A ROTARY VALVE WITH VALVE SEAT ENGAGEMENT COMPENSATION

• Main Authors: DEOLALIKAR, Neelesh, CHAMBERS, Larry
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 20.10.2021
• Subjects: ACTUATING-FLOATS; BLASTING; COCKS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; TAPS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; VALVES; WEAPONS

A rotary valve can include a seat and a rotary actuator, each with a surface, the rotary actuator rotatably mounted to a housing. The surfaces can form a seal due to their engagement with an engagement force used to maintain the engagement. One biasing device can elevate pressure in a sealed volume in the valve at a constant level above an external pressure. The elevated pressure can produce a pressure differential across the rotary actuator, thereby producing at least a portion of the engagement force. Another biasing device can act between a splined hub and a mated splined shaft, thereby applying at least a portion of the engagement force through the shaft to the rotary actuator. Fluid flowing through a screen can create a pressure drop, thereby causing a pressure differential across the rotary actuator and applying at least a portion of the engagement force to the surfaces.