US4901752A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for maintenance of ball valve
Assignee: Equinor ASA
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Filing: 1988-08-15
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Granted: 1990-02-20
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Expires: 2008-08-15
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for maintenance of the moveable pipe sleeves (52), bearing surface and seals of a ball valve. The apparatus has a bonnet (7) designed to be secured to and form a tight connection with a valve flange (53) and fastened to the underside of the bonnet (7) there are: honing tool for honing of spherical sealing surfaces (56) and conical sealing surfaces (51) on a valve housing; dismounting tool for dismounting of old sealing rings on the pipe sleeves (52); mounting tool for mounting of new sealing rings on the pipe sleeves (52); rotating mechanism (8) for 90 degrees rotation of the honing tool (1) and the pipe sleeves (52).
Inventors
- 👤 Knut Horvei
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:55
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K43/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/598; Y10T137/6109; Y10T137/6113; Y10T137/6198
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for maintenance of a ball valve's moveable pipe seat sleeve (52), with its seating surfaces and seals characterized in that the apparatus comprises a bonnet (7) designed in order to be secured to and form a tight connection with a valve flange (53) of a valve body, said apparatus being secured to the underside of the bonnet (7) within said valve housing, said apparatus comprising: a grinding tool (1) for grinding spherical seating surfaces (56) and conical sealing surfaces (51) of said seating surfaces in said valve housing; a dismounting tool (3) for the dismounting of old sealing rings (26a) on the pipe sleeves (52); a mounting tool (2) for the mounting of new sealing rings (26b) on the pipe sleeves (52); and a turning mechanism for rotating the grinding tool (1) and the pipe sleeves (52) through a range of 90° to orient the grinding tool (1) in the required position for grinding of said valve seat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for maintenance of a ball valve's moveable pipe seat sleeve (52), with its seating surfaces and seals characterized in that the apparatus comprises a bonnet (7) designed in order to be secured to and form a tight connection with a valve flange (53) of a valve body, said apparatus being secured to the underside of the bonnet (7) within said valve housing, said apparatus comprising: a grinding tool (1) for grinding spherical seating surfaces (56) and conical sealing surfaces (51) of said seating surfaces in said valve housing; a dismounting tool (3) for the dismounting of old sealing rings (26a) on the pipe sleeves (52); a mounting tool (2) for the mounting of new sealing rings (26b) on the pipe sleeves (52); and a turning mechanism for rotating the grinding tool (1) and the pipe sleeves (52) through a range of 90° to orient the grinding tool (1) in the required position for grinding of said valve seat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the bonnet (7) comprises external clamps (9) to be secured to the valve flange (53) and sealing rings (28) to form a tight connection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the grinding tool (1) comprises two identical rotating grinding elements where each grinding element comprises a hydraulic driving motor (17) which via a gear rim and gear wheel (16) drives a rotating frame (15), a first grinding segment (10) for honing of said spherical sealing surface (56) in said valve housing and a second grinding segment (11) for honing of said conical sealing surface which constitutes the sealing surface of the pipe sleeve, where the honing of the spherical sealing surfaces is carried out by a hydraulic cylinder (14) pressing the grinding segments (10) radially outwards whilst they are at the same time rotated by the driving motor (17), and honing of the sealing surfaces of the pipe sleeve (52) is carried out by a hydraulic cylinder (12) pressing a rotating sleevegrinding tool (11) axially forwards and into a seat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the honing tool (1) is mounted onto a frame (4) which is directly connected to the axle (8a) of the rotating mechanism (8).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by the grinding elements (10) and the sleeve grinding tool (11) being placed on ribs which cause the pipe aperture to be open for through flow even during honing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the dismounting tool (3) comprises a main frame (18a), a gripping frame (19a), wedges (20a) for extending the locking ring (27a) of the pipe sleeve, springs (61a) and guiding pins (62a) between the main frame (18a) and the gripping frame (19a), a row of claw-formed grippers (21a) and a moveable sleeve (22a) which encloses the grippers (21a) and facilitates radial movement of the free ends of the grippers (21a).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the dismounting tool (3) comprises guide castors (25a) which are placed in guide rails (32) mounted within said guide housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting tool (2) comprises a main frame (18b), a gripping frame (19b), a row of claw-shaped grippers (21b) which basically secure a new sealing ring (26b) with a locking ring (27b), and a moveable sleeve (22b) which encloses the grippers (21b).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the mounting tool (2) comprises guide castors (25b) which are placed in guide rails (5).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the revolving mechanism (8) comprises a hydraulically operable revolving cylinder which is connected to the axle (8a).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-19 | 1993-08-21 | 1994-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-19 | 1997-08-21 | 1998-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-19 | 2001-08-21 | 2002-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |