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Spiral-wound brush seal
PATENTS Metal-to-metal annulus seal arrangement
The valve-packing arrangement described by patent WO/2011/008378 uses large Belleville washers around the valve stem.
packing is described. Instead of using small Belleville washers around individual studs, a single series of larger washers are placed around the valve stem. A method of setting and adjusting the loading is also detailed. The major benefit of using this system, claims the patent, is that a lower spring rate is achievable. This ensures that a satisfactory packing compression is maintained over extended follower travel. The initial packing setting is also less critical. Patent number: WO/2011/008378 Inventors: W.D. Hutchens, R.S. Collison, L.L. Bovee and D.C. Stanze Publication date: 20 January 2011
Seal assembly for use in fluid valves Applicant: Fisher Controls International Llc, USA An improved seal arrangement for sealing a trim in a control valve has been developed. Current practice is to use a spring-energised polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) seal, which is fitted to the valve trim. This patent proposes the use of two similar seals, in tandem, but fitted in the trim sleeve together with what are described as scrapers. A particular concern is to maintain a reliable seal in the presence of contaminants. A range of options are shown for different applications. Patent number: WO/2011/008379 Inventor: B.W. Bell Publication date: 20 January 2011 14
Sealing Technology
Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc, USA A metal-to-metal seal for use between two tubular members is described. In one example discussed, an adjustable casing sub (ACS) can be used when connecting a drilling platform to an existing well-head. For instance, a ‘‘jack-up’’, or fixed oil and gas platform can be reconnected to a previously installed sub-sea well-head or mudline system. The ACS is part of a riser assembly that provides for an adjustable length, and it can include two concentrically located tubular members. These can move axially with respect to each other, and then be sealed together when they are at the desired length. The seal assembly includes two pairs of seal elements mounted in opposing directions in order to provide a seal against pressure within a housing annulus from both directions. The elements can have spherical internal profiles that match an identical spherical surface on the seal energising ring. Hydraulic ‘energisation’ of the metal seal is also illustrated. Patent number: WO/2011/008431 Inventor: K.D. Thomson Publication date: 20 January 2011
Spiral-wound brush seal Applicant: Dresser-Rand Co, USA Conventional brush seals need to be manufactured to very close tolerances in order to obtain an effective seal, but without causing heavy wear on the rotor. These seals also must be finished to a high order of circularity and mounted precisely concentric with the rotor, which makes them fairly expensive to make and install. Because of the varying diameters along a rotor, it is necessary to use, in one turbo-machine, several distinct brush seals with varying dimensions. The brush seal detailed by this patent may include a spring-loaded seal arrangement configured to conform to a wide range of sealing diameters. It is manufactured with free ends that are configured to overlap and provide a finite amount
A spiral-wound brush seal, which can be used in a range of different diameters within a turbo-machine, forms the subject of patent WO/2011/008440.
of radially expandable and contractible play, yet maintain an effective seal. Consequently, the same brush seal design may be used in a range of locations along a rotor length without the need to specifically manufacture separate brush seals for each variance in dimension. Patent number: WO/2011/008440 Inventors: D.J. Peer and R.E. Kunselman Publication date: 20 January 2011
Rotary shear-valve assembly with hard-on-hard seal surfaces Applicant: Idex Health & Science Llc, USA High-pressure liquid chromatography shear valves typically employ a metallic element and a rotor device composed of a polymer material that forms a fluid-tight seal at the rotor/stator interface. While this combination has been found to be successful, it is limited in terms of pressure rating and valve service life. The rotor and stator face covered by this patent uses a substantially metallic or ceramic material, and a tribological coating is disposed on top of the rotor face and/ or the stator face. The application of this coating enables the device to be used in high fluidpressure applications (that is, at 15 kpsi to about 25 kpsi). The valve’s service life is also extended (to least 75 000 cycles). In one embodiment of this invention a diamond-like coating is used. Patent number: WO/2011/008657 Inventor: C.R. Tower Publication date: 20 January 2011
Drill seal assembly with extended service life Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services Inc, USA This patent provides details of a tri-cone, rockbit drill seal assembly that uses a ‘rectangular section’ seal to replace the O-ring section that is often used. The purpose is to provide contact pressure between the seal surface and the seal that is greater at each opposite side of the seal than at a central portion of the seal. This is achieved by using a combination of the seal’s cross-section and the groove profile. Patent number: WO/2011/008661 Inventors: S.G. Anderle, P.C. Sui, M.E. Williams and G. Lefort Publication date: 20 January 2011
Threaded tool joint connection Applicant: HDD Rotary Sales Llc, USA An oil and gas tubular joint design is described.
June 2011
The valve-packing arrangement described by patent WO/2011/008378 uses large Belleville washers around the valve stem.
packing is described. Instead of using small Belleville washers around individual studs, a single series of larger washers are placed around the valve stem. A method of setting and adjusting the loading is also detailed. The major benefit of using this system, claims the patent, is that a lower spring rate is achievable. This ensures that a satisfactory packing compression is maintained over extended follower travel. The initial packing setting is also less critical. Patent number: WO/2011/008378 Inventors: W.D. Hutchens, R.S. Collison, L.L. Bovee and D.C. Stanze Publication date: 20 January 2011
Seal assembly for use in fluid valves Applicant: Fisher Controls International Llc, USA An improved seal arrangement for sealing a trim in a control valve has been developed. Current practice is to use a spring-energised polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) seal, which is fitted to the valve trim. This patent proposes the use of two similar seals, in tandem, but fitted in the trim sleeve together with what are described as scrapers. A particular concern is to maintain a reliable seal in the presence of contaminants. A range of options are shown for different applications. Patent number: WO/2011/008379 Inventor: B.W. Bell Publication date: 20 January 2011 14
Sealing Technology
Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc, USA A metal-to-metal seal for use between two tubular members is described. In one example discussed, an adjustable casing sub (ACS) can be used when connecting a drilling platform to an existing well-head. For instance, a ‘‘jack-up’’, or fixed oil and gas platform can be reconnected to a previously installed sub-sea well-head or mudline system. The ACS is part of a riser assembly that provides for an adjustable length, and it can include two concentrically located tubular members. These can move axially with respect to each other, and then be sealed together when they are at the desired length. The seal assembly includes two pairs of seal elements mounted in opposing directions in order to provide a seal against pressure within a housing annulus from both directions. The elements can have spherical internal profiles that match an identical spherical surface on the seal energising ring. Hydraulic ‘energisation’ of the metal seal is also illustrated. Patent number: WO/2011/008431 Inventor: K.D. Thomson Publication date: 20 January 2011
Spiral-wound brush seal Applicant: Dresser-Rand Co, USA Conventional brush seals need to be manufactured to very close tolerances in order to obtain an effective seal, but without causing heavy wear on the rotor. These seals also must be finished to a high order of circularity and mounted precisely concentric with the rotor, which makes them fairly expensive to make and install. Because of the varying diameters along a rotor, it is necessary to use, in one turbo-machine, several distinct brush seals with varying dimensions. The brush seal detailed by this patent may include a spring-loaded seal arrangement configured to conform to a wide range of sealing diameters. It is manufactured with free ends that are configured to overlap and provide a finite amount
A spiral-wound brush seal, which can be used in a range of different diameters within a turbo-machine, forms the subject of patent WO/2011/008440.
of radially expandable and contractible play, yet maintain an effective seal. Consequently, the same brush seal design may be used in a range of locations along a rotor length without the need to specifically manufacture separate brush seals for each variance in dimension. Patent number: WO/2011/008440 Inventors: D.J. Peer and R.E. Kunselman Publication date: 20 January 2011
Rotary shear-valve assembly with hard-on-hard seal surfaces Applicant: Idex Health & Science Llc, USA High-pressure liquid chromatography shear valves typically employ a metallic element and a rotor device composed of a polymer material that forms a fluid-tight seal at the rotor/stator interface. While this combination has been found to be successful, it is limited in terms of pressure rating and valve service life. The rotor and stator face covered by this patent uses a substantially metallic or ceramic material, and a tribological coating is disposed on top of the rotor face and/ or the stator face. The application of this coating enables the device to be used in high fluidpressure applications (that is, at 15 kpsi to about 25 kpsi). The valve’s service life is also extended (to least 75 000 cycles). In one embodiment of this invention a diamond-like coating is used. Patent number: WO/2011/008657 Inventor: C.R. Tower Publication date: 20 January 2011
Drill seal assembly with extended service life Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services Inc, USA This patent provides details of a tri-cone, rockbit drill seal assembly that uses a ‘rectangular section’ seal to replace the O-ring section that is often used. The purpose is to provide contact pressure between the seal surface and the seal that is greater at each opposite side of the seal than at a central portion of the seal. This is achieved by using a combination of the seal’s cross-section and the groove profile. Patent number: WO/2011/008661 Inventors: S.G. Anderle, P.C. Sui, M.E. Williams and G. Lefort Publication date: 20 January 2011
Threaded tool joint connection Applicant: HDD Rotary Sales Llc, USA An oil and gas tubular joint design is described.
June 2011