Metal obturators, dilating disk valves including same, and methods relating thereto
The disclosed technology relates to systems and methods for managing the flow of a substance through a tubing system. The system can include a dilating disk valve comprising obturator elements and a sealing ring. Each obturator element can have a top side having a substantially convex curvature, a bottom side having a substantially concave curvature, and a lateral side. The lateral side can include an outer side wall and a recessed portion comprising an inner side wall that is recessed inwardly relative the outer side wall. The sealing ring can include a ring body and a sealing material. The recessed portion of each of the plurality of obturator elements can be configured to contact the sealing ring when the dilating disk valve transitions from an open state to a closed state.
1 . An obturator element comprising:
a top side having a substantially convex curvature;
a bottom side having a substantially concave curvature;
a first side comprising:
a first outer side wall comprising a control aperture and a hinge aperture; and
a first recessed portion comprising a first inner side wall that is recessed inwardly relative the first outer side wall; and
a second side comprising:
a second outer side wall comprising the hinge aperture; and
a second recessed portion comprising a second inner side wall that is recessed inwardly relative the second outer side wall,
wherein the top side and the bottom side have a surface roughness less than approximately 60 micro-inch roughness average (Ra).
2 . The obturator element of claim 1 , wherein the top side and the bottom side have a surface roughness between approximately 15 micro-inch Ra and approximately 60 micro-inch Ra.
3 . The obturator element of claim 1 , wherein the top side and the bottom side have a surface roughness less than approximately 30 micro-inch Ra.
4 . The obturator element of claim 3 , wherein the top side and the bottom side have a surface roughness between approximately 12 micro-inch Ra and approximately 30 micro-inch Ra.
5 . The obturator element of claim 4 , wherein the top side and the bottom side have a surface roughness between approximately 4 micro-inch Ra and approximately 12 micro-inch Ra.
6 . The obturator element of claim 1 , wherein the top side and the bottom side have a largest surface imperfection of less than approximately 8 microns, the largest surface imperfection corresponding to a maximum microscopic peak or valley.
7 . The obturator element of claim 1 , wherein the top side, bottom side, first side, and second side are all formed from a monolithic starting material.
8 . The obturator element of claim 1 , further comprising:
a hook bounded by the top side and the bottom side; and
a curved space defined by the bottom side.
9 . A dilating disk valve comprising:
a body comprising an aperture;
a gear mechanism comprising a rotating ring; and
a plurality of obturator elements, each of the plurality of obturator elements comprising a unitary component comprising:
a top side having a substantially convex curvature and a top side sealing surface;
a bottom side having a substantially concave curvature and a bottom side sealing surface; and
a lateral side comprising:
an outer side wall comprising a control aperture and a hinge aperture; and
a recessed portion comprising an inner side wall that is recessed inwardly relative the outer side wall,
wherein the top side sealing surface and the bottom side sealing surface of each of the plurality of obturator elements have a surface roughness between approximately 15 micro-inch roughness average (Ra) and approximately 60 micro-inch Ra.
10 . A dilating disk valve comprising:
a body comprising an aperture;
a gear mechanism comprising a rotating ring; and
a plurality of obturator elements, each of the plurality of obturator elements comprising a unitary component comprising:
a top side having a substantially convex curvature and a top side sealing surface;
a bottom side having a substantially concave curvature and a bottom side sealing surface; and
a lateral side comprising:
an outer side wall comprising a control aperture and a hinge aperture; and
a recessed portion comprising an inner side wall that is recessed inwardly relative the outer side wall,
wherein the top side sealing surface and the bottom side sealing surface of each of the plurality of obturator elements have a surface roughness less than approximately 30 micro-inch Ra.
11 . The dilating disk valve of claim 10 , wherein the top side sealing surface and the bottom side sealing surface of each of the plurality of obturator elements have a surface roughness between approximately 12 micro-inch Ra and approximately 30 micro-inch Ra.
12 . The dilating disk valve of claim 11 , wherein the top side sealing surface and the bottom side sealing surface of each of the plurality of obturator elements have a surface roughness between approximately 4 micro-inch Ra and approximately 12 micro-inch Ra.
13 . A dilating disk valve comprising:
a body comprising an aperture;
a gear mechanism comprising a rotating ring; and
a plurality of obturator elements, each of the plurality of obturator elements comprising a unitary component comprising:
a top side having a substantially convex curvature and a top side sealing surface;
a bottom side having a substantially concave curvature and a bottom side sealing surface; and
a lateral side comprising:
an outer side wall comprising a control aperture and a hinge aperture; and
a recessed portion comprising an inner side wall that is recessed inwardly relative the outer side wall,
wherein the top side sealing surface and the bottom side sealing surface of each of the plurality of obturator elements have a largest surface imperfection of less than approximately 8 microns, the largest surface imperfection corresponding to a maximum microscopic peak or valley.
14 . A dilating disk valve comprising:
a body comprising an aperture;
a gear mechanism comprising a rotating ring;
a plurality of obturator elements, each of the plurality of obturator elements comprising a unitary component comprising:
a top side having a substantially convex curvature and a top side sealing surface;
a bottom side having a substantially concave curvature and a bottom side sealing surface; and
a lateral side comprising:
an outer side wall comprising a control aperture and a hinge aperture; and
a recessed portion comprising an inner side wall that is recessed inwardly relative the outer side wall; and
a sealing ring that is approximately axially aligned with the aperture,
wherein the recessed portion of each of the plurality of obturator elements is configured to abut the sealing ring when the dilating disk valve transitions from an open state to a closed state.
15 . The dilating disk valve of claim 14 , wherein the sealing ring comprises:
a ring body have an approximately C-shaped cross-sectional shape; and
a sealing material configured to insert at least partially into the ring body.
16 . The dilating disk valve of claim 15 , wherein the ring body comprises:
an inner wall having an inner wall thickness; and
an outer wall having an outer wall thickness, the outer wall thickness being less than the inner wall thickness.
17 . The dilating disk valve of claim 16 , wherein a ratio of the outer wall thickness to the inner wall thickness is approximately 0.5 or less.
18 . The dilating disk valve of claim 17 , wherein a ratio of the outer wall thickness to the inner wall thickness is approximately 0.35 or less.
19 . The dilating disk valve of claim 18 , wherein all of the plurality of obturator elements are formed from a monolithic starting material.
20 . The dilating disk valve of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of obturator elements further comprises:
a hook bounded by the top side and the bottom side; and
a curved space defined by the bottom side,
wherein the curved space of each obturator element is configured to receive the hook of an adjacent obturator element.