Pumping system, pumping system valve, replacement kit for a valve, and related manufacturing method

Abstract

A valve for controlling a flow of fluid to a pump is disclosed. The valve includes a first member and a second member. The first member includes a first surface and an inlet opening, a first opening, a second opening, and an outlet opening extending through the first surface. The second member includes a second surface in contact with the first surface. The second member is movable relative to the first member between a first position and a second position while maintaining the first and second surfaces in contact with each other. At least one of the first surface and the second surface is made of a self-lubricating material. In the first and second positions, the second member allows selective flow communication among the inlet, first, second, and outlet openings and controls a flow into and out of the pump.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pumping system, comprising: 
 a pump including a first port and a second port;    a fluid source providing motive power to the pump; and    a valve connected to the fluid source and the pump, the valve comprising: 
 a first member including a first surface, the first member further including an inlet opening, a first opening, a second opening, and an outlet opening extending through the first surface, the inlet opening, the first opening, and the second opening being respectively in flow communication with the fluid source, the first port of the pump, and the second port of the pump; and  
 a second member including a second surface in contact with the first surface, the second member being movable relative to the first member between a first position and a second position while maintaining the first and second surfaces in contact with each other, the second member being configured to allow flow communication, respectively, between the inlet opening and the first opening and between the second opening and the outlet opening in the first position and to allow flow communication, respectively, between the inlet opening and the second opening and between the first opening and the outlet opening in the second position,  
 wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is made of a self-lubricating material.  
   
     
     
         2 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface is made of the self-lubricating material.  
     
     
         3 . The pumping system of  claim 2 , wherein the first member is made of the self-lubricating material.  
     
     
         4 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the self-lubricating material includes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).  
     
     
         5 . The pumping system of  claim 4 , wherein the self-lubricating material further includes at least one of carbon and graphite.  
     
     
         6 . The pumping system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one of carbon and graphite constitutes 10 to 35% of the self-lubricating material by volume.  
     
     
         7 . The pumping system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one of carbon and graphite constitutes 20 to 25% of the self-lubricating material by volume.  
     
     
         8 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve further comprises a valve body including a bore, the first member is a tubular bushing including an inner surface and an outer surface, and the tubular bushing is fitted within the bore of the valve body such that the outer surface of the tubular bushing is in contact with the bore of the valve body.  
     
     
         9 . The pumping system of  claim 8 , wherein the second member includes a divider and a shaft extending from the divider, and the divider including an outer surface and the divider is fitted within the inner surface of the tubular bushing so that the outer surface of the divider and the inner surface of the tubular bushing are, respectively, the second surface and the first surface.  
     
     
         10 . The pumping system of  claim 8 , wherein the tubular bushing includes a first hole formed between the inner and outer surfaces, the valve further comprises a bonnet secured to the valve body and including a second hole aligned with the first hole of the tubular bushing, and the valve further comprises a pin positioned in the first hole of the tubular bushing and the second hole of the bonnet to maintain the tubular bushing stationary.  
     
     
         11 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the second member is rotatable between the first position and the second position.  
     
     
         12 . A valve, comprising: 
 a first member including a first surface, the first member further including an inlet opening, a first opening, a second opening, and an outlet opening extending through the first surface; and    a second member including a second surface in contact with the first surface, the second member being movable relative to the first member between a first position and a second position while maintaining the first and second surfaces in contact with each other, the second member being configured to allow flow communication, respectively, between the inlet opening and the first opening and between the second opening and the outlet opening in the first position and to allow flow communication, respectively, between the inlet opening and the second opening and between the first opening and the outlet opening in the second position,    wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is made of a self-lubricating material.    
     
     
         13 . The valve of  claim 12 , wherein the first surface is made of the self-lubricating material.  
     
     
         14 . The valve of  claim 13 , wherein the first member is made of the self-lubricating material.  
     
     
         15 . The valve of  claim 12 , wherein the self-lubricating material includes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).  
     
     
         16 . The valve of  claim 15 , wherein the self-lubricating material further includes at least one of carbon and graphite.  
     
     
         17 . The valve of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of carbon and graphite constitutes 10 to 35% of the self-lubricating material by volume.  
     
     
         18 . The valve of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one of carbon and graphite constitutes 20 to 25% of the self-lubricating material by volume.  
     
     
         19 . The valve of  claim 12 , further comprising a valve body including a bore, and wherein the first member is a tubular bushing including an inner surface and an outer surface and the tubular bushing is fitted within the bore of the valve body such that the outer surface of the tubular bushing is in contact with the bore of the valve body.  
     
     
         20 . The valve of  claim 19 , wherein the second member includes a divider and a shaft extending from the divider, and the divider includes an outer surface and the divider is fitted within the inner surface of the tubular bushing so that the outer surface of the divider and the inner surface of the tubular bushing are, respectively, the second surface and the first surface.  
     
     
         21 . The valve of  claim 19 , wherein the tubular bushing includes a first hole formed between the inner and outer surfaces, the valve further comprises a bonnet secured to the valve body and including a second hole aligned with the first hole of the tubular bushing, and the valve further comprises a pin positioned in the first hole of the tubular bushing and the second hole of the bonnet to maintain the tubular bushing stationary.  
     
     
         22 . The valve of  claim 12 , wherein the second member is rotatable between the first position and the second position.  
     
     
         23 . A replacement kit for a valve, the valve including a divider movable between a first position and a second position, the divider including a surface, the replacement kit comprising: 
 a member including a contact surface, the member further including an inlet opening, a first opening, a second opening, and an outlet opening extending though the contact surface, the contact surface being made of a self-lubricating material and configured to be in contact with the surface of the divider while the divider moves between the first position where the divider allows flow communication, respectively, between the inlet opening and the first opening and between the second opening and the outlet opening, and the second position where the divider allows flow communication, respectively, between the inlet opening and the second opening and between the first opening and the outlet opening in the second position.    
     
     
         24 . The replacement kit  claim 23 , wherein the member is made of the self-lubricating material.  
     
     
         25 . The replacement kit of  claim 24 , wherein the self-lubricating material includes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).  
     
     
         26 . The replacement kit of  claim 25 , wherein the self-lubricating material further includes at least one of carbon and graphite.  
     
     
         27 . The replacement kit of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one of carbon and graphite constitutes 10 to 35% of the self-lubricating material by volume.  
     
     
         28 . The replacement kit of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one of carbon and graphite constitutes 20 to 25% of the self-lubricating material by volume.  
     
     
         29 . The replacement kit of  claim 23 , further comprising a valve body including a bore, and wherein the member is a tubular bushing including an inner surface and an outer surface and the tubular bushing is fitted within the bore of the valve body such that the outer surface of the tubular bushing is in contact with the bore of the valve body.  
     
     
         30 . The replacement kit of  claim 29 , wherein the inner surface of the tubular bushing is sized to fit the divider therewithin.  
     
     
         31 . The replacement kit of  claim 29 , wherein the tubular bushing includes a first hole formed between the inner and outer surfaces, the replacement kit further comprises a bonnet configured to be secured to the valve body and including a second hole configured to be aligned with the first hole of the tubular bushing, and the replacement kit further comprises a pin configured to be positioned in the first hole of the tubular bushing and the second hole of the bonnet to maintain the tubular bushing stationary.  
     
     
         32 . A method of manufacturing a replacement kit for a valve, the valve including a divider movable between a first position and a second position, the divider including an outer surface, the method comprising: 
 preparing a valve body including a bore, the valve body further including an inlet hole, a first hole, a second hole, and an outlet hole extending to the bore;    preparing a bushing made of a self-lubricating material, the bushing including an outer surface and an initial inner surface;    fitting the bushing within the bore of the valve body such that the outer surface of the bushing is in contact with the bore of the valve body; and    cutting the initial inner surface of the bushing to form a final inner surface sized to be in contact with the outer surface of the divider while the divider moves between the first position and the second position.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising forming an inlet opening, a first opening, a second opening, and a outlet opening through the bushing, the inlet, first, second, and outlet openings of the bushing being aligned respectively with the inlet, first, second, and outlet holes of the valve body.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising forming a pin hole between the final inner surface and the outer surface of the bushing.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising preparing a bonnet configured to be secured to the valve body and forming a second pin hole to be aligned with the pin hole of the bushing when the bonnet is secured to the valve body.