Patent ID: 11920687
Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 13:
14. A valve assembly comprising:
a valve member driven to move axially along a vertical axis between an open position and a closed position;
a fluid end having a plurality of fluid end lugs extending radially outward from a horizontal axis, the plurality of fluid end lugs each having a first circumferential length less than an outer circumference of the fluid end, wherein each fluid end lug is separated from an adjacent fluid end lug by a gap, the plurality of fluid end lugs forming at least a portion of a fluid end slot;
a valve body having a plurality of valve body lugs extending radially inward toward the horizontal axis, the plurality of valve body lugs each having a second circumferential length less than an outer circumference of the valve body, wherein each valve body lug is separated from an adjacent valve body lug by a space, the valve body having a passage extending along the horizontal axis, wherein the valve member is positioned to block the passage when in the closed position;
an environmental seal between the fluid end and the valve body at an interface at an outer diameter of the fluid end, the environmental seal positioned external, along the horizontal axis, to the plurality of fluid end lugs and the plurality of valve body lugs such that each of the plurality of valve body lugs and the plurality of fluid end lugs are closer to the valve member, along the horizontal axis, than the environmental seal; and
a valve seat arranged within a recessed portion formed in the fluid end, the valve seat being removable from the valve body through a common opening, and the fluid end being removable from the valve body through the common opening when an actuator is coupled to the valve body at an opening that is arranged along the vertical axis, wherein the valve seat is positioned to engage the valve member as the valve member moves axially to the closed position, and the valve seat extends away from the plurality of valve body lugs along the horizontal axis, to a location that is horizontally closer to the valve member than the plurality of valve body lugs;
wherein the first circumferential length is less than a space circumferential length to permit passage of the plurality fluid end lugs through respective space when the plurality fluid end lugs are aligned with the spaces, and wherein axial movement of the fluid end relative to the valve body is blocked when the plurality of valve body lugs, arranged within the fluid end slot, are axially aligned with the plurality of fluid end lugs.