METHODS AND SYSTEMS ASSOCIATED WITH A MOUNT AND AN ADAPTER FOR A SENSOR FOR FRACTURING OPERATIONS
A mount that is configured to be coupled to a protective stem housing of a gate valve, an adapter that is configured to be coupled to the mount, and a sensor that is configured to be externally coupled to the adapter. This allows the sensor to be mounted, via that adapter, and mount on any existing model, type, brand, etc. of gate valve.
1 . An assembly configured to couple a sensor with a protective stem housing of a zipper manifold, the assembly including:
a mount with a smooth first inner diameter and a threaded second inner diameter, the smooth first inner diameter being configured to be positioned over the protective stem housing, the first inner diameter being larger than the threaded second inner diameter;
an adapter with a threaded proximal end, a flat distal end and a passageway, the threaded proximal end being configured to be interfaced with the threaded second inner diameter, the passageway extending from a proximal end of the adapter to the flat distal end, the passageway having a threaded distal end configured to receive a sensor, wherein the threaded proximal end is bulbous.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mount includes orifices, the orifices being configured to receive bolts to functionally reduce the first inner diameter in length.
3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the mount includes a ledge that reduces the length of the first inner diameter towards the threaded second inner diameter.
4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a length of threaded proximal end of the adapter is longer than a length of the threaded distal end of the passageway.
5 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein an outer circumference of the adapter includes grooves.
6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter of the mount are axially aligned.
7 . The assembly of claim 6 , further comprising:
a sensor being configured to be coupled to the threaded distal end of the passageway, and the passageway, the first inner diameter, and the second inner diameter define a channel to permit transmission of a signal between the sensor and a stem of a gate valve.
8 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the sensor is configured to emit a signal toward the stem of the gate valve through the adapter and the mount, receive a reflected portion of the signal from the stem, and determine whether the gate valve is in an open position or a closed position based at least in part on a time delay between emission and receipt of the signal.
9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mount is substantially tubular.
10 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the mount includes a tapered first end configured to guide the mount over the protective stem housing during installation.
11 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a protective sleeve positioned over at least a portion of the mount.
12 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the protective sleeve includes radially oriented fasteners configured to secure the protective sleeve to the mount.
13 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the protective sleeve includes a cutout configured to route wiring associated with a sensor.
14 . A method for determining a position of a gate valve, comprising:
coupling a mount to a protective stem housing of the gate valve;
coupling an adapter to the mount, coupling a sensor to the adapter;
emitting, by the sensor, a signal through the adapter and the mount toward a stem of the gate valve,
receiving, by the sensor, a reflected portion of the signal from the stem, and
determining whether the gate valve is in an open position or a closed position based on a time delay between emission of the signal and receipt of the reflected portion of the signal.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein coupling the mount to the protective stem housing comprises:
sliding the mount over the protective stem housing until the protective stem housing contacts an internal ledge of the mount.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
securing the mount to the protective stem housing by tightening a plurality of radially oriented fasteners to reduce an effective inner diameter of the mount.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein coupling the adapter to the mount comprises:
threading a proximal end of the adapter into a threaded inner diameter of the mount.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein coupling the sensor to the adapter comprises:
threading the sensor into a threaded distal end of the adapter.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein emitting the signal comprises:
transmitting an optical signal through an internal passageway of the adapter and the mount toward an upper surface of the stem.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein determining whether the gate valve is in the closed position comprises:
determining that the time delay exceeds a first threshold.