TAPERED PLUG VALVE

Abstract: A tapered plug valve having a plug (11; 24; 40; 50; 70) provided with a separate drive shaft (84; 71) and formed with a channel (17) not connected to the plug (12) but connecting the ends (20; 15) thereof to enable pressure equalisation. The channel (17) may be formed by being directly drilled through the plug (24), or comprise a tube (19), secured in position e.g., by welding in a groove (89) cast in the outer surface (16) of the plug (40) or a groove (13) formed in the outer surface (16). A non-return valve (21; 25; 51; 75) may be positioned in the channel (17).

Description: TAPERED PLUG VALVE This invention relates to a tapered plug valve. The plug of a so-called "pressure balanced" tapered plug valve is conventionally provided with two holes, one connecting the port in the plug to the wide end of the plug and the other connecting the port to the narrow end. This equalises the pressure at both ends of the plug to the line pressure of the line medium flowing through the valve. A non-return valve is often provided in the hole adjacent the narrow end, allowing flow of line medium from the port to the narrow end. However it has been found that in some instances the line medium causes corrosion of the plug and/or deterioration of the lubricant/sealant. Further, if the line medium is dirty or abrasive, the holes can be blocked and/or the non-return valve become damaged, jammed or otherwise caused to malfunction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tapered plug valve which does not suffer from, or suffers less from these disadvantages. In accordance with the invention a tapered plug valve comprises a body having a passageway therethrough for flow of medium, and a tapered bore intercepting said passageway, a tapered plug having a wide end and a narrow end rotatably located in the bore and adapted to block said passageway in a closed condition of the valve, and a shaft separate from but drivably connected to the plug to cause rotation thereof, the plug having a port adapted to be in communication with said passageway in an open condition of the valve and a channel which does not connect to the port but which connects the wide end to the narrow end to enable equalisation of pressure at each said end. Two chambers may be provided in the valve body, one at the wide end of the plug and the other at the narrow end. A non-return valve may be positioned in the channel to allow pressure change and associated flow from the wide end towards the narrow end. The non-return valve thus retains sealant/lubricant in the chamber at the narrow end. This non-return valve is more usually positioned adjacent the narrow end to minimise the volume of sealant/lubricant in the channel and the chamber at the narrow end but may be positioned adjacent the wide end. The pressure change is such that the pressure in the chamber at the wide end reduces and the pressure in the chamber at the narrow end increases until equalisation occurs. However, the pressure at the narrow end may be caused to be greater than that at the wide end thus creating an acceptable imbalance force which assists in preventing the plug from being jammed in the bore. The channel connecting the wide end to the narrow end may be formed by being directly drilled through the plug, avoiding connection with the port. Alternatively, the channel may be formed by casting a longitudinal groove in the conical outer surface of the plug and then securing e g by welding, a cylindrical tube in position in the groove. Further alternatively, the channel may comprise a groove formed in the conical outer surface of the plug and which also carries sealant/lubricant to provide a film between the tapered i e conical, outer surface of the plug and the facing interior surface of the bore. Although there is no direct connection of the channel with the port, a conduit containing a filter may be provided between the port and the channel, the filter thus providing protection for the non-return valve by arresting any dirt or other particles which would otherwise travel thereto and possibly cause malfunction. The non-return valve also provides for closure of the chamber at the narrow end when the conduit and filter are provided. Six embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:- Figure 1 shows a side view, partially in section of a plug of a known tapered plug valve; Figure 2 shows a side view, partially in section, of a plug of a tapered plug valve according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the plug shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a side view, partially in section, of a plug of a tapered plug valve according to a modification of the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows a side view, partially in section, of a plug of a tapered plug valve according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 shows a side view, partially in section, of a plug of a tapered plug valve according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 shows a top plan view of the plug shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a side view, partially in section, of a plug of a tapered plug valve according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 shows a top plan view of the plug shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 shows an enlargement of part of the view shown in Figure 8; Figure 11 shows a side view, partially in section of a plug of a tapered plug valve according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; Figure 12 shows a top plan view of the plug shown in Figure 11 ; Figure 13 shows an enlargement of part of the view shown in Figure 12; Figure 4 shows a side view, partially in section, of a plug of a tapered plug valve according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; and Figure 15 shows an enlargement of part of the view shown in Figure 14. As shown in Figure 1 , the known plug valve comprises a tapered plug 1 which fits into the correspondingly shaped bore of a valve body (not shown). The tapered plug has a port 2 through which line medium may flow, and two longitudinal grooves 3,4 formed on the outer surface 6 of the plug to carry sealant/lubricant to the inner surface of the bore against which the plug seats. However the grooves do not extend to each end of the plug. A drive shaft (not shown) is provided at the narrow end 5 at the top of the plug. In use this shaft causes the plug to rotate about the axis 0-0 between open and closed positions. The plug is provided with two holes 7,8, one hole 7 leading from the narrow end 5 at the top of the plug to the port 2 and the other hole 8 leading from the wide end 9 at the bottom of the plug to the port 2. A non-return valve 10, to prevent flow from the space at the top of the plug towards the port is provided in the upper hole 7. The two holes 7,8 allow the pressure in the spaces in the valve body above and below the plug to be made equal to the pressure of the line medium and prevents the plug moving axially away from its seat on the bore if the line pressure varies suddenly. However, the non-return valve 10 may become damaged, jammed or otherwise caused to malfunction if the line medium is corrosive or carries dirt e.g. small particles of grit. The first embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 2 and 3, comprises a tapered plug valve having a tapered plug 11 which fits into the correspondingly-shaped bore of a valve body (not shown). The tapered plug 1 1 has a port 12, two longitudinal grooves 13 and a circumferential groove 14 formed on the conical outer surface 26 of the plug to carry sealant/lubricant to the inner surface of the bore against which the plug seats. The circumferential groove 14 is positioned near to, but spaced apart from, the wide end 20 of the plug, and the two longitudinal grooves, 13, one diametrically opposed to the other (see Figure 3) extend from the circumferential groove to the narrow end 15 of the plug. A drive shaft (not shown) has a shaped end which fits in a rectangular cross-section recess 18 at the narrow end 15 at the top of the plug and in use, rotates the plug 1 1 about the axis P-P between open and closed positions. The plug is provided with a channel 17 formed by casting a wide groove 89 having parallel sides and a semi-cylindrical base on the outer surface 16, the groove extending all the way from the narrow end 15 to the wide end 20 of the plug. A circular cross-section tube 19 is positioned in the base of the wide groove 89, the outer diameter of the tube matching the internal diameter of the groove base, and welded in position, the welding alloy 22 filling the remainder of the wide groove 89. The tube axis is generally parallel to the outer conical surface 16. The channel 17 is positioned between the port 12 and the outer surface 16 so as not to communicate with either. Adjacent the small end 15 at the top of the plug the tube 19 is provided with a non-return valve 21 , thus allowing pressure change and associated flow from the wide end 20 at the bottom to the narrow end 15 at the top but not in the reverse direction, with the result that pressure equalisation in the chambers at the top and bottom ends occurs. However, because of the presence of the valve 21 , the pressure in the chamber at the top i.e. the narrow end of the plug, may be momentarily greater than the pressure in the lower chamber i.e. at the bottom, wide end of the plug, but this pressure will relieve due to the resultant plug movement. The channel 17 through the tube 19 allows the pressure at the top end of the plug to be equalised automatically to that at the wide end 20. However, since there is no communication between the non-return valve and the port 12, it cannot be damaged, jammed or otherwise caused to malfunction by the line medium or dirt carried thereby. A modification of the first embodiment is shown in Figure 4. A drive shaft 84 is connected to the plug at its wide end by a shaped tongue 82 fitting in a rectangular recess 18. The plug (and the bore) is inverted with respect to the construction shown in Figures 2 and 3, the wide end now being at the top and the narrow end at the bottom. In all other respects the plug (and bore) is the same. The second embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 5, comprises a tapered plug valve having a plug 24 with many features which are the same as the plug of the first embodiment. The features which are the same have been given the same numerals in Figure 5 as in Figure 2, and will not be described again. The plug of this embodiment has a channel 17 formed by drilling a hole all the way through the plug from the narrow end at the top to the wide end at the bottom, the axis of the hole being parallel to the rotational axis Q-Q of the plug. The hole lies between the port and the conical outer surface of the plug and does not communicate with either. Adjacent the narrow end of the hole is positioned a non-return valve 25, seated in a widened portion 26 of the hole. In use flow may take place from the wide end 20 of the plug to the narrow end 15 to equalise the pressure. The third embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 6 and 7 comprises a tapered plug valve having a plug 40 which is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. The same numerals have been used in Figures 6 and 7 as in Figures 2 and 3 for corresponding features. In the plug of this embodiment, a conduit 37 is formed e.g. by casting, an aperture in the wall of the plug leading from the port 12 and forming a hole in the tube to connect the port 12 to the channel 17. A filter 35 is positioned in the conduit to arrest any particles in the line medium and thereby preventing them from travelling to the non-return valve 21 and thereby causing a malfunction. As can be seen in Figure 6, the conduit is positioned midway between the upper and lower sides, 38 and 39 respectively, of the port 12. This position of the conduit means that when the flow of line medium is reduced and sediment tends to collect at the bottom of the port (depending on the orientation of the valve when installed in a pipeline), none settles on the filter to cause blockage, damage or other reduction in filter effectiveness. In this embodiment the line pressure is equal to the pressure at the wide end 18 at the bottom of the plug and is never greater than that at the narrow end 15 at the top. The fourth embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, comprises a tapered plug valve having a plug 50 which fits into the correspondingly-shaped bore of a valve body (not shown). Like the plug of the first embodiment, the plug 50 has a port 12, two longitudinal grooves 13 and a circumferential groove 14. A non-return valve 51 is located in a screw- threaded bore 52 situated at the wide end of the plug. The base of the bore is formed with a hole 53 extending parallel to the rotational axis P-P of the plug and this hole is connected by a further hole 54 extending radially of the axis P-P to one of the longitudinal grooves 13. Thus a connection is made from the wide end to the narrow end of the plug via the screw-threaded bore 52, the hole 53, the further hole 54 and the groove 13, and pressure equalization between the two ends is allowed to occur. Alternatively, the position and configuration of the bore, the hole and the further hole may be such that connection is made to the circumferential groove 14, thus allowing pressure equalization to occur from the wide end to the narrow end of the plug via both longitudinal grooves 13 and the circumferential groove 14. The plug 60 of the valve of the fifth embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 1 , 12 and 13 has all the features of the valve of the fourth embodiment. However, as can be seen particularly in Figures 11 and 13, an additional non-return valve 65 is located in a screw-threaded bore 66 at the wide end of the plug and a passage 67, preferably having a filter 68 therein, connects the bore to the port. Thus pressure equalization between the port and the wide end is allowed to occur. The valve of the sixth embodiment of the invention has a plug 70 (shown in Figures 14 and 15) which has a shaft 71 connected thereto by means of a shaped tongue 88 fitting in a rectangular recess 86 at the wide end. A circumferential sealant/lubricant carrying groove 72 is provided a small distance from the wide end 73 and two sealant/lubricant carrying longitudinal grooves 74 (only one shown) diametrically disposed with respect to each other and to the rotational axis Q-Q of the plug connect the circumferential groove to the narrow end 77 of the plug 70. A non-return valve 75 is located in a bore 76 at the wide end and a passageway 78 connects the base of the bore to the circumferential groove 72 as shown particularly in Figure 15, (or to one of the two longitudinal grooves). Thus a channel connecting the wide end at the top of the plug to the narrow end at the bottom is provided by the bore 76, the passageway 78, the circumferential groove 72 and the two longitudinal grooves, thus allowing pressure equalization to occur.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A tapered plug valve comprising a body having a passageway therethrough for flow of medium and a tapered bore intercepting said passageway, a tapered plug (1 ;24;40;50;70) having a wide end (20) and a narrow end (15) rotatably located in the bore and adapted to block said passageway in a closed condition of the valve, and a shaft (84;71 ) drivably connected to the plug (11 ;24;40;50;70) to cause rotation thereof, the plug (1 1 ;24;40;50;70) having a port (12) adapted to be in communication with said passageway in an open condition of the valve, characterised in that the shaft (84;71 ) is separate from the plug (11 ;24;40;50;70) and a channel (17) is provided in the plug (11 ;24;40;50;70) which does not connect to the port (12) but which connects the wide end (20) to the narrow end (15) to enable equalisation of pressure at each said end (20 and 15). 2. A tapered plug valve according to Claim 1 characterised in that two chambers are provided in the valve body, one at the wide end (20) of the plug (1 1 ; 24; 40; 50; 70) and the other at the narrow end (15). 3. A tapered plug valve according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that a non-return valve (21 ;25;51 ;75) is positioned in the channel (17) to allow pressure change and associated flow from the wide end towards the narrow end. 4. A tapered plug valve according to Claim 3 characterised in that the non-return valve (21 ;25) is positioned adjacent the narrow end. 5. A tapered plug valve according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the channel (17) is formed by being directly drilled through the plug (24), avoiding connection with the port (12). 6. A tapered plug valve according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the channel (17) comprises a groove (13) formed on the outer surface (16) of the plug (50; 70). 7. A tapered plug valve according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the channel (17) is formed by casting a longitudinal groove (89) in the outer surface (16) of the plug (40) and then securing a tube (19) in position in the groove (89). 8. A tapered plug valve according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that a conduit (37) containing a filter (35) is provided between the port (121 ) and the channel (17). AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 15 ϋanuary 1996 (15.01 .96) ; original claim 3 cancel led; original claim 1 amended; claims 4 to 8 have been renumbered claims 3 to 7 ; remaining claims unchanged ( 1 page) ] 1. A tapered plug valve comprising a body having a passageway therethrough for flow of medium and a tapered bore intercepting said passageway, a tapered plug (1 1 ;24;40;50;70) having a wide end (20) and a narrow end (15) rotatably located in the bore and adapted to block said passageway in a closed condition of the valve, and a shaft (84;71 ) drivably connected to but separate from the plug (1 1 ;24;40;50;70) to cause rotation thereof, the plug (1 1 ;24;40;50;70) having a port (12) adapted to be in communication with said passageway in an open condition of the valve, and a channel (17) which does not connect to the port (12) but which connects the wide end (20) to the narrow end (15) to enable equalisation of pressure at each said end (20 and 15) characterised in that a non-return valve (21 ;25;51 ;75) is positioned in the channel (17) to allow pressure change and associated flow from the wide end towards the narrow end. 2. A tapered plug valve according to Claim 1 characterised in that two chambers are provided in the valve body, one at the wide end (20) of the plug (1 1 ;24;40;50;70) and the other at the narrow end (15). 3. A tapered plug valve according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that the non-return valve (21 ;25) is positioned adjacent the narrow end. 4. A tapered plug valve according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the channel (17) is formed by being directly drilled through the plug (24), avoiding connection with the port (12). 5. A tapered plug valve according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the channel (17) comprises a groove (13) formed on the outer surface (16) of the plug (50;70). 6. A tapered plug valve according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the channel (17) is formed by casting a longitudinal groove (89) in the outer surface (16) of the plug (40) and then securing a tube (19) in position in the groove (89). 7. A tapered plug valve according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that a conduit (37) containing a filter (35) is provided between the port (12) and the channel (17).

Inventors: HOLLINGWORTH KEITH JEFFERY, JONES PETER RICHARD, HOLLINGWORTH, KEITH, JEFFERY, JONES, PETER, RICHARD
Applicants: BTR PLC, HOLLINGWORTH KEITH JEFFERY, JONES PETER RICHARD, HOLLINGWORTH, KEITH, JEFFERY, JONES, PETER, RICHARD
Application year: 1995
Main classification: F16K39
IPC codes: F16K39