Anti-friction ball valve operating means

Claim 2

In a subsurface safety valve for wells: an elongated valve body having a flow passage therethrough for the flow of well fluid, said body having means at its upper end for fluid communication with an upwardly extending tubing string, said body having at its lower end for fluid communication with a downwardly extending tubing string, shutoff valve means in said body including a ball valve member rotatable between a first position closing said flow passage and a second position at which said flow passage is open, and actuator means for moving said ball valve member between said positions, said actuator means including an actuator sleeve longitudinally shiftable in said body and having an end surface Sealingly engageable with said ball valve member, and a support member concentric with and shiftable relative to said sleeve and engaged with said ball to support the same for rotation relative to said sleeve.

Claim 3

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation.

Claim 4

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation, said actuator means including a spring acting on said support member to move the latter longitudinally in one direction, and means responsive to longitudinal movement of said support member to rotate said ball valve member to one of said positions.

Claim 5

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation, said actuator means including a spring acting on said support member to move the latter longitudinally in one direction, means responsive to longitudinal movement of said support member to rotate said ball valve member to one of said positions, and another actuator sleeve opposed to the first mentioned actuator sleeve with said ball valve member disposed between said actuator sleeves, said another actuator sleeve and said body defining a control fluid pressure chamber, and said another actuator sleeve having a control fluid pressure responsive area for moving said another actuator sleeve to move said ball valve member to said second position.

Claim 6

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation, said actuator means including a spring acting on said support member to move the latter longitudinally in one direction, means responsive to longitudinal movement of said support member to rotate said ball valve member to one of said positions, and another spring acting between said support sleeve and said actuator sleeve to bias said actuator sleeve in said one direction.

Claim 7

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation, said actuator means including a spring acting on said support member to move the latter longitudinally in one direction, means responsive to longitudinal movement of said support member to rotate said ball valve member to one of said positions, and another spring acting between said support member and said actuator sleeve to bias said actuator sleeve in said one direction, said first mentioned spring being stronger than said another spring.

Claim 8

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation, said actuator means including a spring acting on said support member to move the latter longitudinally in one direction, means responsive to longitudinal movement of said support member to rotate said ball valve member to one of said positions, and another actuator sleeve opposed to the first mentioned actuator sleeve with said ball valve member disposed between said actuator sleeves, said another actuator sleeve and said body defining a control fluid pressure chamber, and said another actuator sleeve having a control fluid pressure responsive area for moving said another actuator sleeve to move said ball valve member to said second position, and another spring acting between said support member and said actuator sleeve to bias said actuator sleeve in said one direction.

Claim 9

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member havIng means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation, said actuator means including a spring acting on said support member to move the latter longitudinally in one direction, means responsive to longitudinal movement of said support member to rotate said ball valve member to one of said positions, and another actuator sleeve opposed to the first mentioned actuator sleeve with said ball valve member disposed between said actuator sleeves, said another actuator sleeve and said body defining a control fluid pressure chamber, and said another actuator sleeve having a control fluid pressure responsive area for moving said another actuator sleeve to move said ball valve member to said second position, and another spring acting between said support member and said actuator sleeve to bias said actuator sleeve in said one direction, said first mentioned spring being stronger than said another spring.

Claim 10

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation, said actuator means including a spring acting on said support member to move the latter longitudinally in one direction, and means responsive to longitudinal movement of said support member to rotate said ball valve member to one of said positions including a pin on one of said ball valve members and said body and pin engaging walls on the other of said ball valve member and said body engageable with said pin to rotate said ball valve member in opposite directions upon longitudinal movement of said ball valve member.

Claim 11

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation, said actuator means including a spring acting on said support member to move the latter longitudinally in one direction, and means responsive to longitudinal movement of said support member to rotate said ball valve member to one said positions including a pin on one of said ball valve members and said body and pin engaging walls on the other of said ball valve member and said body engageable with said pin to rotate said ball valve member in opposite directions upon longitudinal movement of said ball valve member, said pin and said walls clearing when said ball valve member is in said positions enabling slight free longitudinal movement of said ball following rotation to said positions.

Claim 12

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation, said actuator means including a spring acting on said support member to move the latter longitudinally in one direction, and means responsive to longitudinal movement of said support member to rotate said ball valve member to one of said positions including a pin on one of said ball valve members and said body and pin engaging walls on the other of said ball valve member and said body engageable with said pin to rotate said ball valve member in opposite directions upon longitudinal movement of said ball valve member, and cooperative stop means on said support member and on said ball valve member for limiting rotation of said ball valve member between said positions.

Claim 13

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation, said actuator means including a spring acting on said support member to move the latter longitudinally in one direction, means responsive to longitudinal movement of said support member to rotate said ball valve member to one of said positions, and cooperative stop means on said support member and on said ball valve member for limiting rotation of said ball valve member between said positions.

Claim 14

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation including fingers extending longitudinally on said body to the region of the axis of rotation of said ball, and means mounting said ball valve member on said fingers for rotation of said ball valve member.

Claim 15

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation including fingers extending longitudinally in said body to the region of the axis of rotation of said ball valve member and having arcuate end surfaces, said ball valve member having arcuate surfaces engaged with said arcuate surfaces of said ends of said fingers.

Claim 16

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation including fingers extending longitudinally in said body and having arcuate portions in the region of the axis of rotation of said ball valve member, said ball valve member having arcuate surfaces engaged with said arcuate portions of said fingers.

Claim 17

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation including portions extending longitudinally in said body to the region of the axis of rotation of said ball valve member, said ball valve member and said portion having means supporting said ball for rotation.

Claim 18

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation including portions extending longitudinally in said body to the region of the axis of rotation of said ball valve member, said ball valve member and said portion having means supporting said ball for rotation, said ball valve member and said portions having means for limiting rotation of said ball valve member to said positions.

Claim 19

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation including portions extending longitudinally in said body to the region of the axis of rotation of said ball valve member, said ball valve member and said portion having means supporting said ball for rotation, said ball valve member and said portions having means for limiting rotation of said ball valve member to said positions, and said body and said ball valve member having means for rotating said ball between said position responsive to longitudinal movement of said ball valve member.

Claim 20

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation including portions extending longitudinally in said body to the region of the axis of rotation of said ball valve member, said ball valve member and said portion having means supporting said ball for rotation, said ball valve member and said portions having means for limiting rotation of said ball valve member to said positions, and said body and said ball valve member having means for rotating said ball between said position responsive to longitudinal movement of said ball valve member and for enabling slight free longitudinal motion of said ball valve member at said positions.

Claim 21

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of Rotation including portions extending longitudinally in said body to the region of the axis of rotation of said ball valve member, said ball valve member and said portion having means supporting said ball for rotation, said ball valve member and said portions having means for limiting rotation of said ball valve member to said positions, said body having a lateral opening adjacent said ball valve member larger than the latter, a closure for said opening, and means on said closure and on said ball valve member for rotating said ball valve member between said positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said ball valve member.

Claim 22

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 1, said support member having means at opposite sides of said ball valve member supporting said ball valve member in the region of its axis of rotation, said actuator means including a spring acting on said support sleeve to move the latter longitudinally one direction, means responsive longitudinal movement of said support sleeve to rotate said ball valve member to one of said positions, and another actuator sleeve opposed to the first mentioned actuator sleeve with said ball valve member disposed between said actuator sleeves, said another actuator sleeve and said body defining a control fluid pressure chamber, and said another actuator sleeve having a control fluid pressure responsive area for moving said another actuator sleeve to move said ball valve member to said second position, and bypass valve means operable by the pressure of said control fluid pressure for equalizing fluid in said flow passage across said ball valve member when in its first position before said ball valve member is moved to its second position.

Claim 23

In a subsurface safety valve for wells, an elongated body having a flow passage therethrough for the flow of well fluids, said body having means at its upper end for fluid communication with an upwardly extending tubing string, said body having means at its lower end for fluid communication with a downwardly extending tubing string, a ball valve in said body having a spherical sealing surface and an opening therethrough, means supporting said ball valve for rotation between a first position at which said opening extends transversely of said flow passage and a second position at which said opening is aligned with said flow passage, means for rotating said ball valve between said positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said ball valve in opposite directions, actuator means for shifting said ball valve longitudinally including a first actuating and sealing sleeve sealingly engaging said spherical surface, control fluid pressure responsive means for shifting said first actuating and sealing sleeve in one longitudinal direction to move said ball valve to said second position, a second actuating and sealing sleeve sealingly engaging said spherical surface, means for shifting said second actuating and sealing sleeve longitudinally to overcome control fluid pressure and move said ball valve longitudinally in the other direction to move said ball valve to said first position, and said means supporting said ball valve including means supporting said ball valve on said second actuating and sealing sleeve.

Claim 24

In a subsurface safety valve for wells, an elongated body having a flow passage therethrough for the flow of well fluids, said body having means at its upper end for fluid communication with an upwardly extending tubing string, said body having means at its lower end for fluid communication with a downwardly extending tubing string, a ball valve in said body having a spherical sealing surface and an opening therethrough, means supporting said ball valve for rotation between a first position at which said opening extends transversely of said flow passage and a second position at which said opening is aligned with said flow passage, means for rotating said ball valve between said positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said ball valve in opposite directions, actuator means for shifting said ball valve longitudinally including a first actuating and sealing sleeve sealingly engaging said spherical surface, control fluid pressure responsive means for shifting said first actuating and sealing sleeve in one longitudinal direction to move said ball valve to said second position, a second actuating and sealing sleeve sealingly engaging said spherical surface, means for shifting said second actuating and sealing sleeve longitudinally to overcome control fluid pressure and move said ball valve longitudinally in the other direction to move said ball valve to said first position, and said means supporting said ball valve including means supporting said ball valve on said second actuating and sealing sleeve.

Claim 25

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 22, said means supporting said ball valve on said second actuating sleeve including a support sleeve shiftably carried by said second actuating and sealing sleeve and having support portions engaging said ball valve at opposite sides of said ball valve in the region of its axis of rotation.

Claim 26

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 22, said means for shifting said second actuating and sealing sleeve longitudinally to overcome control fluid pressure including a spring acting on said means supporting said ball valve on said second actuating and sealing sleeve.

Claim 27

In a subsurface safety valve as defined in claim 22, said means for shifting said second actuating and sealing sleeve longitudinally to oveRcome control fluid pressure including a spring acting on said means supporting said ball valve on said second actuating and sealing sleeve, and another spring acting between said means supporting said ball valve on said second actuating and sealing sleeve and said second actuating and sealing sleeve to maintain said second actuating and sealing sleeve in sealing engagement with said spherical surface.

Claim 28

In a subsurface safety valve for wells: an elongated valve body having a flow passage therethrough for the flow of well fluid, said body having means at its upper end for fluid communication with an upwardly extending tubing string, said body having means at its lower end for fluid communication with a downwardly extending tubing string, shut-off valve means in said body including a ball valve member rotatable between a first position closing said flow passage and a second position at which said flow passage is open, and actuator means for moving said ball valve member between said positions, said actuator means including a longitudinally shiftable support member in said body below said ball valve member and supporting said ball valve member for rotation, means for rotating said ball valve member between said positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said ball in opposite directions, means for shifting said support member longitudinally in one direction to rotate said ball in one direction including a spring acting upwardly on said support member, and control fluid pressure operated means for shifting said ball valve member and said support member longitudinally in the other direction to rotate said ball valve member in the other direction.

Claim 29

In a subsurface safety valve for wells: an elongated valve body having a flow passage therethrough for the flow of well fluid, said body having means at its upper end for fluid communication with an upwardly extending tubing string, said body having means at its lower end for fluid communication with a downwardly extending tubing string, shut-off valve means in said body including a ball valve member rotatable between a first position closing said flow passage and a second position at which said flow passage is open, and actuator means for moving said ball valve member between said positions, said actuator means including a longitudinally shiftable support member in said body below said ball valve member and supporting said ball valve member for rotation, means for rotating said ball valve member between said positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said ball in opposite directions, means for shifting said support member longitudinally in one direction to rotate said ball in one direction including a spring acting upwardly on said support member, and control fluid pressure operated means for shifting said ball valve member and said support member longitudinally in the other direction to rotate said ball valve member in the other direction.

Claim 30

In a subsurface safety valve for wells as defined in claim 26, a lower sleeve in said body having an area responsive to well fluid pressure for urging said ball valve member longitudinally upwardly.

Claim 31

In a subsurface safety valve for wells as defined in claim 26, said control fluid pressure operated means including an upper sleeve in said body having a piston area, said body having a control fluid pressure chamber in which said piston area is exposed and an inlet for control fluid.

Claim 32

In a subsurface safety valve for wells as defined in claim 26, said control fluid pressure operated means including an upper sleeve in said body having a piston area, said body having a control fluid pressure chamber in which said piston area is exposed and an inlet for control fluid, and including a lower sleeve in said body having an area responsive to well fluid pressure for urging said ball valve member longitudinally upwardly.

Claim 33

In a subsurface safety valve for wells as defined in claim 26, one of said sleeves having sealing means engaged with said ball valve member.