Diaphragm valve travel stop

Abstract

A diaphragm valve travel stop includes a cylindrical tube and a fastener. The cylindrical tube includes walls that define an opening configured to receive the fastener. An inner surface of the cylindrical tube is configured to include threads compatible to engage with threads of a handwheel hub or a bonnet of a diaphragm valve. The fastener is configured to secure the cylindrical tube at a set vertical position on the handwheel hub or the bonnet of the diaphragm valve.

Description

[0001] DIAPHRAGM VALVE TRAVEL STOP

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] 0001. The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.

[0004] 63 / 517,152, filed on August 2, 2023, entitled ’’DIAPHRAM VALVE TRAVEL STOP’ and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 582,111 filed on September 12, 2023, entitled ’’DIAPHRAM VALVE TRAVEL STOP” the entire contents of these applications is incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0006] 0002. The present disclosure generally relates to diaphragm valves and a travel stop for a diaphragm valve hand wheel.

[0007] BACKGROUND

[0008] 0003. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims herein and are not admitted as being prior art by inclusion in this section.

[0009] 0004. Diaphragm valves operate by a linear motion applied to a diaphragm to force the diaphragm against a sealing surface in a mating valve body to stop and seal flow and close the valve. To open the valve and allow flow, the diaphragm is retracted away from the sealing surface. Diaphragm valves may be operated by a variety of methods, such as electrically, pneumatically, and manually. During manual operation, diaphragm valves are typically operated with a knob, handle, or handwheel, depending on the amount of torque required to operate the diaphragm valve by a person. Typically, a handwheel will be rotated multiple 360° turns to open or close the valve. Various mechanical designs are used to translate rotary handwheel motion into linear motion for operation of the valve diaphragm. The translation mechanisms are generally housed within a valve bonnet, and often the bonnet serves as part of the mechanism. Depending on the design selected, the handwheel may or may not move linearly as well as rotate. 0005. The force applied to close the diaphragm, if applied without limits, may cause damage to the diaphragm. Damage is more likely to occur if the resilient diaphragm material has been weakened by high temperature or chemical exposure.

[0010] SUMMARY

[0011] 0006. Existing challenges associated with the foregoing, as well as other challenges, are overcome by the presently disclosed diaphragm valve travel stop. One embodiment of the present disclosure is a diaphragm valve travel stop including a cylindrical tube and a fastener. The cylindrical tube includes walls that define an opening configured to receive the fastener. An inner surface of the cylindrical tube is configured to include threads compatible to engage with threads of a handwheel hub or a bonnet of a diaphragm valve. The fastener is configured to secure the cylindrical tube at a set vertical position on the handwheel hub or the bonnet of the diaphragm valve.

[0012] 0007. In aspects, a vertical position of the cylindrical tube on the handwheel hub or the bonnet is adjustable by rotating the cylindrical tube along the threads of handwheel hub or the bonnet.

[0013] 0008. In aspects, the fastener is a set screw.

[0014] 0009. In aspects, the cylindrical tube is constructed from iron, steel, brass, or polymer.

[0015] 0010. In aspects, the cylindrical tube is secured by the fastener at a set vertical position on the handwheel hub or the bonnet when the diaphragm valve is in a closed position. 0011. In aspects, the cylindrical tube is secured by the fastener at the set vertical position on the handwheel hub when the cylindrical tube is in contact with a top surface of the bonnet of the diaphragm valve when the diaphragm valve is in the closed position or the cylindrical tube is secured by the fastener at the set vertical position on the bonnet when the cylindrical tube is in contact with a bottom surface of the handwheel hub of the diaphragm valve when the diaphragm valve is in the closed position.

[0016] 0012. In aspects, the diaphragm valve travel stop prevents damage to a diaphragm of the diaphragm valve by preventing overtightening of the diaphragm valve.

[0017] 0013. In aspects, the diaphragm valve travel stop in the set position extends out from the handwheel hub from about 0 to about 1 inch or extends out from the bonnet from about 0 to about 1 inch.

[0018] 0014. Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a diaphragm valve. The diaphragm valve includes a hand wheel, a bonnet, and a body. The handwheel includes a handwheel hub and a diaphragm valve travel stop. The diaphragm valve travel stop includes a cylindrical tube and a fastener. The cylindrical tube includes walls that define an opening configured to receive the fastener. An inner surface of the cylindrical tube is configured to include threads compatible to engage with threads of the handwheel hub or threads of the bonnet,. The fastener is configured to secure the cylindrical tube at a set vertical position on the handwheel hub or the bonnet.

[0019] 0015. Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method of setting a set point vertical position of a diaphragm valve travel stop to prevent damage to a diaphragm of a diaphragm valve. The method includes rotating the diaphragm valve travel stop upward along threads of a handwheel hub of the diaphragm valve to a highest vertical position allowed by the threads. The diaphragm valve is in an open position. The method includes rotating a handwheel of the diaphragm valve to close the diaphragm valve. The method includes rotating the diaphragm valve travel stop downward along the threads of the handwheel hub until the diaphragm valve travel stop is at a set point vertical position with the diaphragm valve travel stop in contact with a top surface of a bonnet of the diaphragm valve. The method further includes securing the diaphragm valve travel stop to the handwheel hub at the set point vertical position with a fastener of the diaphragm valve travel stop.

[0020] 0016. In aspects, the method further includes, subsequent to rotating a handwheel of the diaphragm valve to close the diaphragm valve, performing a leak test on the diaphragm valve to confirm all flow through the diaphragm valve has been stopped and diaphragm valve is closed. 0017. In aspects, the fastener is a set screw, and the method further includes tightening the set screw to the handwheel hub to secure the diaphragm valve travel stop at the set point vertical position.

[0021] 0018. In aspects, the fastener is a pin, and the method further includes drilling a radial hole through the diaphragm valve travel stop and the handwheel hub and pressing in the pin to secure the diaphragm valve travel stop at the set point vertical position.

[0022] 0019. In aspects, the method further includes, prior to rotating the diaphragm valve travel stop upward along the threads of the handwheel hub, rotating the handwheel of the diaphragm valve to open the diaphragm valve.

[0023] 0020. The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0024] 0021. The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] 0022. Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of a diaphragm valve in a closed position with a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0026] 0023. Fig. 2 is a side cross sectional view of a diaphragm valve in a closed position with a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0027] 0024. Fig. 3 is a side perspective view of a diaphragm valve in an open position with a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0028] 0025. Fig. 4 is a side cross sectional view of a diaphragm valve in an open position with a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0029] 0026. Fig. 5 is a side cross sectional view of a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0030] 0027. Fig. 6 is a top view of a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0031] 0028. Fig. 7 illustrates a flow diagram for an example method for setting a set point vertical position of a diaphragm valve travel stop to prevent damage to a diaphragm of a diaphragm valve in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0032] 0029. Fig. 8 is a side perspective view of a diaphragm valve in a closed position with a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with the present disclosure; 0030. Fig. 9 is a side cross sectional view of a diaphragm valve in a closed position with a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0033] 0031. Fig. 10 is a side perspective view of a diaphragm valve in an open position with a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0034] 0032. Fig. 11 is a side cross sectional view of a diaphragm valve in an open position with a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0035] 0033. Fig. 12 is a side cross sectional view of a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0036] 0034. Fig. 13 is a top view of a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0037] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] 0035. In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

[0039] 0036. A diaphragm valve travel stop may include a cylindrical tube and a fastener. The cylindrical tube may include walls that define an opening configured to receive the fastener. An inner surface of the cylindrical tube may be configured to include threads compatible to engage with threads of a handwheel hub of a diaphragm valve. The fastener may be configured to secure the cylindrical tube at a set vertical position on the handwheel hub of the diaphragm valve to prevent overtightening of the diaphragm valve.

[0040] 0037. Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of a diaphragm valve in a closed position with a diaphragm valve travel stop, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. A diaphragm valve 10 may include a handwheel 20, a bonnet 30, and a body 40. Hand wheel 20 may include a hand wheel hub 25. Handwheel 20 may manually operate diaphragm valve 10 and may provide torque when rotated. Diaphragm valve 10 may be configured to translate the rotary motion of handwheel 20 into linear motion of a diaphragm of diaphragm valve 10. Bonnet 30 may house and / or include mechanical mechanisms for the translation of the rotary motion of handwheel 20. Handwheel 20 may move linearly as well as rotate. Handwheel 20 may be rotated multiple 360° turns to open or close diaphragm valve 10. 0038. Diaphragm valve 10 may further include a diaphragm valve travel stop 50. As described in more detail below, diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may be set to a vertical position on handwheel hub 25 to prevent over tightening of diaphragm valve 10 by preventing further rotation of handwheel 20 and tightening of diaphragm valve 10. Diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may be attachable to handwheel hub 25. Diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may be attachable to an external thread along handwheel hub 25 and may be rotated around handwheel hub 25 to attach diaphragm valve travel stop 50 to hand wheel hub 25. A vertical position of diaphragm valve travel stop 50 on handwheel hub 25 may be adjusted by rotating diaphragm valve travel stop 50 upward and downward along threads 70 of handwheel hub 25. A vertical position of diaphragm valve travel stop 50 on handwheel hub 25 may be set by rotating diaphragm valve travel stop 50 upward along threads 70 of handwheel hub 25 up to a highest vertical position allowed by threads 70. Handwheel 20 may be rotated to open diaphragm valve 10 prior to rotating diaphragm valve travel stop 50 upward along threads 70 of handwheel hub 25. Threads 70 may span a distance of about 1 inch along a distal end of handwheel hub 25. Handwheel 20 may be rotated to close diaphragm valve 10. A leak test may be performed on diaphragm valve 10 to confirm all flow through diaphragm valve 10 has been stopped and diaphragm valve 10 is closed. Diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may be rotated downward along threads 70 of handwheel hub 20 until diaphragm valve travel stop 50 stops and is in contact with a top surface of bonnet 30. Diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may be at a set point vertical position when diaphragm valve travel stop 50 is in contact with a top surface of bonnet 30. Diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may move downward along threads 70 of handwheel hub 20 a distance 60 until diaphragm valve travel stop 50 is in contact with top surface of bonnet 30.

[0041] 0039. Diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may include a fastener 55 for securing diaphragm valve travel stop 50 at the set point vertical position on handwheel hub 25. Fastener 55 may be a set screw, which may be tightened against an outer surface of handwheel hub 25 to secure diaphragm valve travel stop 50 at the set point vertical position and prevent rotation of diaphragm valve travel stop 50. Other means of locking diaphragm valve travel stop 50 to handwheel hub 25 are contemplated. In another embodiment, a radial hole may be drilled through diaphragm valve travel stop 50 and handwheel hub 25 and a pin may be pressed into the hole to secure diaphragm valve travel stop 50 to hand wheel hub 25.

[0042] 0040. Diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may be constructed from iron, steel, brass, polymer, or any other material suitable for a diaphragm valve handwheel.

[0043] 0041. Fig. 2 is a side cross sectional view of a diaphragm valve in a closed position with a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in Fig. 2 that are labeled identically to components of Fig. 1 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity. 0042. Handwheel and handwheel hub may be attached to a first end of a spindle 205. A second end of spindle 205 may be attached to a compressor 210. Compressor 210 may press against a diaphragm 220 when spindle 205 is moved by rotation of handwheel 20 so that diaphragm 220 may press against a weir 230 of base 40 and close diaphragm valve 10. As shown, diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may be secured to handwheel hub 25 by a set screw fastener 55 when diaphragm valve 10 is closed to prevent overtightening of diaphragm valve 10 and over compression and damage to diaphragm 220, which may be Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0044] 0043. Fig. 3 is a side perspective view of a diaphragm valve in an open position with a diaphragm valve travel stop, and Fig. 4 a side cross sectional view of a diaphragm valve in an open position with a diaphragm valve travel stop, both arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in Figs. 3-4 that are labeled identically to components of Figs. 1-2 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity.

[0045] 0044. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when diaphragm valve 10 is in a fully open position, diaphragm 220 may be apart from weir 230 of base 40, and diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may be a distance 310 away from bonnet 30. Distance 310 may be related to an amount of rotation applied to handwheel 20 to move diaphragm 220 of diaphragm valve 10 to a fully open position. As diaphragm valve travel stop 50 is secured and locked at its position on handwheel hub 25, diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may prevent overtightening of diaphragm valve 10 and over compression and damage to diaphragm 220 when handwheel 20 is rotated to close diaphragm valve 10.

[0046] 0045. Fig. 5 is a side cross sectional view of a diaphragm valve travel stop, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in Fig. 5 that are labeled identically to components of Figs. 1 -4 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity.

[0047] 0046. Diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may include walls which define an opening 530. Opening 530 may be configured to secure fastener 55. For example, opening 530 may include threads compatible to engage with threads on fastener 55, which when engaged, may secure fastener 55 to diaphragm valve travel stop 50. Diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may be tubeshaped and may have an inner surface 510. Inner surface 510 of diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may be configured to include threads 515 compatible to engage with threads 70 of handwheel hub 25. As previously discussed, when diaphragm valve 10 is closed, diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may be rotated downward along threads 70 of hand wheel hub 20 until diaphragm valve travel stop 50 stops and is in contact with a top surface of bonnet 30. Diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may extend out from threads 70 and handwheel hub 25 a distance 520 when in contact with top surface of bonnet 30 when diaphragm valve 10 is closed. Distance 520 may range from about 0.0 to about 1.0 inch.

[0048] 0047. Fig. 6 is a is a top view of a diaphragm valve travel stop arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in Fig. 6 that are labeled identically to components of Figs. 1-5 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity. 0048. Diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may be a cylindrical tube in shape. Diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may include walls that define opening 530 configured with threads compatible to engage with threads on fastener 55, and inner surface 510 configured with threads 515 compatible to engage with threads 70 of handwheel hub 25. Diaphragm valve travel stop 50 may be sized proportional to a size of a diaphragm valve 10 and hand wheel hub 25 diaphragm valve travel stop 50 is to be attached to. Dimensions of diaphragm valve travel stop 50 such as cylindrical tube length, radius, and thickness may be any dimension which provides robust function to diaphragm valve travel stop 50 to prevent overtightening of diaphragm valve 10 and over compression and damage to a diaphragm.

[0049] 0049. A device in accordance with the present disclosure may provide a diaphragm valve travel stop to prevent overtightening of a diaphragm valve. A device in accordance with the present disclosure may provide a diaphragm valve travel stop which is easily positioned by rotating. A device in accordance with the present disclosure may provide a diaphragm valve travel stop which is easily secured in a positioned to prevent overtightening of a diaphragm valve. A device in accordance with the present disclosure may provide a diaphragm valve travel stop which extends the length of a handwheel hub to prevent overtightening of a diaphragm valve.

[0050] 0050. Fig. 7 illustrates a flow diagram for an example method for setting a set point vertical position of a diaphragm valve travel stop to prevent damage to a diaphragm of a diaphragm valve in accordance with at least some aspects presented herein. This example process may include one or more operations, actions, or functions as illustrated by one or more of blocks S2, S4, S6, and / or S8. Although illustrated as discrete blocks, various blocks may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, or eliminated, depending on the desired implementation.

[0051] 0051. The method may begin at block S2, "Rotate the diaphragm valve travel stop upward along threads of a handwheel hub of the diaphragm valve to a highest vertical position allowed by the threads, wherein the diaphragm valve is in an open position." At block S2, the diaphragm valve travel stop may be rotated upward along threads of a handwheel hub of the diaphragm valve. The diaphragm valve travel stop may be rotated upward to a highest vertical position allowed by the threads of the handwheel hub. The diaphragm valve may be in an open position when the diaphragm valve travel stop is rotated upward. 0052. The method may continue from block S2 to block S4, "Rotate a handwheel of the diaphragm valve to close the diaphragm valve." At block S4, a handwheel of the diaphragm valve may be rotated to close the diaphragm valve.

[0052] 0053. The method may continue from block S4 to block S6, "Rotate the diaphragm valve travel stop downward along the threads of the handwheel hub until the diaphragm valve travel stop is at a set point vertical position with the diaphragm valve travel stop in contact with a top surface of a bonnet of the diaphragm valve." At block S6, the diaphragm valve travel stop may be rotated downward along the threads of the handwheel hub until the diaphragm valve travel stop is at a set point vertical position with the diaphragm valve travel stop in contact with a top surface of a bonnet of the diaphragm valve.

[0053] 0054. The method may continue from block S6 to block S8, "Secure the diaphragm valve travel stop to the handwheel hub at the set point vertical position with a fastener of the diaphragm valve travel stop." At block S8, the diaphragm valve travel stop may be secured to the handwheel hub at the set point vertical position. A fastener of the diaphragm valve travel stop may be used to secure the diaphragm valve travel stop to the handwheel hub.

[0054] 0055. Fig. 8 is a side perspective view of a diaphragm valve in a closed position with a diaphragm valve travel stop, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in Fig. 8 that are labeled identically to components of Figs. 1-7 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity.

[0055] 0056. Diaphragm valve 10 includes handwheel 20 with handwheel hub 25, bonnet 30, and body 40. Diaphragm valve 10 may further include a diaphragm valve travel stop 850. As described in more detail below, diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may be set to a vertical position on bonnet 30 to prevent over tightening of diaphragm valve 10 by preventing further rotation of handwheel 20 and tightening of diaphragm valve 10. Diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may be attachable to bonnet 30. Diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may be attachable to an external thread along bonnet 30 and may be rotated around bonnet 30 to attach diaphragm valve travel stop 850 to bonnet 30. A vertical position of diaphragm valve travel stop 850 on bonnet 30 may be adjusted by rotating diaphragm valve travel stop 850 upward and downward along threads 870 (shown in Fig. 9) of bonnet 30.

[0056] 0057. A vertical position of diaphragm valve travel stop 850 on bonnet 30 may be set by rotating diaphragm valve travel stop 850 downward (towards bonnet 30) along threads 870 of bonnet 30 to a lowest vertical position allowed by threads 870. Handwheel 20 may be rotated to open diaphragm valve 10 prior to rotating diaphragm valve travel stop 850 downward along threads 870 of bonnet 30. Threads 870 may span a distance of about 1 inch along a distal end of bonnet 30. Handwheel 20 may be rotated to close diaphragm valve 10. A leak test may be performed on diaphragm valve 10 to confirm all flow through diaphragm valve 10 has been stopped and diaphragm valve 10 is closed. Diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may be rotated upward along threads 270 of bonnet 30 until diaphragm valve travel stop 850 stops and is in contact with a bottom surface of handwheel hub 25. Diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may be at a set point vertical position when diaphragm valve travel stop 850 is in contact with a bottom surface of hand wheel hub 25. Diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may move upward along threads 870 of bonnet 30 a distance 860 until diaphragm valve travel stop 850 is in contact with bottom surface of handwheel hub 25.

[0057] 0058. Diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may be constructed from iron, steel, brass, polymer, or any other material suitable for a diaphragm valve hand wheel or a bonnet.

[0058] 0059. Fig. 9 is a side cross sectional view of a diaphragm valve in a closed position with a diaphragm valve travel stop in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in Fig. 9 that are labeled identically to components of Figs. 1 -8 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity.

[0059] 0060. As previously described, compressor 210 may press against a diaphragm 220 when spindle 205 is moved by rotation of hand wheel 20 so that diaphragm 220 may press against weir 230 of base 40 and close diaphragm valve 10. Diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may be secured to bonnet 30 when diaphragm valve 10 is closed to prevent overtightening of diaphragm valve 10 and over compression and damage to diaphragm 220.

[0060] 0061. Fig. 10 is a side perspective view of a diaphragm valve in an open position with a diaphragm valve travel stop, and Fig. I l a side cross sectional view of a diaphragm valve in an open position with a diaphragm valve travel stop, both arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in Figs. 10-11 that are labeled identically to components of Figs. 1-9 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity.

[0061] 0062. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, when diaphragm valve 10 is in a fully open position, diaphragm 220 may be apart from weir 230 of base 40, and diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may be a distance 310 away from hand wheel hub 25. Distance 810 may be related to an amount of rotation applied to hand wheel 20 to move diaphragm 220 of diaphragm valve 10 to a fully open position. As diaphragm valve travel stop 850 is secured and locked at its position on bonnet 30, diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may prevent overtightening of diaphragm valve 10 and over compression and damage to diaphragm 220 when handwheel 20 is rotated to close diaphragm valve 10.

[0062] 0063. Fig. 12 is a side cross sectional view of a diaphragm valve travel stop, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in Fig. 12 that are labeled identically to components of Figs. 1-11 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity. 0064. Diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may include walls which define an opening 830. Opening 830 may be configured to secure a fastener 855. For example, opening 830 may include threads compatible to engage with threads on fastener 855, which when engaged, may secure fastener 855 to diaphragm valve travel stop 850. Diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may be tube-shaped and may have an inner surface 840. Inner surface 840 of diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may be configured to include threads 815 compatible to engage with threads 870 of bonnet 30. As previously discussed, when diaphragm valve 10 is closed, diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may be rotated downward along threads 870 of bonnet 30 until diaphragm valve travel stop 850 stops and is in contact with a bottom surface of handwheel hub 25. Diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may extend out from threads 870 and bonnet 30 a distance 820 when in contact with bottom surface of handwheel hub 25 when diaphragm valve 10 is closed. Distance 820 may range from about 0.0 to about 1.0 inch.

[0063] 0065. Fig. 13 is a is a top view of a diaphragm valve travel stop arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in Fig. 3 that are labeled identically to components of Figs. 1-12 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity. 0066. Diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may be a cylindrical tube in shape. Diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may include walls that define opening 830 configured with threads compatible to engage with threads on fastener 855, and inner surface 840 configured with threads 815 compatible to engage with threads 870 of handwheel hub 2bonnet 30. Diaphragm valve travel stop 850 may be sized proportional to a size of a diaphragm valve 10 and bonnet 30 diaphragm valve travel stop 850 is to be attached to. Dimensions of diaphragm valve travel stop 850 such as cylindrical tube length, radius, and thickness may be any dimension which provides robust function to diaphragm valve travel stop 850 to prevent overtightening of diaphragm valve

[0064] 10 and over compression and damage to a diaphragm. 0067. Finally, the processes and techniques described herein are not inherently related to any apparatus and may be implemented by any suitable combination of components. Further, various types of general-purpose devices may be used in accordance with the teachings described herein. It may also prove advantageous to construct specialized apparatus to perform the method steps described herein. This disclosure has been described in relation to the examples, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive.

[0065] 0068. The foregoing description is only illustrative of the present disclosure. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variances. The embodiments described with reference to the attached drawing figures are presented only to demonstrate certain examples of the disclosure. Other elements, steps, methods, and techniques that are insubstantially different from those described above and / or in the appended claims are also intended to be within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A diaphragm valve travel stop comprising: a cylindrical tube; and a fastener, wherein the cylindrical tube includes walls that define an opening configured to receive the fastener, an inner surface of the cylindrical tube is configured to include threads compatible to engage with threads of a handwheel hub or a bonnet of a diaphragm valve, and the fastener is configured to secure the cylindrical tube at a set vertical position on the handwheel hub or the bonnet of the diaphragm valve.

2. The diaphragm valve travel stop of claim 1, wherein a vertical position of the cylindrical tube on the handwheel hub or the bonnet is adjustable by rotating the cylindrical tube along the threads of the handwheel hub or the bonnet.

3. The diaphragm valve travel stop of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a set screw.

4. The diaphragm valve travel stop of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical tube is constructed from iron, steel, brass, or polymer.

5. The diaphragm valve travel stop of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical tube is secured by the fastener at a set vertical position on the handwheel hub or bonnet when the diaphragm valve is in a closed position.

6. The diaphragm valve travel stop of claim 5, wherein the cylindrical tube is secured bythe fastener at the set vertical position on the handwheel hub when the cylindrical tube is in contact with a top surface of the bonnet of the diaphragm valve when the diaphragm valve is in the closed position or the cylindrical tube is secured by the fastener at the set vertical position on the bonnet when the cylindrical tube is in contact with a bottom surface of the handwheel hub of the diaphragm valve when the diaphragm valve is in the closed position.

7. The diaphragm valve travel stop of claim 5, wherein the diaphragm valve travel stop prevents damage to a diaphragm of the diaphragm valve by preventing overtightening of the diaphragm valve.

8. The diaphragm valve travel stop of claim 5, wherein the diaphragm valve travel stop in the set position extends out from the handwheel hub from about 0 to about 1 inch or extends out from the bonnet from about 0 to about 1 inch.

9. A diaphragm valve comprising: a hand wheel including a hand wheel hub and a diaphragm valve travel stop; a bonnet; and a body, wherein the diaphragm valve travel stop comprises a cylindrical tube and a fastener, the cylindrical tube includes walls that define an opening configured to receive the fastener, an inner surface of the cylindrical tube is configured to include threads compatible to engage with threads of the handwheel hub or threads of the bonnet, and the fastener is configured to secure the cylindrical tube at a set vertical position on the handwheel hub or the bonnet.

10. The diaphragm valve of claim 9, wherein a vertical position of the cylindrical tube on the handwheel hub or the bonnet is adjustable by rotating the cylindrical tube along the threads of the handwheel hub or the bonnet.

11. The diaphragm valve of claim 9, wherein the fastener is a set screw.

12. The diaphragm valve of claim 9, wherein the cylindrical tube is constructed from iron, steel, brass, or polymer.

13. The diaphragm valve of claim 9, wherein the cylindrical tube is secured by the fastener at a set vertical position on the handwheel hub with the cylindrical tube in contact with a top surface of the bonnet when the diaphragm valve is in a closed position or the cylindrical tube is secured by the fastener at the set vertical position on the bonnet when the cylindrical tube is in contact with a bottom surface of the handwheel hub of the diaphragm valve when the diaphragm valve is in the closed position.

14. The diaphragm valve travel stop of claim 13, wherein the diaphragm valve travel stop prevents damage to a diaphragm of the diaphragm valve by preventing overtightening of the diaphragm valve.

15. The diaphragm valve travel stop of claim 13, wherein the diaphragm valve travel stop in the set position extends out from the handwheel hub about 0 to about 1 inch or extends out from the bonnet from about 0 to about 1 inch.

16. A method of setting a set point vertical position of a diaphragm valve travel stop to prevent damage to a diaphragm of a diaphragm valve, the method comprising: rotating the diaphragm valve travel stop upward along threads of a handwheel hub of the diaphragm valve to a highest vertical position allowed by the threads, wherein the diaphragm valve is in an open position; rotating a handwheel of the diaphragm valve to close the diaphragm valve; rotating the diaphragm valve travel stop downward along the threads of the handwheel hub until the diaphragm valve travel stop is at a set point vertical position with the diaphragm valve travel stop in contact with a top surface of a bonnet of the diaphragm valve; and securing the diaphragm valve travel stop to the handwheel hub at the set point vertical position with a fastener of the diaphragm valve travel stop.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, subsequent to rotating a handwheel of the diaphragm valve to close the diaphragm valve, performing a leak test on the diaphragm valve to confirm all flow through the diaphragm valve has been stopped and diaphragm valve is closed.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the fastener is a set screw, and the method further comprises tightening the set screw to the handwheel hub to secure the diaphragm valve travel stop at the set point vertical position.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the fastener is a pin, and the method further comprises drilling a radial hole through the diaphragm valve travel stop and the handwheel hub and pressing in the pin to secure the diaphragm valve travel stop at the set point vertical position.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising, prior to rotating the diaphragm valve travel stop upward along the threads of the handwheel hub, rotating the handwheel of the diaphragm valve to open the diaphragm valve.

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