METHODS AND APPRATUS FOR INDEPENDENTLY CONTROLLING SEATING FORCES IN ROTARY VALVES

• Main Authors: Kinser Andrew John, Wyatt Michael Allen, Jackson Trent Frank
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.06.2017
• Subjects: ACTUATING-FLOATS; BLASTING; COCKS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; TAPS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; VALVES; WEAPONS

Example methods and apparatus for independently controlling the seating force in a rotary valve are described herein. An example apparatus includes a rotary valve having a flow control member and a dual-acting actuator operatively coupled to the rotary valve. The actuator has first and second ports to receive a pressurized control fluid to change a position of the actuator. The example apparatus further includes a valve controller operatively coupled to the actuator to control the pressurized control fluid in response to a position of the rotary valve. The example apparatus further includes a pressure limiter operatively coupled to the valve controller and fluidly coupled to the first port of the actuator. The pressure limiter is to reduce a pressure of the pressurized fluid provided to the first port of the actuator to reduce a seating force of the flow control member when the rotary valve is in a closed position.