Fluid handling – Systems – With flow control means for branched passages
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-01
2001-12-11
Fox, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
With flow control means for branched passages
C137S271000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328070
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a valve arrangement and, more particularly, to a valve arrangement for a plurality of hydraulic control valves of the type commonly designated as sub-plate mounted (SPM) valves.
Hydraulic fluid supply systems supply hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuators of various mechanical devices for the actuation of the devices. Undersea wells are one source for the recovery of certain petroleum products such as oil and gas and the operation of such undersea wells presents considerable maintenance and installation challenges. In such subsea or underwater well environments, hydraulic fluid supply or control systems are commonly provided to control a blow out preventer. The blow out preventer typically includes a number of valves having specialized functions and these valves frequently are actuated by valve operators which are capable of being controlled from a remote location through energization by a controllable actuation system.
One type of controllable actuating system is comprised of hydraulic control valves arranged in a subsea structure which incorporates various hydraulic valves and regulators, hydraulic connector systems, solenoid operated pilot valves, and electronic packages. One type of hydraulic control valve which may be comprised in the hydraulic control arrangement for a subsea structure such as a blow out preventer is referred to as a sub-plate mounted (SPM) valve. This type of valve is typically a hydraulically piloted control valve which controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from a subsea operator such as, for example, blow-out preventer rams or choke and kill valves.
One conventional arrangement for accommodating a number of valves such as sub-plate mounted (SPM) valves comprises a relatively large valve block having valve pockets machined therein each for receiving a valve and drilled galleries for fluid communication with the valves. One drawback of this conventional arrangement is that the large valve block is typically customized for its particular installation and is thus configured to accommodate a selected group of valves which may be of differing sizes. Accordingly, should the fluid handling requirements change, modification or redesign of the valve block may be relatively complex or cost-prohibitive. If a single block of metal is machined or bored to create the valve pockets and galleries, another disadvantage arises in that the entire valve block may need to be discarded even if the damage is limited to only a portion of the block such as, for example, damage to the retaining threads of a valve pocket or the threads of a port.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide a valve arrangement which facilitates its installation in its ultimate operational location and which facilitates the repair or replacement of key constituent elements thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a valve arrangement which substantially promotes the installation and repair or replacement of constituent elements thereof in an operational location of the valve arrangement under adverse conditions such as might be found in surface or subsea hydraulic fluid control arrangements.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a valve arrangement which offers a substantial range of flexibility in its configuration so that improvements, adaptations, and reconfiguration of the valve arrangement is facilitated.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a valve arrangement for controlling hydraulic fluid flow to a subsea system is provided. The valve arrangement includes a plurality of docking modules including a first docking module and a second docking module. The first docking module includes a first valve element for controlling the flow of a fluid and a first docking module port for fluid flow between the first valve element and an external source with the first docking module port having a cross section of a predetermined shape and area.
The second docking module includes a second valve element for controlling the flow of a fluid and a second docking module port for fluid flow between the second valve element and an external source with the second docking module port having a cross section which is different in at least one of shape and area than the cross section of the first docking module port. The valve arrangement additionally includes a manifold having a first manifold port and a second manifold port, the first and second manifold ports having generally the same cross-sectional shape and area which is different in at least one of shape and area than the cross section of the first docking module port.
The valve arrangement of the one aspect of the present invention also includes means for alternately sealingly interconnecting the first docking module port to the first manifold port so as to permit sealed fluid flow between the first valve element and the first manifold port in one configuration of the valve arrangement and sealingly interconnecting the second docking module port to the first manifold port so as to permit sealed fluid flow between the second valve element and the first manifold port in another configuration of the valve arrangement. Furthermore, the valve arrangement includes means for removably securing the first and second docking modules to the manifold for fluid flow between each docking module and the manifold.
In accordance with further details of the one aspect of the present invention, the means for alternately sealingly interconnecting includes an adapter means having a conduit of generally the same cross-sectional shape and area as the first module port and a seal interface surface. The adapter means may be a disposable element or, alternatively, an element which can be reused in successive securements of a docking module and the manifold. The adapter means is disposable relative to the manifold and the first docking module in a manner in which the seal interface surface of the adapter means is sealingly connected with the manifold and the first docking module and the conduit of the adapter means is aligned with the first docking module port and the first manifold port for fluid flow between the first docking module port and the first manifold port via the conduit of the adapter means.
According to another feature of the one aspect of the present invention, the valve arrangement further comprises a first mounting frame releasably securable with the first valve element to form the first docking module, means for releasably securing the first valve element to the first mounting frame, and the means for removably securing the first and second docking modules to the manifold includes means for detachably mounting the first mounting frame to the manifold. Preferably, the means for releasably securing the first valve element to the first mounting frame includes a frame mounted portion secured to the first valve element and a removable portion selectively movable between a retaining position in which it is secured to the frame mounted portion to thereby retain the first valve element and the first mounting frame in a secured together disposition and a non-retaining position in which the first valve element and the first mounting frame can be moved out of their secured together disposition with one another. Moreover, the frame mounted portion of the means for releasably securing the first valve element to the first mounting frame preferably includes a material having a hardness greater than the first mounting frame.
According to yet other details of the one aspect of the present invention, the first and second manifold ports have cylindrical cross sections of identical diameter and the first docking module port has a cylindrical cross section of smaller diameter than the individual diameter of one of the first and second manifold ports. Additionally, the second docking module port has a cylindrical cross of a diameter equal to the individual diameter of one of the first and second manifold ports.
Other optional feat
Clayton Hugh R.
Williams Grahame M.
ABB Offshore Systems Inc.
Bracewell & Patterson L.L.P.
Fox John
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