National Coupling Company, Inc.

Chris Roy

Robert E Smith, Iii

Scott Stolle

Frank Harold Hollister

Josh Williams

Nathan Zepeda

Max Stetzer

Thomas Rogala

Stephen L Wells

Maurice Slot, Iii

Nathan Smith

A regulator valve has a check valve manifold for use in subsea control circuits. For example, the regulator valve having the check valve manifold can be used in a circuit between a directional control valve and an actuator for a gate valve. The check valve manifold can have a flange that attaches to the regulator valve to communicate with the supply-side and outlet-side of the regulator valve. Internal communication inside the manifold includes a check valve. If the pressure in the circuit downstream of the regulator valve needs to be vented, the check valve can open to allow the pressure to bleed from the outlet-side back to the supply-side without needing to pass through the internal pressure control valve of the regulator.

Regulator having check valve manifold for use in subsea control circuit

A female undersea hydraulic coupling member is equipped with a plurality of pressure-energized metal seals configured to seal between the body of the female member and the probe of a corresponding male hydraulic coupling member in response to ambient hydrostatic pressure and/or hydraulic fluid pressure. Pressure-energized metal seals may also be provided to seal between the body of the female coupling member and a removable seal retainer or seal cartridge. In one particular preferred embodiment, the pressure-energized seals are back-to-back metal C-seals separated by annular seal supports having a generally T-shaped cross section and retained on one or more shoulders in the body of the female member by a removable seal cartridge.

Undersea hydraulic coupling with multiple pressure-energized metal seals

A regulator valve has a check valve manifold for use in subsea control circuits. For example, the regulator valve having the check valve manifold can be used in a circuit between a directional control valve and an actuator for a gate valve. The check valve manifold can be a flange that attaches to the regulator valve to communicate with the supply and outlet of the regulator valve. Internal communication inside the manifold includes a check valve. If the pressure in the circuit downstream of the regulator valve needs to be vented, the check valve can open to allow the pressure to bleed from the outlet back to the supply without needing to pass through the internal pressure control valve of the regulator.

A gate valve controls fluid communication from an inlet to an outlet relative to a reference pressure. A body defines a passage disposed in communication with the inlet, and an outlet port disposed in the passage communicates the passage with the outlet. A piston disposed in the passage is movable therein between first and second positions relative to the outlet port. The piston is movable in a first direction from the first position to the second position in response to an inlet pressure at the inlet. A gate disposed on the piston is biased transversely toward the outlet port. The gate moved by the piston adjusts flow from the passage to the outlet port. A pressure compensator disposed opposite the piston biases the piston in a second opposite direction from the second position to the first position. The pressure compensator has a chamber in communication with the reference pressure.

Pressure-compensated, subsea chemical injection valve

A pilot-actuated spool valve comprises a generally cylindrical valve cage having a central axial cavity open at both ends and a plurality of generally radial openings connecting the central axial cavity to the external cylindrical surface of the cage; a valve sleeve sized to slide within the central axial cavity of the cage and having a first sealing surface at a first end and a second sealing surface at an opposing second end; a piston responsive to fluid pressure at a pilot inlet of the valve; a piston rod connected at a first end to the piston and having a threaded second end opposite the first end; and a cap nut in threaded engagement with the second end of the piston rod securing the valve sleeve to the piston rod. The cap nut is sized and configured to provide a clearance gap between the cap nut and the valve sleeve when the cap nut is fully tightened onto the threaded second end of the piston rod.

Pilot-actuated spool valve having rod retainer

A positive displacement metering system measures the rate of travel of a free piston in a cylinder of known volume to determine the flow rate of a fluid out of the cylinder. The system may also measure and record the inlet and outlet pressures or the differential pressure between the fluid inlet and outlet. The control program positions a four-way valve which may function as an adjustable metering orifice in response to the measured flow rate and/or changes in the inlet and outlet pressures to achieve the desired flow rate. At the end of each stroke, the four-way valve is repositioned to reverse fluid flow through the metering cylinder. The system may revise the valve position settings for both forward and reverse strokes based on the measured time required for a full stroke of the piston within the cylinder at a certain valve position or a measured rate of movement of the free piston.

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Stafford, TX, United States of America

Chris Roy