Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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INTRODUCTION
This invention relates to an isolator valve and,
more particularly, to an isolator valve which is integral
and particularly adapted for use with a flowline.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pilot valves are utilised to monitor the pressure in a
flowline such as an oil flowline. When the pressure sensed
exceeds a desired operating range, the pilot valve is
activated by the excess pressure. This activation
typically signals a main valve in the flowline to either
close or open which will stop or commence flow. In this
way, the pilot valve is used to protect the operation of
the flowline and to ensure its operation is within `~
predetermined acceptable limits.
The actuation pressure of the pilot valve is
normally set by an adjustment located on the pilot valve
itself. Although the adjustment may indicate approximate
actuation pressures, the true actuation pressure is only
determined by a calibration test. Over time, the actuation
pressure may change and, in addition, the calibration
pressures may be required to be changed because of the
different operating pressures which may be desired.
In the past, calibration testing was performed b~
installing a series of components on the flowline. A first
flange was installed in a female connector on the flowline
and a second flange was connected to the first flange with
appropriate studs and nuts connected to the studs on
opposite sides of the flanges. A ball valve was then
connected to the second flange for opening and closing the
~ 35 line between the flowline and the pilot valve. A further
-; pair of flanges were then connected to the downstream end
of the ball valve and a steel cross member was mounted to
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the downstream end o~ the flanges. The pilot valve
was mounted to the downstream end of the cross member
together with a pressure gauge and a bleed valve.
By closing the ball valve, fluid in the flowline
is isolated from the cross member and by opening the
bleeder valve, the residual fluid pressure in the
cross member may be bled off. A hand pump is then
attached to the bleeder valve and the pressure in the
cross member may be increased. The gauge is observed
while the pressure is increased and, by adjusting the
pressure setting or settings for the pilot valve, the
desirable operating limits may be set on the pilot
valve.
The apparatus previously used included a number
of components which resulted in an isolator apparatus
having an unnecessarily long dimension lengthwise.
In addition to the increased costs resulting from
extra material and components, the distance of the
pilot valve from the flowline made the apparatus
susceptible to freezing off or waxing whan used under
cold weather conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is disclosed
an isolator comprising lengthwise separable inlet and
outlet ports mounted in respective first and second
members, said first member being adapted to be
connected to a pressure source such that said first
member extends transversely outwardly from said
pressure source, a f irst chamber operably connected
to said inlet port, a second chamber operably
connected to said outlet port and said first
chamber, said first and second members being
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threadedly connected to a body member which
surrounds the threaded end of each of said first and
second members, gauge and bleeder valve connection
means operably associated with said second chamber in
said second member and first valve means mounted in
said body member and being operable to isolate said
first from said second chamber and to isolate said
second chamber from said pressure source, said second
chamber ~eing mounted downstream from said first
valve means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
A specific embodiment of the invention will now
be described, by way of example only, with the use of
drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of the
isolator in its operating environment between a pilot
valve and a flowline according to the invention: and
Figure 2 is a sectional and enlarged view of the
isolator according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, an isolator is
illustrated generally at 10 in Figure 1 in its
~perating environment between the pilot valve 11 and
the flowline 12. Flowline 12 extends between a
production well (not shown), for example, and a
storage tank ~not shown~.
Flowline 12 is also connected to an actuator
generally shown at 13. The purpose of the actuator
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13 and its operation will be described in more detail
hereafter.
Reference is now made to Figure 2. The isolator
10 comprises a first integral male member 14 with
external thread~ 20 which form the periphery of an
inlet port 21. The external threads 20 are operable
to be connected with a female "T" coupling 22
operably mounted to the flowline 12.
A first chamber 23 within the male member 14 is
operably connected to the inlet port 21 and extends
into a body member 25 with an external threaded
connection 80 on male member 14 which couples with a
complementary threaded female connection 81 on body
member 25. It is ].engthwise separable from but
connected with a second chamber 24. Second chamber
24 extends from body member 25 into an integral
female member 30 through an external threaded
connection 82 which couples with an integral threaded
connection on body member 25. Internal threads 31
formed within female member 30 are adapted to be
connected to a male member 32 extending from the
pilot valve 11 and form an outlet port 33.
A ball valve generally shown at 34 is operably
mounted within the first chamber 23 and the integral
body member 25. Ball valve 34 comprises a rotatable
ball 40 movable 90 degrees about axis 41. The ball
40 has groove 42 machined therein which is adapted to
fit the tongue 46 of valve stem 43. Valve stem 43
extends outwardly from body member 25 normal to the
: axis 44 of the isolator 10. A handle 50 is connected
to the top oE valve stem 43 and is rigidly secured
with a nut 51. The ball 40 is located and held
between ~eats 47, 48, each of the seats being
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retained in respect of counter bores o~ male member
14 and female member 30. Two O-ring seals 56, 57 are
mounted between the seats 47, 48 and the first and
second members 30, 14, respectively.
A locki~g member 52 is mounted around the valve
stem 43. It has first and secGnd arms 53, S4, each
of the arms 53, 54 having holes 6~, 61, respectively,
which are adapted to alluw the insertivn ~f a lock
(not shown) in either the holes 60, 61 and,
simultaneously, hole 62 of handle ~0 depending upon
the position o~ the handle either as illustrated in
Figure 2 or the closed position of the handle 50
where it is moved 90 degrees downwardly as
illustrated in phantom in Figure 1.
Two access or connection ports 63, 64 are
located in the female member 30. They extend
outwardly and are normal to the longitudinal axis 44
of the isolator 10. A pressure gauge 70 is mounted
within access port 63 and a bleeder valve 71 is
mounted within access port 64. Bleeder valve 71 has
a handle 72 which will allow the valve 71 to be open
or closed. Bleeder valve 71 further has an inlet
port 73 which is operable to allow a hand pump (not
shown) to be connected.
OPERATION
In operation, it will be assumed that the
flowline 12 will normally have a fluid such as oil
flowing therethrough under usual pressure conditions.
The pilot valve 11 will have an upper and lower
pressure range programmed such that in the event the
pressure within the ~lowline 12 goes outside these
pressure limits as would be the case, for example,
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when the flowline 12 was ruptured, the pilot valve
11 will activate the actuator 13 which immediately
closes the flowline 12 and prevents further flow.
The operation of the pilot valve 11 and the actuator
13 is not material to the present invention and will
not be further described.
Under the normal conditions described, the
handle ~0 of the actuator 10 will be in the position
illustrated in the figures. That is, it will be
parallel with the axis 44 of the isolator 10 and the
ball 40 will be in the open position allowing oil
from the flowline 12 to flow between the inlet and
outlet ports 21, 23, respectively.
It will next be assumed that calibration of the
pilot valve 11 is desired either to assure the
correct operating range for the flowline 12 is being
monitored or to change the operating range for the
flowline 12.
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The handle 50 will be rotated clockwise when viewed in
Figure 1 to the position 74 illustrated in phantom. This
will rotate ball 40 ninety degrees and will close the
isolator such that flow between the inlet and outlet
ports, 21,33, respectively, will cease. If desired,
bleeder valve 71 can be opened by turning handle 72 and
the oil pressure remaining in second chamber 24 can ~e
bled o~f. A hand pump (not shown3 is then connected to
the inlet port 73 of the bleeder valYe 71 and is operated
to raise the pressure within second chamber 24 while
obser~ing the pressure indicated on the pressure gauge 70.
When the desired pressure is reached, the handle 72 is
turned to close the bleeder valve 71 and the pilot valve
11 is set to react to the particular pressure indicated.
If a second lower pressure limit on the pilot valve 11
is desired, then the bleeder valve 71 is again opened
slowly such that a lower pressure is indicated on the
gauge 70 whereas the bleeder valve 71 is again closed and
the pilot valve 11 is set with the second lower limit.
Following the calibration of the pilot valve 11, the
handle 50 is rotated back to its original position and the
; operation of the isolator 10, pilot valve 11 and actuator
13 will proceed as is normal.
To prevent tampering, the locking member 52 will allow
the insertion of a padlock (not shown) between the holes
60,61 in locking member 52 and a complementary hole 62 on
handle 50, depending on whether the open or closed
position is desired.
Many modifications to the apparatus described will
readily occur to those skilled in the art. For example,
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while a ball valve 34 is utilized, clearly any type of
valve conveniently may be used to open and close the first
chamber 23 and the access between the inlet and outlet
ports 21,33, respectively. The isolator valve, while being
described as used with oil, could also be used in
association with any fluid and particularly gas or water
or any combination oE these ele~nents.
Many further modifications to the invention may ~e
readily contemplated by those skilled in the art and the
specific embodiments disclosed should be considered
illustrative only and not as limiting the scope of the
invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying
claims.
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