US 12,460,630 B2
Valve assemblies, valve assemblies for use with downhole pumps and related methods
Ramamurthy Narasimhan, Dallas, TX (US); Juan Felipe Correa Pugliese, Fort Worth, TX (US); Riyadh Salloom, Arlington, TX (US); Randy De Werff, Burleson, TX (US); Bradley C. Rogers, Burleson, TX (US); Jimmy Kemp, Levelland, TX (US); and Matthew Bishop, Burleson, TX (US)
Assigned to CHAMPIONX LLC, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed by CHAMPIONX LLC, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/691,051.
Application 17/691,051 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/483,753, filed on Sep. 23, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/082,829, filed on Sep. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0196007 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. F04B 53/10 (2006.01); F04B 19/04 (2006.01); F16K 15/04 (2006.01)
CPC F04B 53/1007 (2013.01) [F04B 19/04 (2013.01); F04B 53/10 (2013.01); F16K 15/048 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A valve assembly comprising:
a restriction element;
a casing defining an internal flow path through the casing, the casing comprising at least one axial connection for connecting with a component of a fluid-handling device;
an insert disposed in the internal flow path through the casing, an outer surface of the insert being fixedly engaged with an inner surface the casing, the insert comprising at least three axially extending protrusions, each of the at least three axially extending protrusions individually extending inward into the internal flow path of the casing and converging at an apex of the insert to define a cage in which the restriction element is configured to move axially through the internal flow path, wherein the at least three axially extending protrusions each exhibit a curved profile that extends inward in a radial direction to meet at the apex, the apex extending through a longitudinal axis of the insert and configured to obstruct the internal flow path at the longitudinal axis, the at least three axially extending protrusions defining laterally inward openings positioned about the apex, and wherein the at least three axially extending protrusions have a lateral width extending along a circumference of the insert that gradually reduces along substantially an entire length as the at least three axially extending protrusions extend in a longitudinal direction along a spiral path toward the apex; and
a seat positioned opposite to the apex of the insert to contain the restriction element in the insert, the at least three axially extending protrusions exhibiting a diameter at the apex that is less than an internal diameter of the seat;
wherein:
in an open position, the restriction element is configured to be displaced toward the apex of the insert to enable fluid flow through the internal flow path and through the laterally inward openings defined between the at least three axially extending protrusions; and
in a closed position, the restriction element is configured to engage with the seat to restrict fluid flow through the internal flow path.