Underground Valve Having Below-surface Parts Removable From Above-surface Position

Abstract

An underground valve having a subsurface valve body containing valving components operable from a ground level zone by actuating means including a connecting stem structure, the valve body having a tubular extension removably mounting a valve bonnet at the ground level zone, and upon removal releasing the valve components for withdrawal and replacement through the tubular extension along with the valve actuating stem structure.

Description

PRIOR ART

In the prior art there are a number of valve structures which are adapted for underground installation, and above ground operation, but these structures do not provide for the removal of the valving components from the ground surface for repair and replacement. The closest art known to applicants are the following patents:

No. 1,342,051 -- June 1, 1920

No. 1,827,861 -- Oct. 20, 1931

No. 2,122,667 -- July 5, 1938

No. 2,997,057 -- Aug. 22, 1961

No. 3,133,722 -- May 19, 1964

No. 3,154,094 -- Oct. 27, 1964

No. 3,362,433 -- Jan. 9, 1968

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates broadly to fluid flow control valves.

In the present day ecology trend, there has been an ever increasing awareness with respect to above-ground installations of equipment and devices of public utilities and kindred fields, which have a tendency to detract from the beauty of the surrounding terrain. This is particularly true in the case of valving structures such as utilized in the oil and gas industries. While there has been little or no objection to the placement of the valve actuating means at the ground surface, greater objections have been voiced to the placement of the valve bodies and connected piping above-ground. A great deal of consideration has, therefore, been given to the possibility of installing conventional valve bodies below the ground surface with their actuators at the ground zone level. However, attempts to utilize presently known constructions has raised additional problems such as having to provide an underground compartment or chamber for the valve body, the inaccessibility of the valving components for replacement or repair, as well as other problems perculiar to the use of presently known valve constructions.

It has therefore become apparent that the heretofore known valve structures cannot, in their presently developed and design configurations, provide the answer. The present invention, therefore, as a main feature proposes to provide a unique structural arrangement which will readily permit removal and replacement of the valving components from the ground level without having to disconnect the valve body from the system, dig down to the valve body from the surface, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to valves such as utilized for the control of fluids, and is more particularly concerned with a valve structure for underground or subsurface installation.

It is one object of the herein described invention to provide a unique valve embodiment which will permit underground installation of the valve body, together with its valving components, yet enable location of the valve actuating mechanism at the ground level zone, and wherein it will be possible to remove and replace the valving components as a unit assembly from the above-ground zone.

A further object is to provide an underground valve structure in which an extension of the valve body enables the placement of a removable bonnet and actuator at the ground-level surface zone, and which includes unique retaining and anchoring means, operative from the ground zone level, for holding the valve component assembly in an operative position.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

The single FIGURE is a side elevational view, partly in section, to show specific structural features, of a valve organization according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring more specifically to the drawings, there is shown a valve mechanism, indicated generally at 10, and valve actuating means indicated generally at 11.

The valve mechanism 10 is of the general type disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,362,433, issued Jan. 9, 1968. The valve means of the present invention, however, has been modified in order to accomplish the herein described unique features of operation. Briefly, the valve mechanism 10 comprises a valve body 12 having a cylindrical bore 13 therein open at the ends and providing a chamber for the operative reception of a valve plug 14 of generally wedge-shaped configuration, this plug being axially supported for rotational and limited raising and lowering movements upon a bottom stub shaft 15 having a bearing support in a lower end closure plate 16, and a valve stem 17 having bearing support in a top end plate 18 provided with a peripheral seating flange 19 for supporting it at the upper end of the bore 13.

The valve plug 14 is operatively associated with similarly constructed slip members 20, 20, diametrically positioned on opposite sides of the valve plug. The plug and slips are interconnected for relative sliding movement by means of conventional dove-tail groove and tenon connections after the manner and for operating association as disclosed in the aforementioned patent. The arrangement disclosed herein, differs over that of the patent, however, in that the plug member carries lifting pins 21, 21, on its opposite sides which are respectively movable in associated slots 22, 22, of the slips 20, 20, each of these slots having an abutment surface 23 of interlock the valve plug and slips for concerted upward movement and removal as a unitary assembly, as will hereinafter be explained.

From the bore 13, radially extending fluid passages 24 and 25 in the valve body provide communication with connection flanges 26 and 27, respectively, whereby the valve body may be connected with the conduits or pipes of the system.

The actuating means are of conventional construction, and are mounted upon a bonnet 28 which is provided with an axial central bore 29 through which there extends a shaft 30 of the actuating means. The actuating means are conventional and the upper end of the shaft 30 is connected through suitable driving means with a hand wheel 31 which may be manipulated to open and close the valve mechanism. The lowermost end of the shaft 30 is connected with the valve stem 17 by means of a suitable tubular coupling as generally indicated by the numeral 32.

It is a feature of the present invention that, instead of mounting the bonnet 28 directly to the valve body 12, there is provided a tubular spacer extension 33 which extends between the valve body 12 and the bonnet 28, it being important to note that the diameter of the tubular spacer extension 33, and the peripheral diameter of the valve plug and slip member assembly shall be sufficient to permit the withdrawal and insertion of the latter axially of the tubular spacer extension.

The tubular spacer 33 at its inner end is provided with an attaching flange 34 by means of which it is attached in sealed engagement with the valve body 12 by means of retaining bolts 35 in axial alignment with the axis of the bore 13. At the outer end of the tubular spacer 33, a similar attaching flange 36 is provided for removably connecting the bonnet 28 thereto by retaining bolts 37 so that the shaft 30 and valve stem 17 will be axially aligned. The tubular spacer 33 is constructed of any desired length required to place the bonnet in a closely spaced position above the ground level as indicated at 38. Also, the tubular spacer provides a holding wall with respect to the surrounding earth within which the valve is burried.

An inner hold-down sleeve 39 is provided within the tubular spacer 33, the hold-down sleeve being of smaller diameter than the tubular spacer. The hold-down sleeve at its upper end is arranged to seat within an annular positioning and holding groove 40 provided in the underface of the bonnet 28. The hold-down sleeve is of an appropriate length to permit the lowermost end of the hold-down sleeve to seat in an annular groove 41 on the upper surface of the top plate 18. As thus mounted, the hold-down sleeve will be retained in coaxial alignment with the tubular spacer. Also, with the bonnet 28 in secured position, the hold-down sleeve will retain the top end plate 18 and the slip members 20 in their normal operating positions. However, upon removal of the bonnet 28, the entire actuating means, along with the shaft 30, stem 17, valve plug 14, slip members 20, 20, top end plate 18, and hold-down sleeve 39 will be released for removal as a unitary connected assembly from the ground zone level. Once being removed, any of the valving components are readily accessible for inspection, repair or replacement.

In order to provide free circulation of fluid, the top end plate 18 may be provided with through passages 42, and the wall of the hold-down sleeve provided with circumferential openings as indicated at 43.

From the foregoing description and drawings, it will be clearly evident that the delineated objects and features of the invention will be accomplished.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention, and, hence, we do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An underground valve having subsurface valving parts removable from a ground level zone, comprising:

a. a valve body having an upwardly opening bore and radially directed inlet and outlet ports communicating with said bore;

b. a tubular extension connecting said body bore opening with the ground level zone;

c. a valve assembly structure mounted in said bore operable to control flow between said ports, said valve assembly structure including a valve plug connected to a stem, and associated valve slips connected for axial movements and unitary rotation to control positions relative to said ports, said valve assembly structure being of a size and configuration to permit axial removal and replacement by means of the stem via said tubular extension;

d. a valve bonnet connected with the outermost end of said tubular extension and having a bearing for the outermost end of said stem;

e. an annular plate member bridging the bore opening and being peripherally supported on said valve body, said plate member having a bearing for the innermost end of said stem;

f. an inner hold-down sleeve member engaged at its inner end with said plate member and at its outer end with said bonnet; and

g. valve actuating means supported on said bonnet and being connected with

2. An underground valve according to claim 1, wherein said plug and slips are interconnected by means providing limited relative axial movements, whereby said plug and slips are movable as a unit during removal and

3. An underground valve according to claim 2, in which lifting pins carried by said plug are engaged in slots on said slips.