GATE VALVE AND SEAT INSERT FOR A GATE VALVE
A gate valve and a seat insert for a gate valve having a valve body, which may be used for hydrocarbon well fracturing operations with a fracturing fluid, or “frac fluid”, includes a seat pocket for receipt of the seat insert and a seat, which seat insert may include a tubular member having a first and a second seat insert end face, the first and second seat insert end faces each include at least one annular seal, and the seat insert is disposed in the seat pocket with the first seat insert end face sealed against the valve body and the second seat insert end face sealed against the seat.
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This Application is a continuation of and claims the benefit, and priority benefit, of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/605,516, filed May 25, 2017, entitled “Gate Valve and Seat Insert for a Gate Valve,” now U.S. Pat. No. 10,077,844, issued Sep. 18, 2018 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/355,010, filed Jun. 27, 2016, entitled “Gate Valve and Seat Insert for a Gate Valve.”
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the DisclosureThis disclosure relates generally to the field of gate valves, and in particular to gate valves for use in fracturing operations conducted in connection with wells for the production of hydrocarbons.
Description of the Related ArtIn oilfield production operations, some wells may be stimulated to increase the production of hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas. Such techniques may include high-pressure, or hydraulic, fracturing of the well formation, known to the art as “fracing” a well formation. Generally, in this process a sand-bearing slurry or fracturing fluid, or “frac fluid”, is pumped down into the formation surrounding the wellbore at very high pressure. The sand particles of the frac fluid become embedded in small cracks and fissures in the formation, wedging them open and, thus, increasing the flow of produced fluid. Typically, the fluids used during fracturing are often very abrasive. Gate valves may be used in connection with the wellhead during fracturing operations, through which pass the sand-bearing slurry, or frac fluid, as well as other debris generated in connection with the fracturing operations.
BRIEF SUMMARYThe following presents a simplified summary of the disclosed subject matter in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein. This summary is not an exhaustive overview of the technology disclosed herein. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is discussed later.
In one exemplary embodiment, a gate valve for a fluid may include: a valve body having an internal valve cavity; first and second flow passageways extending through the valve body, each flow passageway having a longitudinal axis; a gate member disposed within the valve body and having an opening which may be moved into a fluid transmitting relationship with the first and second flow passageways; an annular recess in the valve body and disposed adjacent and around the first flow passageway, the annular recess having a first wall surface disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first flow passageway and a second wall surface disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first flow passageway; the annular recess forming a seat pocket for receipt of a seat and a seat insert; the seat is disposed between the gate member and the first flow passageway, the seat being an elongate tubular member and having first and second ends and an inner and an outer wall surface extending between the first and second ends, the first end of the seat is disposed in a spaced relationship from the first flow passageway and the second end of the seat is disposed adjacent the gate member, the first end of the elongate tubular member having a seat end face; the seat insert is disposed between the seat and the first flow passageway, the seat insert being a tubular member and having first and second ends and an inner and an outer wall surface extending between the first and second ends of the seat insert, the first end of the seat insert is disposed adjacent the first flow passageway and the second end of the seat insert is disposed adjacent the seat end face of the seat; and the first end of the seat insert has a first seat insert end face; and the second end of the seat insert has a second seat insert end face.
In another exemplary embodiment, a seat insert for a gate valve having a gate member, a gate valve body having an internal valve cavity, first and second flow passageways extending through the valve body, and a seat pocket in the valve body for receipt of a seat and the seat insert, may include: a tubular member having first and second ends and an inner and an outer wall surface extending between the first and second ends, the first end of the seat insert adapted to be disposed adjacent the first flow passageway and the second end of the seat insert adapted to be disposed adjacent the seat; the first end of the tubular member having a first seat insert end face, and the second end of the tubular member has a second seat insert end face; and; wherein the first seat insert end face includes at least one annular seal and the second seat insert end face includes at least one annular seal, the first seat insert end face adapted to be disposed within the seat pocket and seal against valve body, and the second seat insert end face adapted to seal against the seat.
The present gate valve and seat insert for a gate valve may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
While certain embodiments of the present gate valve and seat insert for a gate valve will be described in connection with the present exemplary embodiments shown herein, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the drawing figures, which are not to scale, the same reference numerals are used throughout the description and in the drawing figures for components and elements having the same structure, and primed reference numerals are used for components and elements having a similar function and construction to those components and elements having the same unprimed reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTSIt should be understood that, although an exemplary implementation of one or more exemplary embodiments are provided below, the various specific exemplary embodiments may be implemented using any number of techniques known by persons of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary embodiments, drawings, and/or techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary designs and implementations illustrated and described herein. Furthermore, the disclosure may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.
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The annular seals 160, 170 may be of any suitable construction to provide the desired sealing relationship between: the seat insert end faces 156 and the valve body 101, or the first wall surfaces 81, 81′ of annular recesses 80, 80′; and the seat insert end faces 157 and seats 120, or seat end faces 126. Preferably, annular seals 160, 170 are O-ring seals 162, 172. Annular seals 160, 170 may be made of any material having the requisite strength and sealing characteristics to function in a gate valve having frac fluid passing therethrough.
Grooves 161, 171 in the seat insert end faces 156, 157 may have any suitable cross-sectional configuration which is capable of receiving the annular seals 160, 170. Preferably, at least some of the grooves 161, 171 have a half-dove tail configuration, which are known as half-dove tail grooves, and preferably all of the grooves 161, 171 here are half-dove tail grooves.
At least one embodiment is disclosed and variations, combinations, and/or modifications of the embodiment(s) and/or features of the embodiment(s) made by a person having ordinary skill in the art are within the scope of the disclosure. Alternative embodiments that result from combining, integrating, and/or omitting features of the embodiment(s) are also within the scope of the disclosure. When numerical ranges or limitations are expressly stated, such express ranges or limitations may be understood to include iterative ranges or limitations of like magnitude falling within the expressly stated ranges or limitations (e.g., from about 1 to about 10 includes, 2, 3, 4, etc.; greater than 0.10 includes 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, etc.). The use of the term “about” means ±10% of the subsequent number, unless otherwise stated.
Use of the term “optionally” with respect to any element of a claim means that the element is required, or alternatively, the element is not required, both alternatives being within the scope of the claim. Use of broader terms such as comprises, includes, and having may be understood to provide support for narrower terms such as consisting of, consisting essentially of, and comprised substantially of. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited by the description set out above, but is defined by the claims that follow, that scope including all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. Each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification and the claims are embodiment(s) of the present disclosure.
While several exemplary embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure, it may be understood that the disclosed embodiments might be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims. The present examples are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details given herein. For example, the various elements or components may be combined or integrated in another system or certain features may be omitted, or not implemented.
In addition, the various exemplary embodiments described and illustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Other items shown or discussed as coupled or directly coupled or communicating with each other may be indirectly coupled or communicating through some interface, device, or intermediate component whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A gate valve for a fluid comprising:
- a valve body having an internal valve cavity;
- first and second flow passageways extending through the valve body, each flow passageway having a longitudinal axis;
- a gate member disposed within the valve body and having an opening which may be moved into a fluid transmitting relationship with the first and second flow passageways;
- an annular recess in the valve body and disposed adjacent and around the first flow passageway, the annular recess having a first wall surface disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first flow passageway and a second wall surface disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first flow passageway;
- the annular recess forming a seat pocket for receipt of a seat and a seat insert;
- the seat is disposed between the gate member and the first flow passageway, the seat being an elongate tubular member and having first and second ends and an inner and an outer wall surface extending between the first and second ends, the first end of the seat is disposed in a spaced relationship from the first flow passageway and the second end of the seat is disposed adjacent the gate member, the first end of the elongate tubular member having a seat end face;
- the seat insert is disposed between the seat and the first flow passageway, the seat insert being a tubular member and having first and second ends and an inner and an outer wall surface extending between the first and second ends of the seat insert, the first end of the seat insert is disposed adjacent the first flow passageway and the second end of the seat insert is disposed adjacent the seat end face of the seat;
- the outer wall surface of the seat is coplanar with the outer wall surface of the seat insert;
- the seat has a seat diameter and the seat insert has a seat insert diameter, and the seat diameter and the seat insert diameter are substantially the same;
- the first end of the seat insert has a first seat insert end face; and the second end of the seat insert has a second seat insert end face; and
- the seat insert and the seat are slidingly received within the annular recess in the valve body.
2. The gate valve of claim 1, wherein the first seat insert end face includes at least one annular seal.
3. The gate valve of claim 2, wherein the at least one annular seal is an O-ring seal.
4. The gate valve of claim 2, wherein the at least one annular seal is disposed within an annular half-dove tail groove in the first seat insert end face.
5. The gate valve of claim 2, wherein the first seat insert end face includes at least two annular seals, wherein the at least two annular seals are each disposed within an annular half-dove tail groove in the first seat insert end face.
6. The gate valve of claim 1, wherein the second seat insert end face includes at least one annular seal.
7. The gate valve of claim 6, wherein the at least one annular seal is an O-ring seal.
8. The gate valve of claim 6, wherein the at least one annular seal is disposed within an annular half-dove tail groove in the second seat insert end face.
9. The gate valve of claim 6, wherein the second seat insert end face includes at least two annular seals, wherein the at least two annular seals are each disposed within an annular half-dove tail groove in the second seat insert end face.
10. A seat insert for a gate valve having a gate member, a gate valve body having an internal valve cavity, first and second flow passageways extending through the valve body, and a seat pocket in the valve body for receipt of a seat and the seat insert, comprising:
- a tubular member having first and second ends and an inner and an outer wall surface extending between the first and second ends, the first end of the seat insert adapted to be disposed adjacent the first flow passageway and the second end of the seat insert adapted to be disposed adjacent the seat;
- the first end of the tubular member having a first seat insert end face, and the second end of the tubular member has a second seat insert end face; and;
- wherein the first seat insert end face includes at least one annular seal and the second seat insert end face includes at least one annular seal, the first seat insert end face adapted to be disposed within the seat pocket and seal against valve body, and the second seat insert end face adapted to seal against the seat.
11. The seat insert of claim 10, wherein the at least one annular seal is an O-ring seal.
12. The seat insert of claim 10, wherein the at least one annular seal is disposed within an annular half-dove tail groove in the first seat insert end face.
13. The seat insert of claim 10, wherein the second seat insert end face includes at least one annular seal.
14. The seat insert of claim 10, wherein the at least one annular seal is an O-ring seal.
15. The seat insert of claim 10, wherein the at least one annular seal is disposed within an annular half-dove tail groove in the second seat insert end face.
16. The seat insert of claim 10, wherein the seat insert is slidingly received within the annular recess in the valve body.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 17, 2018
Publication Date: Jan 17, 2019
Applicant: CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC (HOUSTON, TX)
Inventor: Glenn C. Parks, JR. (Cypress, TX)
Application Number: 16/133,334