Sealing High Pressure Flow Devices

Abstract

Apparatus and method contemplating a high pressure flow device having a body defining a body bore and defining a recess in the body intersecting the body bore. A closure is joined to the body and forms a sealing surface. A seal is mounted to the body in the recess and configured to extend from the recess beyond the body bore to seal against the sealing surface formed by the closure.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an insert element configured to be installed within an internal chamber of a body of a valve, the body having a flow passage extending therethrough and intersecting the internal chamber; in which the chamber has a surface that joins the flow passage and has a groove formed therein, the groove surrounding the flow passage and extending along a non-planar path;   in which the insert element is configured to at least partially surround a rotatable plug positioned within the body and having a fluid passage extending therethrough;   in which the insert element has a fluid opening extending therethrough; and   in which the insert element has a non-planar outer surface configured to engage a seal installed within the groove.   
     
     
         2 . A kit, comprising:
 a plurality of the apparatus of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the insert element is characterized by a curved inner surface. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the surface of the chamber is complementary to a portion of the curved side of a cone. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which an inner surface of the insert element is configured to mate with an outer surface of the rotatable plug. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the rotatable plug is movable between an open position that permits flow of fluid through the camber, and a closed position that blocks flow of fluid through the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , in which the insert element is configured to be in a sealing engagement with the rotatable plug when the rotatable plug is in the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the fluid opening of the insert element has one end opening at a concave inner surface, and an opposed end opening at the non-planar outer surface and is fully enclosed between the ends. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the non-planar outer surface of the insert element is congruent with a portion of the curved side of a cone. 
     
     
         10 . A kit, comprising:
 a single-piece valve body characterized by:
 a flow passage that traverses the valve body along a flow path; 
 a central chamber that interrupts the flow passage within the valve body and has one or more surfaces that join the flow passage; and 
 a first and second endless groove situated in spaced relationship along the flow path, each groove formed in one of the one or more surfaces and extending along a non-planar path around the flow passage; and 
   a rotatable plug configured to be positioned within the chamber and having a fluid passage extending therethrough and alignable within the flow passage;   an insert element configured to be positioned within the chamber so that the insert element at least partially surrounds the rotatable plug; and   a first seal configured to be disposed within the first groove.   
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10 , in which the surface of the chamber is complementary to a portion of the curved side of a cone. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 10 , in which the insert element is characterized as a first insert element, the kit further comprising:
 a second insert element configured to be positioned within the chamber so that the insert element at least partially surrounds the rotatable plug; and   a second seal configured to be disposed within the second groove.   
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , in which the first and second insert elements each have a fluid opening extending therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , in which the rotatable plug is movable between an open position that permits flow of fluid through the chamber, and a closed position that blocks fluid flow through the chamber, when the rotatable plug is installed within the single-piece body. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 10 , in which the insert element has a non-planar outer surface that is congruent with a portion of the curved side of a cone and is configured to engage the first seal. 
     
     
         16 . A method of assembling a valve, the valve comprising a body comprising a flow passage extending therethrough, the flow passage intersected by a chamber, the chamber having a surface that joins the flow passage, the surface having a groove formed therein, the groove surrounding the flow passage and extending along a non-planar path, the method comprising:
 installing an insert element within the chamber of the body of the valve such that the insert element at least partially surrounds a rotatable plug installed within the body and such that a non-planar outer surface of the insert element engages a seal installed within the groove.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , in which the insert element is characterized as a first insert element, the seal is characterized as a first seal, and the groove is characterized as the first groove; in which the surface of the chamber has a second groove formed therein, the second groove surrounding the flow passage and extending along a non-planar path, the method further comprising:
 installing a second insert element within the chamber of the body of the valve such that the second insert element at least partially surrounds a rotatable plug installed within the body and such that a non-planar surface of the second insert element engages a second seal installed within the second groove.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 removing the insert element from the chamber of the body; and   installing a new insert element within the chamber of the body of the valve such that the new insert element at least partially surrounds the rotatable plug installed within the body and such that a non-planar surface of the new insert element engages the seal installed within the groove.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 removing the insert element from the chamber of the body;   removing the seal from the groove; and   installing a new seal within the groove.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 installing a new insert element within the chamber of the body of the valve such that the new insert element at least partially surrounds the rotatable plug installed within the body and such that a non-planar surface of the new insert element engages the new seal installed within the groove.