Valve and actuator assemblies

Abstract

The present application relates to valve and actuator assemblies. The valve actuator assemblies may include a capless valve actuating arrangement, include a replaceable passage defining member that includes seal members, include a valve member that is assembled in a valve chamber from an end of the valve body that is opposite an end that a piston is assembled in, and/or include a valve member that may be rotated in a valve body without affecting the ability of the valve member to perform its sealing functions.

1 . A capless valve actuating arrangement comprising:
 a) a valve body;   b) a piston;   c) a valve member connected to the piston and disposed in the valve body, wherein movement of the valve member in an axial direction is limited by the valve body, and movement of the piston in said axial direction is limited solely by the connection to the valve member.   
   
   
       2 . The capless valve actuating arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the valve body includes a passage that extends between the piston and the valve member and the piston is connected to the valve member by a shaft disposed in the passage. 
   
   
       3 . The capless valve actuating arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the valve member and piston are moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the piston extends past the end of the valve body when the piston and the valve member are in the second position. 
   
   
       4 . The capless valve actuating arrangement of  claim 3  wherein a portion of the piston that extends past the end of the valve body has a finish that differs from a valve body finish to provide a visual indication that the valve member and the piston are in the second position. 
   
   
       5 . The capless valve actuating arrangement of  claim 3  further comprising a piston seal disposed between the piston and the valve body, wherein a portion of the piston that extends past the end of the valve body includes a step configured to inhibit objects from contacting the piston seal. 
   
   
       6 . A valve actuating arrangement comprising:
 a) a valve body defining a piston recess in an end of the valve body and a valve member recess defined in the valve member assembly body;   b) a piston disposed in the piston recess;   c) a valve member disposed in the valve member recess such that movement of the valve member in an axial direction is limited by the valve body, the valve member being coupled to the piston such that movement of the piston in said axial direction causes movement of the valve member in said axial direction and wherein movement of the piston in said axial direction in the piston recess is limited solely by the valve member.   
   
   
       7 . The valve member assembly of  claim 6  wherein the valve body includes a passage that extends between the piston recess and the valve member recess and the piston is coupled to the valve member by a shaft disposed in the passage. 
   
   
       8 . The valve member assembly of  claim 6  wherein the valve member and piston are moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the piston extends past the end of the valve body when the piston and the valve member are in the second position. 
   
   
       9 . The valve member assembly of  claim 8  wherein a portion of the piston that extends past the end of the valve body has a finish that differs from a valve body finish to provide a visual indication that the valve member and the piston are in the second position. 
   
   
       10 . The valve member assembly of  claim 8  further comprising a piston seal disposed between the piston and the valve body, wherein a portion of the piston that extends past the end of the valve body includes a step configured to inhibit objects from contacting the piston seal. 
   
   
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       26 . A method of replacing seal members of a double block and bleed valve, comprising: a) removing a passage defining member that defines an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and a vent passage and includes an inlet seal member assembled around the inlet passage and an outlet seal member assembled around the outlet passage from a valve body;
 b) assembling a new passage defining member with the valve body.   
   
   
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       39 . A valve assembly, comprising:
 a) a valve chamber that includes first and second coplanar ports;   b) a valve member disposed in the valve chamber, the valve member being axially moveable between a first position and a second position;   c) wherein the valve member provides a seal with the first port and provides a seal with the second port when the valve member is in the first position regardless of a rotational orientation of the valve member in the valve chamber;   d) wherein the valve member allows flow through the first port and allows flow through the second port when the valve member is in the second position.   
   
   
       40 . The valve of  claim 39  wherein the valve member comprises an annular disk. 
   
   
       41 . The valve assembly of  claim 39  further comprising a vent passage in communication with the valve chamber and wherein flow between the vent passage and the valve chamber is open when the valve member is in the first position for any rotational orientation of the valve member about the central axis. 
   
   
       42 . The valve assembly of  claim 39  further comprising a vent passage in communication with the valve chamber and wherein flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber is open, flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber is open, and flow between the vent passage and the valve chamber is blocked when the valve member is in the second position for any rotational orientation of the valve member about the central axis. 
   
   
       43 . The valve assembly of  claim 39  wherein an axis of the vent port is aligned with the central axis of the valve member. 
   
   
       44 . The valve assembly of  claim 39  further comprising a vent passage in communication with the valve chamber comprising a cylindrical vent protrusion that extends into a vent port receiving recess of the valve member. 
   
   
       45 . The valve assembly of  claim 39  wherein the valve member is a single member that contacts both an inlet seal member and an outlet seal member to block flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber and to block flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber when the valve member is in the first position, and wherein the valve member is spaced apart from the inlet seal member and the outlet seal member when the valve member is in the second position. 
   
   
       46 . A method of controlling fluid flow comprising:
 providing fluid to an inlet passage that is in communication with a valve chamber;   moving a valve member along a central axis of the valve member to a first position in the valve chamber where fluid flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber is blocked, fluid flow between an outlet passage and the valve chamber is blocked, and fluid flow between a vent passage and the valve chamber is open for any rotational orientation of the valve member about the central axis;   moving the valve member along the central axis to a second axial position in the valve chamber where fluid flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber is open, fluid flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber is open, and fluid flow between the vent passage and the valve chamber is blocked for any rotational orientation of the valve member about the central axis.   
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising limiting axial movement of a valve actuating piston by coupling the valve actuating piston to the valve member, wherein the valve actuating member is otherwise axially unconstrained. 
   
   
       48 . A valve assembly, comprising:
 a valve chamber;   a piston chamber;   a spring chamber extending between the valve chamber and the piston chamber;   an inlet passage in communication with the valve chamber;   an outlet passage in communication with the valve chamber;   a vent passage in communication with the valve chamber;   a valve member disposed in the valve chamber;   a shaft at least partially disposed in the spring chamber connected to the valve member a piston disposed in the piston chamber connected to the shaft, the valve member being axially moveable by the piston between a first position and a second position;   a spring disposed in the spring chamber that biases said valve member to one of said first and second positions;   a first seal between the valve chamber and the spring chamber;   a second seal between the spring chamber and the piston chamber;   an opening that vents the spring chamber;   wherein flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber is blocked, flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber is blocked, and flow between the vent passage and the valve chamber is open when the valve member is in the first position;   wherein flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber is open, flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber is open, and flow between the vent passage and the valve chamber is blocked when the valve member is in the second position.   
   
   
       49 . The valve assembly of  claim 48  further comprising an annular shoulder between the spring chamber and the piston chamber. 
   
   
       50 . The valve assembly of  claim 49  wherein the spring engages the annular shoulder. 
   
   
       51 . The valve assembly of  claim 48  wherein the opening that vents the spring chamber extends from the vent chamber to an external surface of the valve assembly. 
   
   
       52 . The valve assembly of  claim 48  wherein the valve chamber, the spring chamber, and the piston chamber are all defined in a single valve body. 
   
   
       53 . The valve assembly of  claim 48  wherein said opening that vents the spring chamber, the first seal, and the second seal inhibit mixing of pressurized fluid used to control movement of the piston with fluid that flows through the valve chamber.