Valve assembly

Abstract

Abstract The invention is a valve assembly which is particularly adapted to be secured within a tubular element such as the casing of an earth well, for example, by means of a suitable positioning assembly such as a packer assembly. The valve assembly includes an outer housing adapted to be coupled at its upper end to a packer assembly or other suitable structure, the outer housing having an inner cylindrically shaped wall including an under cut part thereof intermediate the ends of the housing. A tubular member having an open upper end, a closed lower end and an outer wall having an outwardly extending shoulder fits within the housing, the outer wall of the tubular member fitting closely but slidably against the inner wall of the housing with the shoulder fitting closely but slidably against said undercut part. When the valve assembly is in its closed position, a port extending through the outer wall of the tubular wall below the shoulder communicates with the undercut part of the housing. A sealing relationship exists between the housing and tubular member above and below the undercut part and between the shoulder and the undercut part. The total area of the underside of the shoulder exceeds the remaining cross sectional area of the tubular member. The valve is opened by mechanically applied force to move the tubular member downwardly so the port extends below the inner wall part of the housing within which it had slidable contact. Release of the mechanical force permits the vacuum created between the shoulder and the upper end of the undercut part of the housing to close the valve.

Inventors

• 👤 C Pitts

Bibliographic Details