US3830296A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety valve for use in wells
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-08-20
•
Granted: 1974-08-20
•
Expires: 1993-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A differential pressure safety valve for use in oil and gas wells and the like which comprises an elongated tubular element having upper and lower ends connected by a bore. An annular seat is positioned in the upper portion of the elongated tubular element, and a valve closure member is positioned below the seat. A valve stem is connected to the valve closure member and extends downwardly in the tubular element bore. A piston element is secured to the lower end of the valve stem, and is slidingly positioned in the tubular element bore with a portion of the piston element projecting from the lower end of the tubular element. Plug means sealingly surrounds the valve stem within the bore of the tubular element between the piston element and the valve closure member. A radial port is formed through the wall of the tubular element in communication with the bore at a location between the seat and the plug means. An adjustable resilient control means is located externally of the tubular element, and cooperates with the projecting portion of the piston element to resiliently bias the piston element in a direction away from the annular seat with a predetermined force. A by-pass conduit is connected to by-pass fluid from a point in the bore of the tubular element between the plug means and the piston element, to a point in the bore of said tubular element located above said annular seat.
Inventors
- 👤 B Shirley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:36
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/08; E21B33/00; E21B33/10; E21B33/12; E21B33/124; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7723; Y10T137/7726; Y10T137/7727
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A safety valve tool for use in wells comprising: an elongated tubular element having an upper end and a lower end interconnected by a bore; an annular valve seat positioned in the upper portion of the elongated tubular element; a valve closure member positioned below the seat; an elongated valve stem connected to the valve closure member projecting downwardly in the bore in said tubular element; a piston element connected to the lower end of the valve stem and slidingly and sealingly positioned in the bore of the tubular element with a portion of the piston element projecting from the lower end of the tubular element; plug means sealingly surrounding the valve stem within the bore of the tubular element and disposed between the piston element and the valve closure member; at least one radial port through the tubular element at a location between the seat and the plug means and placing the bore in communication with the outside of said tubular element; an adjustable resilient control means positioned between said tubular element and the lower end of the projecting portion of said piston element, said resilient control means resiliently urging said piston element downwardly in the bore in said tubular element; and by-pass conduit means providing a pressure transmission path from a point in said bore above said seat to a point in said bore between said plug and said piston element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A safety valve tool for use in wells comprising: an elongated tubular element having an upper end and a lower end interconnected by a bore; an annular valve seat positioned in the upper portion of the elongated tubular element; a valve closure member positioned below the seat; an elongated valve stem connected to the valve closure member projecting downwardly in the bore in said tubular element; a piston element connected to the lower end of the valve stem and slidingly and sealingly positioned in the bore of the tubular element with a portion of the piston element projecting from the lower end of the tubular element; plug means sealingly surrounding the valve stem within the bore of the tubular element and disposed between the piston element and the valve closure member; at least one radial port through the tubular element at a location between the seat and the plug means and placing the bore in communication with the outside of said tubular element; an adjustable resilient control means positioned between said tubular element and the lower end of the projecting portion of said piston element, said resilient control means resiliently urging said piston element downwardly in the bore in said tubular element; and by-pass conduit means providing a pressure transmission path from a point in said bore above said seat to a point in said bore between said plug and said piston element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said annular valve seat is removably mounted in said tubular element to facilitate removal of said seat by means of a seat retrieval device engaged with the seat from above.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 1 and further characterized as including mercury at least partly filling said by-pass conduit means to prevent dirt from entering the portion of said bore between said piston element and said plug.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular element comprises: an upper tubular section; a lower tubular section; and wherein said upper and lower tubular sections are interconnected by said plug means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable resilient control means comprises: a lower body section secured to the lower end of said tubular element; a spring having one end bearing against said lower body section; and an adjusting nut threaded on the end of said piston element and bearing against the opposite end of said spring from the end in contact with said lower body section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 5 wherein said tubular element comprises: an upper tubular section having said radial ports formed therethrough; a lower tubular section having said lower body section secured to the lower end thereof; and wherein said upper and lower tubular sections are interconnected by said plug means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 6 wherein said annular valve seat is removably mounted in said tubular element to facilitate removal thereof from said tubular element by means of a retrieval device lowered in the well from the surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 7 and further characterized as including mercury at least partly filling said by-pass conduit means to prevent dirt from entering the portion of said bore between said piston element and said plug.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 1 and further characterized as including: a tubular section concentrically surrounding said tubular element; a production tubing string having said tubular section inTerposed therein; a cylindrical sleeve concentrically surrounding said tubular section and spaced therefrom to define an annulus therewith; a pair of expandable packers secured around said cylindrical sleeve and spaced from each other axially therealong around said annulus; and means for conveying a fluid from externally of said cylindrical sleeve through said sleeve and through said tubular section to the interior of said tubular section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 9 and further characterized as including a closure sleeve slidably positioned in said tubular section and movable axially therein from a first position in which said means for conveying fluid is covered to obstruct conveyance of fluid to the interior of said tubular section to a second position in which said sleeve does not obstruct said means for conveying fluid and fluid can flow through said cylindrical sleeve and through said tubular section to the interior of said tubular section for production through said tubing string to the surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 10 wherein said valve seat is removably mounted in said tubular element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 11 and further characterized as including a seat retrieval device connected to said valve seat.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 10 and further characterized as including means carried by said tubular element and releasably engaging said closure sleeve whereby said tubular element and closure sleeve are concurrently axially movable in said tubular section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 13 and further characterized as including anchor means connected to said tubular element for engaging said tubular section when said tubular element is moved axially upwardly in said tubular section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for conveying a fluid comprises a plurality of tubing sections extending radially between ports in said first mentioned tubular section and ports in said cylindrical sleeve whereby said annulus can be filled with cement without obstructing the conveyance of fluid from externally of said cylindrical sleeve to the interior of said first mentioned tubular section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 15 wherein said valve seat is removably mounted in said tubular element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 16 and further characterized as including a seat retrieval device connected to said valve seat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 16 and further characterized as including means carried by said tubular element and releasably engaging said closure sleeve whereby said tubular element and closure sleeve are concurrently axially movable in said tubular section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A safety valve tool as defined in claim 18 and further characterized as including anchor means connected to said tubular element for engaging said tubular section when said tubular element is moved axially upwardly in said tubular section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2962099A
Cited
US3049140A
Cited
US3473606A
Cited
US3378079A
Cited
US3410346A
Cited
US3477507A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-19 | 1978-02-18 | 1978-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-19 | 1982-02-18 | 1982-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-19 | 1986-02-18 | 1986-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |