US 11,732,814 B2
Plug valve assembly
James D. McPhail, Peoria, IL (US); Peter Allan Manos, McHenry, IL (US); David H. Graef, Spring Grove, IL (US); and Daniel Stumpo, Barrington, IL (US)
Assigned to SPM Oil & Gas Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed by SPM Oil & Gas Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/505,616.
Prior Publication US 2023/0119815 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. F16K 5/22 (2006.01); F16K 5/04 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 5/225 (2013.01) [F16K 5/0442 (2013.01); F16K 5/0471 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A plug valve assembly comprising:
a valve body having an inlet and an outlet each defining a fluid passageway in fluid communication with a cavity defined within the valve body;
a plug having a spindle top and having a plug body disposed within the cavity of the valve body and defining a through opening that, when the spindle top is rotated, the plug body rotates within the cavity and is operable to obstruct the fluid passageway when the plug body is in a closed position and operable to connect the fluid passageway of the inlet to the fluid passageway of the outlet when the plug body is in an open position;
a cap having threaded engagement with the valve body and operable to retain the plug within the valve body cavity;
a sleeve disposed at an interface between walls of the valve body cavity and the plug body, the sleeve including an inner surface having defined thereon a plurality of channels operable to distribute a lubricant around the plug body to facilitate rotational movement of the plug body within the valve body cavity; and
a grease port defined in the valve body in fluid communication with the channels defined on the sleeve,
wherein the sleeve comprises:
an inlet insert having an opening in alignment with the inlet fluid passageway;
an outlet insert having an opening in alignment with the outlet fluid passageway; and
first and second space plate inserts disposed between the inlet insert and the outlet insert.