US3768506A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High low flow safety valve
Assignee: SOHLUMBERGER TECHN CORP
•
Filing: 1971-06-21
•
Granted: 1973-10-30
•
Expires: 1991-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A high/low flow safety valve according to the present invention relates to a valve construction that may be employed in conjunction with flow conduits such as well production tubing and the like. The valve construction is operative to allow the flow of production fluid through the valve structure as long as the volume of flowing pressurized fluid is within an operating range defined by low and high volume limits. As long as fluid flow and consequent pressure differentials are within the volume limits defining the operating range, a ball type safety valve will remain open allowing the flow of production fluid through. In the event the flow of production fluid should reduce below a predetermined minimum operating level, a low flow actuating means will achieve closing of the ball valve and locking means will effectively lock the valve structure against inadvertent reopening. In the event the velocity of flowing fluid should increase above a predetermined maximum a high flow actuating means will become operative and will force a ball valve to its closed position and lock it against inadvertent reopening. The safety valve structure also includes means for unlocking and reopening the safety valve mechanism for the purpose of resuming production flow through the conduit structure with which the safety valve mechanism is associated.
Inventors
- 👤 Gill H Mc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 16:50
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/08; E21B2200/00; E21B2200/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7723; Y10T137/7725; Y10T137/7726; Y10T137/7727; Y10T137/7731; Y10T137/7732; Y10T137/7781; Y10T137/7784; Y10T137/7785
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism comprising: a housing having means for connection thereof to a production conduit; flow passage means defined through said valve mechanism; a valve element being disposed within said housing and being movable from an open position allowing the flow of production fluid through the housing to a closed position blocking the flow of production fluid; a low velocity actuating mechanism being movably disposed within said housing and being responsive to decrease in the flow of production fluid below a predetermined minimum velocity to cause closure of said valve element; a high velocity actuating mechanism being movably disposed within said housing and being responsive to increase in the flow of production fluid above a predetermined maximum velocity to cause closure of said valve element; means locking said valve element against reopening after closure thereof; and means for selectively unlocking said valve elemEnt from the locked condition thereof in response to application of predetermined fluid pressure downstream of said valve element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism comprising: a housing having means for connection thereof to a production conduit; flow passage means defined through said valve mechanism; a valve element being disposed within said housing and being movable from an open position allowing the flow of production fluid through the housing to a closed position blocking the flow of production fluid; a low velocity actuating mechanism being movably disposed within said housing and being responsive to decrease in the flow of production fluid below a predetermined minimum velocity to cause closure of said valve element; a high velocity actuating mechanism being movably disposed within said housing and being responsive to increase in the flow of production fluid above a predetermined maximum velocity to cause closure of said valve element; means locking said valve element against reopening after closure thereof; and means for selectively unlocking said valve elemEnt from the locked condition thereof in response to application of predetermined fluid pressure downstream of said valve element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 1: a restriction being defined within said flow passage means and developing a pressure differential thereacross; said low flow actuating mechanism being responsive to predetermined decrease in said pressure differential to cause closure of said valve element; and said high flow actuating mechanism being responsive to predetermined increase in said pressure differential to cause closure of said valve element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 2: said means for locking said valve element in the closed position subsequent to closure thereof being a mechanical latch mechanism; and said means for selectively unlocking said mechanical latch mechanism being an unlatching piston disposed for linear movement within said housing means, said unlatching piston being movable by pressure introduced into said flow passage downstream of said valve element into unlatching relation with said latch mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
143 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 1: said low velocity actuating mechanism comprising sleeve means movably disposed within said housing and defining a portion of said flow passage means through said housing; said valve element being movably supported by said sleeve means; means biasing said valve element toward the closed position thereof; means for maintaining said valve element in the open position thereof responsive to flow of production fluid at a velocity above a predetermined minimum; said means for locking said valve element in the closed position thereof being a mechanical latch mechanism; and said means for selectively unlocking said mechanical latch mechanism being an unlatching piston disposed for linear movement within said housing means, said unlatching piston being movable by pressure introduced into said flow passage downstream of said valve element into unlatching relation with said latch mechanism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 4: said means biasing said valve element toward the closed position thereof being resilient means interposed between said housing and said sleeve means and imparting a bias to said sleeve means; said valve element being a spherical plug having a cam groove defined therein; and said housing having a projection engaging said cam groove and imparting rotation to said spherical plug upon linear movement of said spherical plug.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 5: said means for maintaining said valve element in the open position thereof comprising a choke carried within said sleeve means and defining a restriction within said flow passage means; and said choke restriction being responsive to the flow of production fluid therethrough to develop a pressure differential across said choke and thereby develop a resultant force acting upon said sleeve means and opposing said biasing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 1: sleeve means being movably disposed within said housing; said valve element being carried by said sleeve means and imparting opening and closing movement to said valve element upon linear movement of said sleeve means; said means locking said valve element against reopening after closure thereof comprising latch detent means being defined in said sleeve means; latch means being carried by said housing; said latch means and said detent means interengaging to lock said sleeve against movement responsive to movement of said sleeve to a position causing closure of said valve element; and said means for selectively unlocking said valve element being an unlatching piston, said piston engaging said latch means responsive to said application of pressure downstream of said valve Element and releasing said latch means from said detent means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
184 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 1: sleeve means being movably disposed within said housing; said valve element being carried by said sleeve means and imparting opening and closing movement to said valve element upon linear movement of said sleeve means; said means for locking said valve element comprising a detent groove formed in said sleeve means; a plurality of spring fingers being fixed to said housing and having detent means disposed for engagement with said detent groove upon movement of said sleeve means to a position causing closure of said valve element; said means for releasing said valve element comprising piston means disposed within said housing and having unlatching cam means defined thereon; said piston means being movable to a position causing said unlatching cam means to engage said spring fingers and retract said detent means from said detent groove thereby releasing said sleeve means in response to application of fluid pressure downstream of said valve element; and said piston means being retracted to the inoperative position thereof in response to application of fluid pressure by said production fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 1: said high velocity actuating mechanism comprising a high velocity actuating sleeve having a production flow passage defined therethrough; means biasing said high velocity actuating sleeve and opposing movement thereof; means responsive to the velocity of flowing production fluid for developing a pressure differential between the pressure of fluids internally and externally of said housing; and means responsive to development of a predetermined pressure differential to release said high velocity actuating sleeve from said biasing means and impart movement to said high velocity actuating sleeve to achieve closure of said valve element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 9: said means biasing said high velocity actuating sleeve comprising a detent groove defined in said high velocity actuating sleeve; latch means being received by said detent groove and forming a releasable connection with said high velocity actuating sleeve; and said biasing means being a compression spring interposed between said housing and said latch means and biasing said high velocity actuating sleeve against movement in a direction to actuate said valve element to the closed position thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 9: said high velocity actuating sleeve having a piston thereon disposed in movable sealed relation with said housing and defining a piston actuating chamber; said means for developing a pressure differential comprising a choke restriction disposed upstream of said piston; means communicating said piston actuating chamber with said production fluid at reservoir pressure; and fluid pressure within said housing downstream of said choke restriction acting upon said piston and opposing the bias established by reservoir pressure acting upon said piston within said actuating chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 11: said means biasing said high velocity actuating sleeve comprising a detent groove defined in said high velocity actuating sleeve; latch means being received by said detent groove and forming a releasable connection with said high velocity actuating sleeve; and biasing means interposed between said housing and serving to bias against movement in a direction to actuate said valve element to the closed position thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
177 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 1: said low velocity actuating mechanism comprising valve actuating sleeve means movably disposed within said housing and defining a portion of said flow passage means through said housing; said valve Element being movably supported by said valve actuating sleeve means; means biasing said valve element toward the closed position thereof; means for maintaining said valve element in the open position thereof responsive to flow of production fluid at a velocity above a predetermined minimum; said high velocity actuating mechanism comprising a high velocity actuating sleeve having a production flow passage defined therethrough; means imparting a bias to said high velocity actuating sleeve opposing movement thereof; means responsive to the velocity of flowing actuating fluid for developing a pressure differential between the pressure of production fluid internally and externally of said housing; and means responsive to development of a predetermined pressure differential to release said high velocity actuating sleeve from said bias and impart movement to said high velocity actuating sleeve to achieve closure of said valve element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 13: said high velocity actuating sleeve moving into abutment with said valve actuating sleeve upon movement thereof by said pressure differential and urging said valve actuating sleeve to a position achieving closure of said valve element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 14: said high velocity actuating sleeve being movable from the valve element actuating position to the initial position thereof upon the introduction into said valve mechanism downstream of said valve element fluid pressure in excess of reservoir pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
225 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism comprising: a housing having means for connection thereof to a production conduit; a valve actuating sleeve movably disposed within said housing and having a flow passage defined therethrough; a valve element being carried by said valve actuating sleeve and being movable from an open position allowing the flow of production fluid through said flow passage to a closed position blocking the flow of production fluid; means for biasing said valve element toward the closed position thereof; means for maintaining said valve in the open position thereof responsive to flow of production fluid at a velocity above a predetermined minimum and allowing closure of said valve element by said biasing means upon reduction of the flow of production fluid to a velocity below a predetermined minimum; a high velocity actuating sleeve being movably disposed within said housing and having a production flow passage defined therethrough; means biasing said high velocity actuating sleeve in a direction opposing movement thereof; means responsive to the flow of production fluid for developing a pressure differential between the pressure of production fluid internally and externally of said housing; and means responsive to development of a predetermined pressure differential to release said high velocity actuating sleeve from said biasing means and impart movement to said high velocity actuating sleeve to achieve closure of said valve element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
225 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism comprising: a housing having means for connection thereof to a production conduit; a valve actuating sleeve movably disposed within said housing and having a flow passage defined therethrough; a valve element being carried by said valve actuating sleeve and being movable from an open position allowing the flow of production fluid through said flow passage to a closed position blocking the flow of production fluid; means for biasing said valve element toward the closed position thereof; means for maintaining said valve in the open position thereof responsive to flow of production fluid at a velocity above a predetermined minimum and allowing closure of said valve element by said biasing means upon reduction of the flow of production fluid to a velocity below a predetermined minimum; a high velocity actuating sleeve being movably disposed within said housing and having a production flow passage defined therethrough; means biasing said high velocity actuating sleeve in a direction opposing movement thereof; means responsive to the flow of production fluid for developing a pressure differential between the pressure of production fluid internally and externally of said housing; and means responsive to development of a predetermined pressure differential to release said high velocity actuating sleeve from said biasing means and impart movement to said high velocity actuating sleeve to achieve closure of said valve element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
82 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 16: said means biasing said high velocity actuating sleeve comprising a detent groove defined in said high velocity actuating sleeve; latch means being received by said detent groove and forming a releasable connection with said high velocity actuating sleeve; and spring means interposed between said housing and said latch means and biasing said high velocity actuating sleeve against movement in a direction to actuate said valve element to the closed position thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
98 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 16: said high velocity actuating sleeve having a piston portion disposed in movable sealed relation within a portion of said housing defining a piston actuating chamber; said means for developing a pressure differential comprising a choke restriction disposed uPstream of said piston; means communicating said piston actuating chamber with said production fluid at reservoir pressure; and fluid pressure within said housing downstream of said choke restriction acting upon said piston portion and opposing the bias established by reservoir pressure acting upon said piston portion within said actuating chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
75 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 18: said means biasing said high velocity actuating sleeve comprising a detent groove defined in said high velocity actuating sleeve; latch means being received by said detent groove and forming a releasable connection with said high velocity actuating sleeve; and spring means interposed between said housing and serving to bias against movement in a direction to actuate said valve element to the closed position thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 19: said high velocity actuating sleeve moving into abutment with said valve actuating sleeve upon movement thereof by said pressure differential and urging said valve actuating sleeve to a position achieving closure of said valve element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
A high/low flow safety valve mechanism as recited in claim 20: said high velocity actuating sleeve being movable from the valve actuating position to the initial position thereof upon the introduction into said valve mechanism downstream of said valve element fluid pressure in excess of reservoir pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |