Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1 SHUT-OFF VALVE FOR SIGH
TEMPERATURE EROSIVE FLOW
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There has been a serious erosion problem with valves
used in high temperature erosive solid or fluid flow in that the
valve seat or portions of the valve seat are eroded or abraded
away ho the flow causing leaks and a failure of the valve to shut-
off flow when desired. In addition, -there is a problem with
valves used for high temperature erosive or abrasive flows to
10 provide adequate seating and hence sealing of the valve member on
the valve seat due to thermal growth caused by the extremely high
temperatures.
SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION
This application, being a division of Canadian
Patent Application Serial No. 396,324 filed February 16, 1982
contains claims directed to only some aspects of the
subject matter disclosed hereinbelow,
The present invention is directed to a shut-off valve
suitable for use for high temperature erosive flow such as in
refineries in which considerable erosion of the flow passage
adjacent the valve or a portion of the valve seat can and does
take place without destroying the ability of the valve to effect-
lively shutoff flow through the valve and to prevent leaks.
The present invention it also directed to such a valve
which compensates for thermal growth of the valve so that an
effective shut-off by the valve is provided under varying tempt
erasure conditions. In addition, the present invention is dir-
acted to such a valve for high temperature erosive flow and to
accommodate thermal growth in which the valve seat and valve can by
removed for repair or replacement without removing the valve from
the line.
In short, the valve includes a body having a flow past
sage through it, the flow passage including an enlarged internal
chamber. The valve is arranged so that the seating surface of the
valve seat and the seating surface of the valve member are beyond
the initial erosion point and a substantial distance downstream
- lo -
1 thereof, a substantial erosion area of the valve, so that the
shut-off valve effectively shuts-off flow through the valve even
though there is substantial erosion of the flow passage or a
portion of the valve seat itself.
The valve member is constructed and arranged so that its
seating surface adjustable seats on the valve seating surface
effective to compensate for thermal growth.
The valve is also constructed and arranged so that the
valve seat, valve, and connecting and operable parts can be rev
moved for repairs, replacements and the like without taking the
valve off the line.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a shutoff valve for high temperature erosive flow in
which substantial erosion o-f the flow passage adjacent the valve
seat or of a portion of the valve seat itself does not prevent
effective shutting-off of flow through the shut off valve.
A further object of the invention is the provision of
such a valve in which the seating surface of the valve seat and
valve member are beyond and out of the direct flow path of the
erosive flow thrush the valve.
A further object of the present invention is the proviso
of such a valve in which the seating surface of the valve member
which seats on the valve seating surface automatically accommodates
and adjusts for thermal growth due to the high temperature abrasive
flow through the valve effective to provide a shut-off of flow
under varying temperature conditions.
A further object of the present invention is the pro-
vision of such a valve in which the valve seat, valve member, and
connecting and operable parts are removable from the valve for
replacement and repairs without removing the valve from the line.
Other and further objects, features and advantages will
be apparent from the following description of presently preferred
1 embodiments of the invention given for the purpose of disclosure
and taken in conjunction with top accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
, . .. . .... ..
Figure 1 is a plan view of the valve according to the
present invention
Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2
of Figure 1 and illustrating a presently preferred embodiment of
the invention.
Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the valve
seating and valve member surfaces illustrating dosing and sealing
with considerable erosion of the valve.
Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 thus-
treating a prior art valve arrangement and showing that the same
amount or area of erosion as the valve in Figure 3 prevents shut
off of flow through the valve.
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the section
line 5-5 of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating another
embodiment of the valve illustrated in Figure 2.
Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating
the seating and sealing arrangement of the valve assembly of
Figure 6.
Figure 8 is an enlarged view similar to Figure 7 thus-
treating a modification of the valve of Figures 5 and 7.
DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to
Figure 1, a valve generally indicated by the reference numeral 10
is illustrated which is here shown as a powered shutoff valve in
which the power cylinder arrangement 12 rotates a shaft 14 (not
shown in this view but illustrated in Figures 2 and 5), for open-
in and closing the valve.
1 Referring now to Figure 2, the valve lo includes the
valve body 16 through which extends the flow passage 18 through
the enlarged internal chamber 20 and out the downstream passage
I
The flow passage 18 has what may be referred to for
convenience as an entry 24 into -the enlarged internal chamber 20
of the valve body 16. A valve seat 26 is releasable secured to
the entry 24 of the flow passage 18, such as by the bolts 28
against which a valve member 30 seats to shut off flow through the
valve.
As best illustrated in Figure 3, there is what may be
termed an initial erosion point 32 adjacent and upstream of the
entry 24 where erosion caused by the erosive flow through the
valve commences to occur. Normally, this erosion extends down-
stream into the valve seat 26 and provides an area of erosion
which begins at the initial erosion point 32 and erodes downstream
and, as here shown, ends at the downstream erosion point 34. In
the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the valve seat 26
has an outwardly tapering or conical valve seating surface 36
extending in the direction of flow and which is beyond in the
direction of flow of the erosion area between the initial erosion
point 32 and the downstream erosion point 34. The valve member 30
has a coating tapered or conical valve seating surface 38 which
seats on the valve seating surface 35 beyond the erosion area as
clearly illustrated yin Figure 3. Thus, although there is a sub-
staunchly area of erosion of the flow passage and a portion of the
valve seat 26, the valve member 30 effectively seats and seals on
the valve 26 to effectively shut-off flow through the valve.
Referring now to Figure 4 in which the reference letter
"a" is added to corresponding reference numerals of Figure 3 for
convenience of reference, a prior art valve is illustrated in
which the valve seating surface aye of the valve aye and the valve
l l By
1 seating surface aye of the valve member aye are disposed Jo that
the same area of erosion of -the valve illustrated in Figure 3
causes the valve seating surface aye to be exuded of the prior art
valve so that the closing of the valve melnber aye does not effect-
lively shut off flow through the valve and, accordingly the valve
seat aye must be removed and replaced much sooner and hence much
more often than a valve according to the present invention as
illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, which greatly increases the ox-
pens of maintenance, operation and shut down time of the valve.
Referring again to Figure 2, the drive shaft 14 for
rotating the valve 30 into closed and open position is disposed in
the enlarged internal chamber 20 and is offset from and out of the
direct flow through the enlarged flow passage 20 and the discharge
passage 22. In this connection, for convenience of reference,
what is referred to as "direct" flow though the valve is a con-
Tunisian of the tubular flow passage 18 through the enlarged
internal chamber 20 and out the discharge 22.
As illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, a split sleeve 40 is
disposed about the powered drive shaft 14 and is secured about it
by means of the bolts 42 although the split sleeve 40 may be so
secured in any desired manner As best shown in Figure 2, the
keys or splints 44 are provided to prevent relative rotation
between the split sleeve 40 and the powered drive shaft 14.
A plate-like member 46 generally paralleling the valve
member 30 and a second plate-like member 48 generally transverse
to the valve member 30 are secured to one of the members of the
split sleeve 40. A connecting member 50 is connected to the
members 46 and 48 by means of a pin 52 which loosely extends
through the opening 54~ Similarly, the connecting member 50
loosely iota between the connecting member 51 to permit limited
movement in a direction longitudinal to the path of flow through
the valve. The valve member 30 is connected to the connecting
member 50.
I
1 Thus, by means of the connection illustrated and de-
scribed, the valve member 30 can move universally with respect to
the valve spat 26 and due to the tapered or conical valve seating
surface 36 and the coactin~ conical valve member enjoin surface
38, thermal growth and shrinkage of the valve seat 26 and the
valve member 30 is accommodated due to the "float" of the valve
member 30 so that an effective seal is accomplished under various
thermal growth and shrinkage conditions
Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, another embodiment of
the invention is illustrated in which the reference letter "b" has
been added to reference numerals of Figures 1-5 for convenience of
reference.
In this embodiment, the valve seat assay the projection
27 which serves as a continuation of the inlet flow passage 18b
and has a valve seat 36 which is disposed back of, above and
around the entry of the flow into the enlarged portion 20, which
is engaged by the valve member seating portion 38b.
As best seen in Figure 7, the valve seat 27 has a
tapered or conical surface 29 on its outer portion and the valve
member 30b has a correspondingly tapered or conical surface 31
which engages and seats on the tapered surface I when the valve
is closed to prevent abrasive flow from flowing around the project
end of the valve seat 27 and up onto the valve seating surface or
portion 36b and the valve member seating portion or surface byway
To assist in the sealing, a vented flexible metal tube 33 is
.
secured to the valve seating area 36b and the valve engaging
portion 33b of the valve member 30b has an annular groove 35 which
engages and deflects the resilient tube 33 thus providing a fur-
then seal against the metal resilient tube 33 to effect the
closure. The metal tube 33 is vented to avoid pressure buildup
and possible explosion of the tube if sealed caused by high tempt
eraturesO The tube 33 can be vented in any desired manner, such
as one or more openings in its wall, not shown.
Figure 8 illustrates a further modification of the volt
shown in Egress 6 and 7 and in which the reference letter "c" has
been added to numerals corresponding to those in Figures 6 and 7
for convenience of reference. This embodiment it identical -to
that of Figures 6 and 7 except that the outer portion of the
annular groove 33c is cut away to provide the tapered surface 33c
which engages against the flexible tube 33c and provides an effect
lively sealed closure shutting-off flow through the valve.
In both the embodiments of Figures 6 and 7 and of Figure
10 8, it it seen that the seating of the valve member against the
seating surface of the valve is away from and out of the direct
flow of the erosive and abrasive fluids through the valve. Accord-
tingly, considerable erosion of the valve can occur and there still
can be an effective closure of the valve shutting-off flow through
it.
In the embodiments of Figures 6-8, inclusive, the no-
mining parts and the means for closing and opening the valve are
the same as those in Figures 1-5, inclusive.
The body 12 comprises an outer shell 16 which can be
20 constructed of low cost, low temperature material such as carbon
steel and includes the insulation 60 which is a cartable insult
Asian many of which are available on the open market, such as
Fresco RS-7~
If desired, the insulation may be a refractory material,
such as formed of hex mesh and refractory material, many of which
are commercially available, such as Fresco ROY.
Also, as best illustrated in Figure 2, the orifice 25 is
supported by a truncated cone 23 which is secured to the outer
body shell 16. The truncated cone 23 is lined by a suitable
30 lining material 21, such as Taco 257, a commercial hard facing.
Similar linings are provided for the orifice plate 25 and, as
illustrated, suitable refractory insulation and hard facing are
1 provided which will withstand the conditions of use, all of which
are readily available on the market.
As previously mentioned, the valve seat 26, -thy valve
30, and connecting parts to the powered shaft 14, can be removed
from the valve 10 without taking it off the line by simply remo~/incJ
the bonnet 62 by loosing the bolts, not shown, which is of a size
sufficient to permit passage of these components of the valve
through it. Thus, the valve can stay on line while repairs and
replacements are made to the wear prone parts, thus avoiding sub-
staunchly expense and shut-down time involved in removing a valve
from the line.
Since the embodiments of the invention can be utilized
with a wide variety of valves, and means to open and close them,
no more description of a particular valve, such as illustrated in
Figure l, is given or deemed necessary.
The present invention, therefore, is well suited and
adapted to attain the objects and ens and has the advantages and
features mentioned as well as others inherent therein
While presently preferred embodiments of the invention
have been given for the purpose of disclosure, changes can be made
in them which are within the spirit of the invention as defined by
the scope of the appended claims.
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