IP Library Granted Patent US 11,353,131
Granted Patent B2
US 11,353,131 · App. 16/847,233 · Granted Jun 7, 2022

Gate valve bonnet connector

Inventors: Gareth Boyd (Houston, TX); Christopher Adams-Hernandez (Houston, TX); Bruno Freitas (Houston, TX)
Assignee: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
F16K27/12F16K27/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,353,131
App. No.
16/847,233
Granted
Jun 7, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bonnet assembly may be coupled to a valve block. The bonnet assembly may include a bonnet body extending, in an axial length, between a first and second end of the bonnet body. Additionally, the bonnet body may have a sealing surface on the second end. Further, a bonnet retainer nut may be provided with passage axially extending through a first end surface to a second end surface. The bonnet retainer nut may be disposed on the bonnet body such that a portion of the bonnet body is enclosed within the passage of bonnet retainer nut. Furthermore, the bonnet retainer nut may lock the bonnet body.

Claims (33)

1. A bonnet assembly for a valve block, the bonnet assembly comprising:

a bonnet body extending, in an axial length, between a first and second end of the bonnet body, wherein the bonnet body comprises a sealing surface on the second end; and

a bonnet retainer nut having passage axially extending through a first end surface to a second end surface,

wherein the bonnet retainer nut is disposed on the bonnet body such that a portion of the bonnet body is enclosed within the passage of bonnet retainer nut,

wherein the bonnet retainer nut is configured to lock the bonnet body, and

wherein the first end surface of the bonnet retainer nut comprises at least one torque connection.

2. The bonnet of claim 1 , wherein an internal load shoulder of the bonnet retainer nut contacts an outer load shoulder of the bonnet body.

3. The bonnet of claim 1 , wherein the sealing surface comprises an elastomer or metal seal.

4. The bonnet of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of bonnet retainer nut comprises a connection surface.

5. The bonnet of claim 4 , wherein the connection surface is threaded and comprises a stress relief at an end of the threads.

6. The bonnet of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the bonnet body extends past the first end surface of the bonnet retainer nut and the second end of the bonnet body extends past the second end surface of the bonnet retainer nut.

7. The bonnet of claim 1 , wherein a bore of the bonnet body is closed by a lug extending axially from the first end.

8. The bonnet of claim 7 , further comprising a wheel or an actuating device attached to the lug.

9. A valve block, comprising:

a body having one or more flow bores;

a bonnet body is disposed at an end of the one or more flow bores bore, wherein a sealing surface of the bonnet body is connected to the end of the one or more flow bores; and

a bonnet retainer nut disposed on the bonnet body, wherein a portion of the bonnet body is enclosed within a passage of the bonnet retainer nut,

wherein a connection surface of the bonnet retainer nut connects with a connection surface of the body to lock the bonnet body to the body, and

wherein a first end surface of the bonnet retainer nut comprises at least one torque connection.

10. The valve block of claim 9 , wherein the bonnet body is disposed within a cavity at the end of the one or more flow bores.

11. The valve block of claim 9 , wherein the sealing surface comprises an elastomer or metal seal to sealingly close the one end of the one or more flow bores.

12. The valve block of claim 9 , wherein the connection surface of the bonnet retainer nut is an outer surface of bonnet retainer nut and the connection surface of the body is an inner surface of the body.

13. The valve block of claim 9 , wherein the connection surface of the bonnet retainer nut is an inner surface of bonnet retainer nut and the connection surface of the body is an outer surface of the body.

14. The valve block of claim 9 , wherein the connection surface of the bonnet retainer and the connection surface of the body are threaded.

15. The valve block of claim 9 , wherein the first surface end of the bonnet retainer nut is flush with the end of the one or more flow bores.

16. The valve block of claim 9 , wherein a first end of the bonnet body extends past the end of the one or more flow bores.

17. A method for coupling a bonnet assembly to a valve block, the method comprising:

connecting a sealing surface of a bonnet body to an end of one or more flow bores of the valve block;

enclosing a portion of the bonnet body within a passage of a bonnet retainer nut;

coupling a connection surface of the bonnet retainer nut to a connection surface of the valve block, wherein the coupling comprises applying torque to at least one torque connection in a surface of the bonnet retainer nut;

abutting an internal shoulder of the bonnet retainer nut against an outer shoulder of a bonnet body; and

locking the bonnet body within the valve block via the bonnet retainer nut coupled to the valve block.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising sealing a cavity of the end of the one or more flow bores of the valve block with the bonnet body.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 064193/0810 Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: DNB BANK ASA, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SCHILLING ROBOTICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 068525/0717 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 064193/0870 Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SCHILLING ROBOTICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 068527/0127 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2023
From: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SCHILLING ROBOTICS, LLC
To: DNB BANK ASA, NEW YORK BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064193/0810 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2023
From: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SCHILLING ROBOTICS, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064193/0870 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2022
From: BOYD, GARETH; ADAMS-HERNANDEZ, CHRISTOPHER; FREITAS, BRUNO
To: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 059570/0879 →