Polygon wire ring for retaining an internal component of a valve to an external component thereof

An example wire ring is configured as a partial polygon. The partial polygon has a plurality of curved sections interposed between a plurality of straight sections. The wire ring is configured to contact a base of an annular groove of an external component of a valve at multiple contact points. The wire ring is also configured to contact a respective base of a respective annular groove of an internal component of the valve disposed, at least partially, within the external component at multiple respective contact points.

BACKGROUND

A hydraulic valve directs the flow of a liquid medium, usually oil, through a hydraulic system. The direction of the oil flow is determined by the position of a spool or a poppet. The size of the valve may be determined by the maximum flow of the hydraulic system through the valve and the maximum system pressure.

An example valve may have several components, such as a housing, a sleeve, a movable element (e.g., a poppet, spool, or piston), a bushing, a nose piece, etc. Some of these components are disposed, at least partially, within each other. For example, a nose piece can be disposed, at least partially, within a sleeve of the valve to provide support for other components (e.g., a bushing, a piston, a spring, etc.). It may be desirable to have a retention mechanism that retains the nose piece to the sleeve when the valve is being handled (e.g., shipped, packaged, etc.) such that the nose piece is not disassembled from the sleeve prior to installation of the valve in a hydraulic system. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes implementations that relate to a polygon wire ring for retaining an internal component of a valve to an external component thereof.

In a first example implementation, the present disclosure describes a valve. The valve includes: (i) an external component having a longitudinal cavity therein, wherein the external component comprises a first annular groove disposed on an interior peripheral surface of the external component, wherein the first annular groove comprises a first base; (ii) an internal component disposed, at least partially, in the longitudinal cavity of the external component, wherein the internal component comprises a second annular groove disposed on an exterior peripheral surface of the internal component, wherein the second annular groove comprises a second base, and wherein the second annular groove is aligned, at least partially, with the first annular groove, such that the first annular groove and the second annular groove form an annular space therebetween; and (iii) a wire ring disposed in the annular space formed between the first annular groove and the second annular groove, wherein the wire ring is configured as a partial polygon comprising a plurality of curved sections interposed between a plurality of straight sections, wherein the wire ring contacts the first base at a plurality of contact points and contacts the second base at a respective plurality of contact points.

In a second example implementation, the present disclosure describes an assembly. The assembly includes a valve. The valve includes: (i) an external component having a longitudinal cavity therein, wherein the external component comprises a first annular groove disposed on an interior peripheral surface of the external component, wherein the first annular groove comprises a first base; (ii) an internal component disposed, at least partially, in the longitudinal cavity of the external component, wherein the internal component comprises a second annular groove disposed on an exterior peripheral surface of the internal component, wherein the second annular groove comprises a second base, and wherein the second annular groove is aligned, at least partially, with the first annular groove, such that the first annular groove and the second annular groove form an annular space therebetween; and (iii) a wire ring disposed in the annular space formed between the first annular groove and the second annular groove, wherein the wire ring is configured as a partial polygon comprising a plurality of curved sections interposed between a plurality of straight sections, wherein the wire ring contacts the first base at a plurality of contact points and contacts the second base at a respective plurality of contact points. The assembly also includes a manifold having a cavity configured to receive the valve therein. The manifold further includes a nose support shoulder, such that a gap separates a distal end of the internal component from the nose support shoulder of the manifold.

In a third example implementation, the present disclosure describes a method. The method includes: (i) providing a sleeve of a valve, the sleeve having a first annular groove disposed on an interior peripheral surface of the sleeve, wherein the first annular groove has a first base; (ii) providing a nose piece of the valve, wherein the nose piece includes a second annular groove disposed on an exterior peripheral surface of the nose piece, where the second annular groove has a second base; (iii) positioning a wire ring in the second annular groove of the nose piece, wherein the wire ring comprises a partial polygon having curved sections interposed between straight section; (iv) inserting the nose piece into the sleeve, wherein the sleeve has a chamfered annular surface disposed in the interior peripheral surface of the sleeve at a distal end thereof that causes the wire ring to be compressed as the nose piece is inserted into the sleeve; and (v) aligning the second annular groove of the nose piece with the first annular groove of the sleeve, thereby causing the wire ring to expand and assume an annular space formed between the second annular groove of the nose piece and the first annular groove of the sleeve, wherein an exterior surface of the wire ring contacts the first base of the first annular groove at multiple contact points, and wherein an interior surface of the wire ring contacts the second base of the second annular groove at multiple respective contact points.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, implementations, and features described above, further aspects, implementations, and features will become apparent by reference to the figures and the following detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example valves can include an external component having a cavity in which an internal component is inserted. For example, the valve can have a sleeve configured to include other components of the valve such as a bushing or nose piece that can be inserted, at least partially, within the sleeve. The valve can then be disposed in a cavity of a manifold, to operate within a hydraulic system.

However, during handling the valve prior to installation into the manifold (e.g., during packaging and shipping of the valve), it may be desirable to retain the internal component within the external component to preclude disassembly of the valve prior to installation within the manifold. It may be desirable for a retention mechanism to facilitate insertion of the internal component with a low force inside the external component, yet resist disassembly with a large force to enable the valve to withstand forces experienced during handling.

In examples, a wire ring can be used as a retainer. The term “wire ring” is used herein to indicate a ring or partial ring made of a metal wire. An annular groove can be formed on an exterior peripheral surface of the internal component and another annular groove can be formed on an interior peripheral surface of the external component, and the wire ring can be disposed in the annular space formed between the annular grooves. The wire ring can have interference (i.e., overlap) with both annular grooves, and thus retain the internal component within the external component when they are pulled apart from each other.

In an example, a wire ring that is circular in shape can be used (e.g., a C-clip ring). However, as a circular-shaped wire ring that is floating in the annular space between two annular grooves, the wire ring can be pushed to one annular groove when the sleeve102and the nose piece104move at an angle relative to teach other, such that the wire ring might not have interference with the other annular groove. In this case, the internal component can come loose (i.e., can be released, or easily popped-off) from the external component. Thus, during shipping and handling of the valve, the components can be undesirably disassembled from each other.

It may thus be desirable to have a wire ring configured to contact both annular grooves regardless of positions or movements of the components and regardless of the position of the wire ring within the annular grooves. This way, the wire ring can be continually interfering with both annular grooves to preclude disassembly of the components.

Disclosed herein, within examples, is a wire ring configured as a partial polygon. The configuration of the wire ring causes the wire ring to contact both the annular groove of the internal component and the annular groove of the external component at multiple contact points regardless of position of the wire ring within the annular grooves. The disclosed wire ring thus continually interferes with both annular grooves regardless of its position. In other words, there is no position of the wire ring at which the wire ring loses interference with either annular groove. This way, the wire ring can keep the internal component retained to the external component during shipping and handling of the valve.

Further, using the wire ring, rather than threads, to retain the internal component to the external component allows the internal component to be floating within the external component so as to allow for realignment of the internal component with other components of the valve so as to compensate or adjust for any manufacturing misalignments. Such a valve can be cheaper to manufacture due to elimination of threads and tolerance to misalignments.

FIG. 1describes a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a valve100, in accordance with an example implementation. The portion of the valve100shown inFIG. 1includes a sleeve102. The sleeve102can also be referred to as a cage. In examples, the sleeve102can be configured to be inserted within a housing (not shown) of the valve100. For example, the housing can include a longitudinal cylindrical cavity therein and the longitudinal cylindrical cavity is configured to receive the sleeve102at a distal end of the housing.

The sleeve102includes a respective longitudinal cylindrical cavity therein. The longitudinal cylindrical cavity of the sleeve102is configured to receive a nose piece104at a distal end of the sleeve102. The nose piece104can be cylindrical in shape and can have a stem portion106and a base or flange portion108. The stem portion106extends within the sleeve102, while the flange portion108is configured as a protrusion, rim, or enlarged-diameter portion that interfaces with or rests against a distal end of the sleeve102.

The valve100can include movable elements disposed within the sleeve102such as poppets, spools, or pistons (not shown). In some cases, one or more of these movable elements can be biased in a given direction via a spring. The nose piece104forms an annular shoulder110that can be configured to support a distal end of such a spring, whereas a proximal end of the spring contacts the movable element to bias it in a proximal direction, for example.

The nose piece104defines a first port114at a nose or distal end of the nose piece104. The nose piece104is hollow as depicted inFIG. 1to allow fluid to flow therethrough to or from the first port114.

The sleeve102includes a second port116comprising cross-holes such as cross-holes118A,118B disposed in a radial array about the sleeve102. The valve100can, for example, be configured to control flow of fluid between the first port114and the second port116. Particularly, a movable element (e.g., a poppet) can be disposed within the sleeve102and can be configured to block fluid flow between the first port114and the second port116when the valve100is unactuated, i.e., when the movable element is in a first position. When the valve100is actuated (e.g., manually or via an electric or hydraulic signal) the movable element can move axially within the sleeve102to a second position to allow fluid flow between the first port114and the second port116.

As described below with respect toFIG. 7, the valve100is configured to be inserted within a cavity of a manifold such that the first port114and the second port116of the valve100align with respective ports of the manifold for communication of fluid therebetween. Such manifold can include other valves and hydraulic components and can be fluidly coupled (e.g., via pipes or hoses) to a source of pressurized fluid (e.g., a pump or accumulator) and a reservoir or tank having fluid at a low or atmospheric pressure.

In examples, however, the valve100is handled, packaged, and shipped to a location where it is then installed in the manifold. As such, it may be desirable to retain the nose piece104to the sleeve102prior to installation of the valve100in a manifold to preclude the nose piece104from popping off (i.e., coming loose or being disassembled from) the sleeve102.

In some conventional valves, an internal component (e.g., a nose piece) of a valve can be coupled to an external component (e.g., a housing) via a threaded joint. Using threads is costly and can involve tight tolerances. The valve100includes retention methodology and components that render the valve100less costly to manufacture and can ensure that the components are not disassembled during shipping and handling prior to installation in a manifold.

Particularly, the valve100includes a wire ring118configured to retain the nose piece104within the sleeve102. The wire ring118is disposed in respective annular grooves formed in the sleeve102and the nose piece104.

FIG. 2illustrates a partial cross-sectional of the sleeve102and the nose piece104with the wire ring118configured to retain the nose piece104to the sleeve102, in accordance with an example implementation. Particularly,FIG. 2depicts a zoomed-in view of a portion of the assembly of the sleeve102and the nose piece104(i.e., top, right portion of the assembly shown inFIG. 1).

As depicted inFIG. 2, the nose piece104defines on an exterior peripheral surface of the stem portion106an annular groove200. The sleeve102defines on an interior peripheral surface thereof an annular groove202that is aligned, at least partially, with the annular groove200.

In an example, to install the nose piece104within the sleeve102, first the wire ring118can be disposed in the annular groove200prior to insertion of the nose piece104into the sleeve102. As described below, the wire ring118is flexible or compliant (e.g., behaves like a spring) in a transverse direction (i.e., up and down inFIGS. 1-2) and can thus be compressed and decompressed or expanded.

The sleeve102can have a chamfered annular surface203at an end thereof that causes the wire ring118to be slightly compressed as the nose piece104is inserted into the sleeve102. Once the annular groove202is aligned with the annular groove200, the wire ring118is decompressed or substantially decompressed and assumes the annular space formed between the annular groove200and the annular groove202as shown inFIGS. 1-2.

The annular groove202is bounded by a first annular surface204and a second annular surface206. The annular groove202also has a base208bounded by the first annular surface204and the second annular surface206. The first annular surface204and the second annular surface206can be substantially straight (e.g., form a substantially 90 degree angle with, i.e., perpendicular to, the base208). The annular groove200has a semi-circular cross section as shown inFIG. 2and has a base210.

The wire ring118is disposed in annular space formed between the annular groove200and the annular groove202. Particularly, the wire ring118is partially disposed in the annular groove200and partially disposed within the annular groove202. This way, if the sleeve102and the nose piece104are pulled apart during shipping and handling, the wire ring118contacts or interferes with both the sleeve102and the nose piece104, thereby retaining them to each other or precluding the nose piece104from popping off or being disassembled from the sleeve102.

If the wire ring118has a circular shape and a circular cross section, it can float within the annular grooves200,202, i.e., the wire ring118can be allowed to move within the annular space between the annular grooves200,202. In this case, under some operating conditions, the wire ring118might be pushed into one of the annular grooves200,202while having no or minimal contact or interference with the other annular groove and its associated component. For instance, if the wire ring118has a circular shape, it might be pushed into the annular groove200and substantially lose contact with the annular groove202of the sleeve102. Conversely, the wire ring118might be pushed into the annular groove202and substantially lose contact with the annular groove200of the nose piece104. Thus, if the wire ring118has a circular shape, then under some operating conditions, as the sleeve102and the nose piece104are pulled apart, the wire ring118can lose contact or interference with the sleeve102or the nose piece104, and thus they can be disassembled from each other under a small pulling force.

It might therefore not be desirable for the wire ring118to have a circular shape. Rather, it may be desirable to configure the wire ring118to have a particular geometric shape that ensures contact and continual interference with both the sleeve102and the nose piece104regardless of the operating condition. In other words, it may be desirable to configure the wire ring118such that the wire ring118cannot be pushed into one of the annular grooves200,202while losing interference with the other.

FIG. 3illustrates a front view of the wire ring118configured as a partial polygon, in accordance with an example implementation. InFIG. 3, the base208of the annular groove202and the base210of the annular groove200are depicted by dashed circular lines.

As shown inFIG. 3, the configuration of the wire ring118as a partial polygon allows the wire ring118to contact the annular groove200(i.e., contact the base210) at multiple contact points, and at the same time contact the annular groove202(i.e., contact the base208) at multiple respective contact points. For instance, an interior surface300of the wire ring118contacts the base210at six contact points302,304,306,308,310, and312. Similarly, an exterior surface314of the wire ring118contacts the base208at five contact points316,318,320,322, and324.

As shown inFIG. 3, the wire ring118is configured to include five curved sections interposed between six straight sections. This configuration allows the exterior surface314of the wire ring118to contact the base208of the annular groove202at the aforementioned multiple contact points316-324, while allowing the interior surface300of the wire ring118to contact the base210of the annular groove200at the aforementioned multiple contact points302-312.

FIG. 4illustrates the wire ring118having curved sections400,402,404,406, and408interposed between straight sections410,412,414,416,418, and420, in accordance with an example implementation. InFIG. 4, the wire ring118is divided into multiple sections marked by lines that separate curved sections from straight sections. However, it should be understood that the wire ring118might not be physically divided into multiple sections, and the dividing lines inFIG. 4are used to demarcate the multiple sections.

As shown inFIG. 4, the curved section400is disposed between and connects the straight section410and the straight section412; the curved section402is disposed between and connects the straight section412and the straight section414; the curved section404is disposed between and connects the straight section414and the straight section416; the curved section406is disposed between and connects the straight section416and the straight section418; and the curved section408is disposed between and connects the straight section418and the straight section420.

While the interior surface300of the wire ring118, and particularly of the straight sections410-420, contacts the base210of the annular groove200, the curvature of the curved sections400-408allows the wire ring118to protrude outward such that the exterior surface314of the wire ring118, and particularly of the curved sections400-408, to contact the base208of the annular groove202. With this configuration, the flat surfaces of the straight sections410-420are tangential to the base208, whereas curved portions of the curves sections400-408are tangential to the base210, and the wire ring118maintains contact with both the base208and the base210at multiple contact points. Thus, the wire ring118continually maintains interference with side surfaces of the annular groove200and the annular groove202(e.g., the annular surfaces204,206). This way, regardless of movement of the sleeve102or the nose piece104, whenever the sleeve102and the nose piece104are pulled apart, the wire ring118retains them together.

Notably, the curved sections400-408are wound in the same direction. For example, starting at the straight section410, the curved sections400-408all curve in a counterclockwise direction. Similarly, starting at the straight section420, the curved sections408-400all curve in a clockwise direction.

Also notably, the wire ring118is configured as a partial polygon as opposed to a complete polygon. In other words, the wire ring118is open-ended, where the end sections, i.e., the straight sections410,420disposed at both ends of the wire ring118, are disconnected from each other and thus partial polygon is incomplete. As mentioned below, the wire ring118being incomplete or configured as a partial polygon can render the wire ring118flexible and facilitates mounting the wire ring118to the annular groove200during assembly of the nose piece104to the sleeve102. As an example for illustration, the spacing between the two ends of the wire ring118can be about 12-14% of a length of the wire ring118.

Further, the wire ring118is made of a compliant material that can flex to assume the annular space between the annular grooves200,202. For example, the wire ring118can be made of a steel wire having music spring quality, e.g., ASTM A-228 material, ASTM A229 MB Carbon, ASTM A230 Valve Carbon, or ASTM A1000 Grade B Carbon. These materials are examples for illustration only. Other materials that are hard (e.g., having carbon content) and compliant can be used. In examples, the material of the wire ring118can be hardened to preclude the mating components (i.e., the sleeve102and the nose piece104) from “pinching” the wire ring118and deforming it if the mating components are hardened.

The combination of the wire ring118being configured as a partial polygon with disconnected ends and the compliance of its material, the wire ring118is flexible or compliant and can be compressed and expanded. During installation of the valve100, the wire ring118can be expanded by allowing the straight sections410,420to move apart and outward. Then, the wire ring118can be placed in the annular groove200of the nose piece104. The wire ring118can then be compressed to allow the nose piece104to be inserted within the sleeve102until the annular groove200is aligned with the annular groove202of the sleeve102. At that point, the flexibility of the wire ring118causes it to be released and expand to assume the annular space between the annular grooves200,202.

The configuration of the wire ring118as shown inFIGS. 3-4allows the straight sections410-420to have respective gaps with the base208of the annular groove202, and allow the curved sections400-408to have respective gaps with the base210of the annular groove200. For example, the curved section408forms a gap “e1” with the base210, whereas the straight section420forms a gap “e2” with the base208. These gaps along with the flexibility of the wire ring118allow the wire ring118to compensate for manufacturing tolerance variations in the annular grooves200,202.

For example, in some cases, the diameter of base210can be made smaller than a nominal desired diameter and/or the diameter of the base208is made larger than a respective nominal desired diameter due to manufacturing tolerances during manufacturing of the sleeve102and the nose piece104. In these cases, the flexibility of the wire ring118allows it to assume the annular space between the annular grooves200,202while contacting both the base208and the base210at multiple contact points. Manufacturing tolerance variations can make the gaps “e1” and “e2” change, yet the wire ring118maintains contact with the bases208,210and interference with the annular grooves200,202.

For instance, if a distance between the base208and the base210increases compared to a nominal distance due to manufacturing tolerances, the curved sections400-408can bulge outward, while the straight sections410-420can protrude further inward, thereby increasing the gaps “e1” and “e2” while maintaining contact with the bases208,210. Conversely, if a distance between the base208and the base210decreases compared to the nominal distance due to manufacturing tolerances, the curved sections400-408can be compressed inward, while the straight sections410-420can be stretched outward, thereby decreasing the gaps “e1” and “e2” while maintaining contact with the bases208,210.

With this configuration, as the sleeve102and the nose piece104move relative to each other and are pulled apart from each other during shipping and handling, the wire ring118maintains contact with both the base208and the base210at multiple respective contact points. This way, the wire ring118maintains interference with (i.e., maintains interference with side surfaces of) both annular grooves200,202regardless of the condition, dimensions or manufacturing tolerances, or respective positions of the sleeve102and the nose piece104. Thus, the wire ring118cannot be pushed into one of the annular grooves200,202while losing contact with the other. As such, the wire ring118effectively maintains the nose piece104retained to the sleeve102.

FIGS. 3-4illustrates the wire ring118as a partial hexagon. Particularly, as depicted inFIGS. 3-4, the wire ring118has six sides (i.e., depicted as a six-sided polygon).

FIG. 5illustrates six sides of the wire ring118, in accordance with an example illustration. As shown, the portion of the wire ring118from an end of the straight section420to a center of the curved section408can be considered a first side “L1” of the hexagon. The portion of the wire ring118from the center of the curved section408to a center of the curved section406can be considered a second side “L2” of the hexagon. The portion of the wire ring118from the center of the curved section406to a center of the curved section404can be considered a third side “L3” of the hexagon. The portion of the wire ring118from the center of the curved section404to a center of the curved section402can be considered a fourth side “L4” of the hexagon. The portion of the wire ring118from the center of the curved section402to a center of the curved section400can be considered a fifth side “L5” of the hexagon. The portion of the wire ring118from the center of the curved section400to an end of the straight section410can be considered a sixth side “L6” of the hexagon. With this configuration, each of the six sides L1-L6comprise at least a portion of a straight section of the straight sections410-420, and at least a portion of a curved section of the curved sections400-408.

The six sides L1-L6are connected by curved portions of the curved sections400-408. Further, the wire ring118is a partial hexagon such that the first side L1and sixth side L6of the hexagon are not complete and do not meet or connect.

The configuration of the wire ring118as a partial hexagon inFIGS. 3-5is an example for illustration. Other example polygons are possible. For example, the wire ring118can be configured as a partial quadrilateral polygon (e.g., parallelogram, the trapezoid, or the rhombus). In other examples, the wire ring118can be configured as other types of polygons, such as a pentagon (five-sided polygon), a heptagon (seven-sided polygon), an octagon (eight-sided polygon), etc. Different types of polygons can have different number of straight sections and different numbers of curved sections based on the number of sides the polygon has.

Further, although the wire ring118is shown inFIGS. 1-2to have a circular cross section, in other example implementations the wire ring118can have a cross section having a different geometric shape, such as a square-, rectangular-, or rhombus-shaped cross section. In examples, a cross-sectional diameter or width of the wire ring118is smaller than a width of the annular groove202(i.e., width of the base208or axial distance between the annular surfaces204,206).

Further, as mentioned above, the first annular surface204and the second annular surface206are substantially straight (e.g., form a substantially 90 degree angle with the base208). With this configuration, if the sleeve102and the nose piece104move axially relative to each other during handling, the annular surfaces204,206do not form a ramp that would allow the wire ring118to be pushed or rolled farther into the annular groove200. However, in another example, the annular groove202can be configured similar to the annular groove200having a semi-circular cross section. In another example, the annular groove200can be configured similar to the annular groove202with substantially straight annular side surfaces bounding the annular groove200.

FIG. 6illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an assembly601of the valve100installed in a cavity600of a manifold602, in accordance with an example implementation. Particularly,FIG. 6illustrates the valve100having a housing603having the sleeve102disposed partially therein. A portion of the housing603, the sleeve102, and the nose piece104are disposed in the manifold602.

The manifold602is configured to have a first port604configured to align with and be fluidly coupled to the first port114of the nose piece104. The manifold602is configured to also have a second port606configured to align with and be fluidly coupled to the second port116of the sleeve102.

The cavity600of the manifold602is configured to receive the valve100therein. Particularly, the manifold602includes a threaded region disposed on an interior peripheral surface of the manifold602and the housing603includes at respective threaded region disposed on an exterior peripheral surface of the housing603. The housing603is inserted and screwed into the cavity600to threadedly engage with the manifold602at threaded region605representing threaded engagement of the threaded region of the housing603and the threaded region of the manifold602. Further, when the valve100is inserted and screwed within the manifold602, a housing locating shoulder610of the housing603mates with a manifold locating shoulder612to enable alignment of the housing603within the cavity600of the manifold602.

In an example, if pressurized fluid is received at the first port604, the nose piece104can be thrusted or pushed in the proximal direction such that a shoulder611of the nose piece104rests or is secured against the distal end of the sleeve102. In turn, the sleeve102is thrusted or pushed in the proximal direction, such that a shoulder613of the sleeve102rests or is secured against the distal end of the housing603. In this example, a small gap can separate a distal end614of the nose piece104from a nose support shoulder616formed in the manifold602. As an example for illustration only, the gap can be an axial distance of about 0.01 in.

In another example, if pressurized fluid pressurized fluid is received at the second port606, the nose piece104can be thrusted or pushed in the distal direction such that the distal end614of the nose piece104mates with and is secured against the nose support shoulder616of the manifold602. In this example, the gap no longer separates the distal end614of the nose piece104from the nose support shoulder616.

With this configuration, the nose piece104is “floating” and is allowed to have some axial “play” as it traverses the gap back and forth during operation of the valve100. In an example, the sleeve102can also move axially along with the nose piece104in the distal direction and the sleeve102is also floating within the housing603.

In conventional valves, a nose piece is typically swaged-in, or screwed via threaded engagement into, a sleeve and is not configured to have axial “play.” In other conventional valves a threaded nut can be used to retain the nose piece within a sleeve and the nut threadedly engages the sleeve rather than the nose piece. Such configurations of conventional valves are more expensive due to the cost associated with swaging or machining threads in both the nose piece or nut and the sleeve. Also, in such convention valves, a seal is added between the nose piece and the sleeve to seal any clearance therebetween. Further, any misalignment between the nose piece and the sleeve due to manufacturing tolerances can result in leakage, rendering the valve inoperable.

In contrast with such conventional valves, the nose piece104is floating within the sleeve102and is allowed to move axially within the cavity600relative to the sleeve102. This configuration eliminates the seal that exists in conventional valves between the nose piece and the sleeve.

Also, the nose piece104being floating in the disclosed configuration ofFIG. 6, allows for less-tight manufacturing tolerances to be used in making the valve100and the manifold602compared to conventional valves. Particularly, the configuration of the valve100with the nose piece104being floating can compensate for any lack of, or deviation in, concentricity between the nose piece104and the sleeve102, for example.

Further, by virtue of the sleeve102being also floating within the housing603, and the nose piece104being floating within the sleeve102, the torque applied to the housing603to tighten the threaded engagement at the threaded region605is not transferred to the sleeve102or the nose piece104. As such, operation of the valve100is not sensitive to the torque applied to the housing603. In contrast, conventional valves can be torque-sensitive because they typically have the sleeve threaded within the housing and/or the nose piece threaded within the sleeve, and therefore the clamping force or the torque applied to tighten the threads of the housing, is transferred to the sleeve and/or the nose piece, thereby rendering such conventional valves torque-sensitive. Such torque-sensitive configuration of conventional valves can limit the pressure level at which the valve can operate. In contrast, the configuration of the valve100, which renders the valve100torque-insensitive, allows the valve100to operate at high pressure levels, e.g., greater than 5000 pounds per square inch (psi).

Notably, in examples, the gap between the distal end614of the nose piece104and the nose support shoulder616of the manifold602can be smaller than a width of the annular groove202in which the wire ring118is disposed (i.e., width of the base208or axial distance between the annular surfaces204,206). As such, as the nose piece104and the sleeve102can move axially during operation of the valve100, the wire ring118is not subjected to substantial compressive axial force. With this configuration, the wire ring118might not deteriorate during operation of the valve100, and they maintain their ability to retain the nose piece104within the sleeve102when the valve100is removed from the cavity600for maintenance purposes.

FIG. 7illustrates a flowchart of a method700of assembling a nose piece to a sleeve of a valve, in accordance with an example implementation. The method700shown inFIG. 7presents an example of a method that could be used with the valve100described above.

The method700may include one or more operations, functions, or actions as illustrated by one or more of blocks702-710. Although the blocks are illustrated in a sequential order, these blocks may also be performed in parallel, and/or in a different order than those described herein. Also, the various blocks may be combined into fewer blocks, divided into additional blocks, and/or removed based upon the desired implementation. It should be understood that for this and other processes and methods disclosed herein, flowcharts show functionality and operation of one possible implementation of present examples. Alternative implementations are included within the scope of the examples of the present disclosure in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrent or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art.

Although the method700is related to assembling a nose piece (e.g., the nose piece104) to a sleeve (e.g., the sleeve102), the method700is applicable to any two components of a valve. In particular, the method700can be used for assembling any internal component of a valve (e.g., a nose piece, a sleeve, a bushing, etc.) to an external component (e.g., a cage, a housing, a sleeve, etc.).

At block702, the method700includes providing the sleeve102of the valve100, the sleeve102having the annular groove202disposed on an interior peripheral surface of the sleeve102, where the annular groove202has the base208.

The term “providing” as used herein, and for example with regard to the sleeve102or other components, includes any action to make the sleeve102or any other component available for use, such as bringing the sleeve102or component to an apparatus or to a work environment for further processing.

At block704, the method700includes providing the nose piece104of the valve100, where the nose piece104includes the annular groove200disposed on an exterior peripheral surface of the nose piece104, where the annular groove200has the base210.

At block706, the method700includes positioning the wire ring118in the annular groove200of the nose piece104, where the wire ring118comprises a partial polygon having curved sections (e.g., the curved sections400-408) interposed between straight section (e.g., the straight sections410-420). As mentioned above, the wire ring118being incomplete or configured as a partial polygon in addition to being made of a compliant material can render the wire ring118flexible and facilitates mounting the wire ring118to the annular groove200during assembly. For example, the wire ring118can be held at both of its ends that do not meet, then expanded, and then positioned in the annular groove200.

At block708, the method700includes inserting the nose piece104into the sleeve102, where the sleeve104has the chamfered annular surface203disposed in the interior peripheral surface of the sleeve102at a distal end thereof that causes the wire ring118to be compressed as the nose piece104is inserted into the sleeve102.

At block710, the method700includes aligning the annular groove200of the nose piece104with the annular groove202of the sleeve102, thereby causing the wire ring118to expand and assume an annular space formed between the annular groove200of the nose piece104and the annular groove202of the sleeve102, where the exterior surface314of the wire ring118contacts the base208of the annular groove202at multiple contact points (e.g., the contact points316-324), and where the interior surface300of the wire ring118contacts the base210of the annular groove200at multiple respective contact points (e.g., the contact points302-312). With this configuration, the wire ring118is configured to retain the nose piece104to the sleeve102as the nose piece104and the sleeve102move relative to each other during handling and shipping of the valve100.

The detailed description above describes various features and operations of the disclosed systems with reference to the accompanying figures. The illustrative implementations described herein are not meant to be limiting. Certain aspects of the disclosed systems can be arranged and combined in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated herein.

Further, devices or systems may be used or configured to perform functions presented in the figures. In some instances, components of the devices and/or systems may be configured to perform the functions such that the components are actually configured and structured (with hardware and/or software) to enable such performance. In other examples, components of the devices and/or systems may be arranged to be adapted to, capable of, or suited for performing the functions, such as when operated in a specific manner.