure for the access opening supports seat retainer pins positioned in seat retaining relation with the seat assembly. A bonnet orienting pin projects from the valve body and is received by an orienting hole of the bonnet to align the bonnet and seat retainer pins with respect to the valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventor: Gerald A. Stunkard
  • Patent number: 6669171
    Abstract: A compact manifold ball valve having a valve body defining a valve chamber and having first and second ends and a first flow passage intersecting the valve chamber a cylindrical sealing surface defining a bonnet and valve stem passage also intersecting the valve chamber. A seat and ball retainer is threaded into the second end of the valve body and provides for support and positioning of a pair of trunnion support elements and a pair of seat assemblies. A valve ball having opposed trunnions is rotatable between open and closed positions within the valve chamber and is supported by the trunnion supports. A valve stem and bonnet assembly is secured and sealed to said valve body and is actuated to rotate the valve ball for opening and closing thereof. The valve seats are capable of metal-to-metal sealing with the valve ball in the event of heat destruction of said face seals to provide the valve with a fire-safe character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Aceco Valve, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald A. Stunkard
  • Patent number: 4637421
    Abstract: An in-line repairable top entry floating ball valve having internal components that are replaceable through an access opening, closed by a valve bonnet, while the valve body is located within a flow line. The valve mechanism is provided with seats which may be of resilient nature and are sealed with respect to the spherical plug member by means of ball/seat spaces having interference sealing engagement between the plug and seats. The ball/seat spacers form sealing surfaces at one axial end for sealing engagement with the spherical plug member and sealing surfaces at the opposite axial end for sealing engagement with the seats and in spherically concentric relation with the plug to thus permit installation and removal of the ball/seat spacers in an arcuate motion about the spherical surface of the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Inventor: Gerald A. Stunkard
  • Patent number: 4566482
    Abstract: A Top Entry Trunnion Ball Valve is provided having a valve body forming seat recesses with seat members movable disposed therein and urged towards sealing engagement with a spherical valve member by spring members and by differential pressure induced force. A seat retractor mechanism is movably disposed within the valve body and is movable by an externally controlled tool into retracting engagement with the seat members. The seat members and the seat retractor element have cooperative cam surfaces that cause camming movement of the seat members away from the valve member upon linear movement of the seat retractor. A fire safe seal and spring chamber is in communication with a relief passage having volumetric closure plugs permitting introduction of solvent or other softening agent into the spring chambers for removal of any accumulation of foreign material therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Inventor: Gerald A. Stunkard