Multi-part valve assembly

{
  "publication_number": "US11280411B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Multi-part valve assembly",
  "abstract": "The present disclosure discloses a multi-component valve system for use in pumps such as fracking pumps for use in subterranean resource production. The assembly includes an insert retainer having a retainer head and a retainer pin. The retainer pin has an upper section extending below the retainer head and a grooved center section below the upper section. A valve is centered on the upper section of the retainer pin. An insert is located on the valve. A guide has a central portion centered on the upper section of the retainer pin and four legs extending from the central portion. A collar has a flange and a collar body that is swaged into the center section of the retainer pin.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A valve assembly, comprising: an insert retainer comprising a circular retainer head and a retainer pin extending downward from the retainer head; the retainer pin comprising: a cylindrical upper section extending below the retainer head; a cylindrical and grooved center section extending below the upper section; and, a valve centered on the upper section of the retainer pin, adjacent to the retainer head; an upper recess formed on a top surface of the valve; an extension that extends downward from the retainer head; the extension located in the upper recess to the valve; a polymer insert located on an exterior perimeter of the valve and beneath the retainer head; a guide having a central portion on its upper end and four legs extending downward from the central portion; the guide central portion centered on the retainer pin beneath the valve; and, a collar comprising: a flange; a collar body extending below the flange; and, a bore extending through the flange and the body; the collar being located beneath the guide central portion; and, the bore within the body of the collar swaged into the center section of the retainer pin.",
    "2. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: the grooves on the center section forming a helical thread.",
    "3. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a lower recess formed on a bottom surface of the valve; and, the central portion of the guide located in the recess to position the guide closer to the valve.",
    "4. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: the flange spacing the guide central portion and the swaged body of the collar from the central portion.",
    "5. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: the collar comprised of a first steel having a carbon content of less than 0.2 percent; the insert retainer comprised of a second material that has a carbon content higher than the first material; the valve comprised of a third material that has a carbon content higher than the second material; and, the guide being comprised of a fourth material that is at least as high in carbon content as the third material, and that is harder than the third material.",
    "6. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: the collar being made of 1005 steel.",
    "7. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: the insert retainer being made of 8620 steel.",
    "8. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: the guide being made of 1050 steel; and, an exterior surface of a plurality of guide legs are induction heat treated.",
    "9. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: the valve being made of 4150 steel; and, a valve face portion of the valve is induction heat treated.",
    "10. A valve assembly comprising: an insert retainer comprising a circular retainer head and a retainer pin extending downward from the retainer head; the retainer pin comprising: a cylindrical upper section extending below the retainer head; and, a cylindrical and grooved center section extending below the upper section; a valve centered on the upper section of the retainer pin, adjacent to the retainer head; a polymer insert located on an exterior perimeter of the valve and beneath the retainer head; a guide having a central portion on its upper end and four legs extending downward from the central portion; the guide central portion centered on the retainer pin beneath the valve; and, a collar comprising: a flange; a collar body extending below the flange; and, a bore extending through the flange and the body; the collar being located beneath the guide central portion; the bore within the body of the collar swaged into the center section of the retainer pin; and, the ratio of the diameter of the flange to a diameter of clearance on the central portion is between 0.770 and 0.775.",
    "11. A valve assembly comprising: an insert retainer comprising a circular retainer head and a retainer pin extending downward from the retainer head; the retainer pin comprising: a cylindrical upper section extending below the retainer head; and, a cylindrical and grooved center section extending below the upper section; a valve centered on the upper section of the retainer pin, adjacent to the retainer head; a polymer insert located on an exterior perimeter of the valve and beneath the retainer head; a guide having a central portion on its upper end and four legs extending downward from the central portion; the guide central portion centered on the retainer pin beneath the valve; and, a collar comprising: a flange; a collar body extending below the flange; and, a bore extending through the flange and the body; the collar being located beneath the guide central portion; the bore within the body of the collar swaged into the center section of the retainer pin; the insert retainer having a grooved lower section extending below the center section of the retainer pin; the lower section being of a smaller diameter than a diameter of the center section; and, the grooved end section connectable to a swaging tool for swaging the collar to the insert retainer grooved-center section.",
    "12. The A valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an insert retainer comprising a circular retainer head and a retainer pin extending downward from the retainer head; the retainer pin comprising: a cylindrical upper section extending below the retainer head; and, a cylindrical and grooved center section extending below the upper section; a valve centered on the upper section of the retainer pin, adjacent to the retainer head; a polymer insert located on an exterior perimeter of the valve and beneath the retainer head; a guide having a central portion on its upper end and four legs extending downward from the central portion; the guide central portion centered on the retainer pin beneath the valve; a collar comprising: a flange; a collar body extending below the flange; and, a bore extending through the flange and the body; the collar being located beneath the guide central portion; the bore within the body of the collar swaged into the center section of the retainer pin; a central portion having an aperture for receiving the retainer pin portion of the insert retainer; a shoulder extending between the central portion and each leg; and, the shoulder forming a flat polygon with a radiused perimeter."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "None\n\nThe disclosed design relates to a valve assembly for use in reciprocating, positive displacement pumps, such as mud pumps, well service pumps, and other industrial applications. More particularly, the disclosed design is especially suitable for use in a fracking pump for subterranean production services. More specifically, the presently disclosed design relates to a multi-part valve assembly of various materials constructed in a novel manner that replaces conventional two- and three-part welded valves.\n\nValves have been the subject of engineering design efforts for many years, and millions of them have been used. The engineering development of valves has stagnated in this crowded and mature field of technology. Improvements have been elusive in recent years, even as the cost of materials and manufacturing continued to climb.\n\nThe basic valve structure is present in several U.S. patent publications. Some of these describe conventional methods of building a valve, and others describe methods that have been rejected by industry. Fewer disclosures teach multiple component valves, as valves having multiple components have heretofore been disfavored for a number of reasons. Primarily, they are viewed as more costly to manufacture. Multiple components require multiple manufacturing steps, assembly steps, and fit-tolerances requirements that valves having fewer parts do not have. Secondly, each assembly and connection are deemed a potential failure points, so these valves are, again, disfavored.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16K 1/36",
    "B21J 15/022",
    "E21B 21/10",
    "E21B 34/08",
    "F04B 53/1022",
    "F04B 53/108",
    "F16B 19/05",
    "F16K 15/06",
    "F16K 15/08",
    "F16K 25/00"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B21J 15/02",
    "E21B 34/08",
    "F16B 19/05",
    "F16K 1/36"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "ValveWorks LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Daniel E. Johnson",
    "Edward P. Cox",
    "Starr L. Pitzer, JR."
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-09-01",
  "publication_date": "2022-03-22",
  "grant_date": "2022-03-22",
  "priority_date": "2020-09-01",
  "application_number": "US-202017009580-A",
  "family_id": "80358325",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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}