A plug valve including a valve body defining a cavity and a pair of fluid passages intersecting the cavity, the cavity defining a tapered interior surface of the valve body, a plug extending within the cavity, the plug defining an exterior surface and a fluid passage adapted to be substantially alig
A plug valve including a valve body defining a cavity and a pair of fluid passages intersecting the cavity, the cavity defining a tapered interior surface of the valve body, a plug extending within the cavity, the plug defining an exterior surface and a fluid passage adapted to be substantially aligned with the fluid passages of the valve body, and an insert extending within the cavity and circumferentially about at least a portion of the plug, the insert defining a pair of fluid passages substantially aligned with the fluid passages of the valve body, respectively. In several exemplary embodiments, the plug valve is used in oil or gas operations, such as, for example, the fracturing or gravel packing of a subterranean wellbore, with the plug valve being used to control the flow of fracturing and/or gravel-packing fluids. Exemplary embodiments of methods associated with the plug valve are also described.
대표청구항▼
1. A method, comprising: engaging a valve body and an insert in a manner that permits relative movement between the insert and the valve body in one, or both, of first and second opposing axial directions;substantially aligning first and second fluid passages of the insert with third and fourth flui
1. A method, comprising: engaging a valve body and an insert in a manner that permits relative movement between the insert and the valve body in one, or both, of first and second opposing axial directions;substantially aligning first and second fluid passages of the insert with third and fourth fluid passages of the valve body, respectively, the valve body defining a cavity from which the third and fourth fluid passages extend, and the insert extending within the cavity; andpreventing, or at least reducing, relative movement between the insert and a plug in both of the first and second opposing axial directions, the plug defining a fifth fluid passage and extending within the cavity of the valve body so that the fifth fluid passage is substantially alignable with the first and second fluid passages of the insert;wherein preventing, or at least reducing, relative movement between the insert and the plug in both of the first and second opposing axial directions comprises interlocking an annular tongue extending along one of the plug and the insert with an annular groove formed in the other of the plug and the insert. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising rotating the plug relative to the insert to an open configuration, in which the fifth fluid passage of the plug is substantially aligned with the first and second fluid passages of the insert so that the third and fourth fluid passages of the valve body are in fluid communication with each other via the first, second, and fifth fluid passages. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein, when the plug is in the open configuration, the interlocking of the annular tongue with the annular groove substantially aligns the fifth fluid passage of the plug with the first and second fluid passages of the insert. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising rotating the plug relative to the insert to a closed configuration, in which the first and second fluid passages of the insert are substantially aligned entirely with respective portions of an exterior surface of the plug so that fluid communication via the fifth fluid passage of the plug between the third and fourth fluid passages of the valve body is prevented, or at least reduced. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising engaging the insert with a tapered interior surface of the valve body to produce a normal contacting force between the insert and an exterior surface of the plug. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises first and second sections that abut, or nearly abut, one another along one or more longitudinal planes; and wherein the first and second sections define the respective first and second fluid passages of the insert. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the annular groove is formed in the plug, and the annular tongue extends along the insert. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising biasing, using a biasing member, the insert in one of the first and second opposing axial directions to establish and/or maintain the substantial alignment of the first and second fluid passages of the insert with the respective third and fourth fluid passages of the valve body. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising connecting a bonnet to the valve body to secure the plug and the insert within the cavity, wherein the biasing member is constrained against the bonnet. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising threadably connecting a threaded cap to the valve body to secure the plug and the insert within the cavity, wherein the threaded cap is configured to urge the insert in one of the first and second opposing axial directions to establish the substantial alignment of the first and second fluid passages of the insert with the respective third and fourth fluid passages of the valve body. 11. A plug valve, comprising: a valve body defining a first fluid passage, a second fluid passage, and a cavity from which the first and second fluid passages extend;an insert defining third and fourth fluid passages, the insert extending within the cavity so that the third and fourth fluid passages are substantially aligned with the first and second fluid passages, respectively;a plug defining a fifth fluid passage and extending within the cavity of the valve body so that the fifth fluid passage is substantially alignable with the third and fourth fluid passages of the insert;an annular groove formed in one of the plug and the insert; andan annular tongue extending along the other of the plug and the insert;wherein the valve body and the insert are engaged in a manner that permits relative movement between the insert and the valve body in one, or both, of first and second opposing axial directions; andwherein the annular tongue interlocks with the annular groove to prevent, or at least reduce, relative movement between the plug and the insert in both of the first and second opposing axial directions. 12. The plug valve of claim 11, wherein the plug is rotatable relative to the insert to an open configuration, in which the fifth fluid passage of the plug is substantially aligned with the third and fourth fluid passages of the insert so that the first and second fluid passages of the valve body are in fluid communication with each other via the third, fourth, and fifth fluid passages. 13. The plug valve of claim 12, wherein, when the plug is in the open configuration, the interlocking of the annular tongue with the annular groove substantially aligns the fifth fluid passage of the plug with the third and fourth fluid passages of the insert. 14. The plug valve of claim 11, wherein the plug is rotatable relative to the insert to a closed configuration, in which the third and fourth fluid passages of the insert are substantially aligned entirely with respective portions of an exterior surface of the plug so that fluid communication via the fifth fluid passage of the plug between the first and second fluid passages of the valve body is prevented, or at least reduced. 15. The plug valve of claim 11, wherein the insert engages a tapered interior surface of the valve body, resulting in a normal contacting force between the insert and an exterior surface of the plug. 16. The plug valve of claim 11, wherein the insert comprises first and second sections that abut, or nearly abut, one another along one or more longitudinal planes; and wherein the first and second sections define the respective third and fourth fluid passages of the insert. 17. The plug valve of claim 11, wherein the annular groove is formed in the plug, and the annular tongue extends along the insert. 18. The plug valve of claim 11, further comprising a biasing member that biases the insert in one of the first and second opposing axial directions to establish and/or maintain the substantial alignment of the third and fourth fluid passages of the insert with the respective first and second fluid passages of the valve body. 19. The plug valve of claim 18, further comprising a bonnet connected to the valve body to secure the plug and the insert within the cavity, wherein the biasing member is constrained against the bonnet. 20. The plug valve of claim 11, further comprising a threaded cap threadably connected to the valve body to secure the plug and the insert within the cavity, the threaded cap being configured to urge the insert in one of the first and second opposing axial directions to establish the substantial alignment of the third and fourth fluid passages of the insert with the respective first and second fluid passages of the valve body.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (21)
Hirtz Alfred (Boulogne Billancourt FRX) Caillet Jacques (Paris FRX), Closure device for a liquid-carrying pipe.
Conley Richard W. (Pittsburgh PA) Tremblay Richard P. (Pittsburgh PA) Bolam Charles W. (Canonsburg PA) Logan James E. (Pittsburgh PA) Krueger David A. (Harleysville PA), Plastic service valve.
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