US3901315A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Downhole valve
Assignee: Del Norte Technology Inc
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Filing: 1974-04-11
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1994-04-11
Abstract
Abstract An elongated housing has a pair of displaced, but axially aligned bores communicating with oil well piping. Rolling between oppositely disposed ends of these housing bores is a ball valve, normally urged to a closed valve position by a predetermined spring bias. The ball rolls to an open valve position responsive to a suitable control signal. If the oil well pressure becomes excessive, suitable controls may be actuated to close the valve. The excessive pressure acts as a hydraulic ram to add to the spring force and to drive the ball into a closed valve position. Special seals guard the valve and associated equipment against damage from sand and other abrasives normally found in oil and other fluids issuing from oil wells.
Inventors
- 👤 William H Parker
- 👤 Edmond I Bailey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:46
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/08; E21B2200/00; E21B2200/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7723; Y10T137/7728
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A disaster valve for oil well blowout protection, said valve comprising a housing having an internal cavity with a floatingly rolling ball valve therein, said ball valve having a passageway therethrough which may be either aligned with or rotated to seat against and seal entrance to said cavity, a pair of actuators positioned to move said ball valve with a rotational movement in either of two opposite directions, bias means for normally urging one actuator to drive said ball to a seated position, means for selectively causing the other actuator to either overcome or not overcome the force of said bias means for rolling said ball along a predetermined path to a position aligned with the entrance to said cavity when the force of said bias means is overcome, stop means formed on said ball to align it in both said aligned and sealed positions, sealing means for protecting said valve against abrasive materials ambiently dispersed in the environment of the valve, at least some of said tubes having O-ring sealing grooves formed therein or at the end thereof to provide said sealing means, at least one of said O-rings being a non-compressible gasket seal for engaging said ball valve when in said closed valve position, the diameter of said gasket being greater than the diameter of the other of said O-rings and said metal-to-metal seal surrounding both the inside and outside periphery of said gasket as a backup seal in case said non-compressible Seal fails.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A disaster valve for oil well blowout protection, said valve comprising a housing having an internal cavity with a floatingly rolling ball valve therein, said ball valve having a passageway therethrough which may be either aligned with or rotated to seat against and seal entrance to said cavity, a pair of actuators positioned to move said ball valve with a rotational movement in either of two opposite directions, bias means for normally urging one actuator to drive said ball to a seated position, means for selectively causing the other actuator to either overcome or not overcome the force of said bias means for rolling said ball along a predetermined path to a position aligned with the entrance to said cavity when the force of said bias means is overcome, stop means formed on said ball to align it in both said aligned and sealed positions, sealing means for protecting said valve against abrasive materials ambiently dispersed in the environment of the valve, at least some of said tubes having O-ring sealing grooves formed therein or at the end thereof to provide said sealing means, at least one of said O-rings being a non-compressible gasket seal for engaging said ball valve when in said closed valve position, the diameter of said gasket being greater than the diameter of the other of said O-rings and said metal-to-metal seal surrounding both the inside and outside periphery of said gasket as a backup seal in case said non-compressible Seal fails.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
The valve of claim 1 wherein said housing is an elongated housing having a pair of displaced and axially aligned bores which are connectable to associated tubing, said ball valve being movable with at least some rolling motion between said bores, the passageway in said ball valve being either aligned with one of said pair of bores or rotated to seat itself against and seal the other of said pair of bores, and said stop means comprising means for floatingly restraining said ball in said housing while enabling said ball to move freely along the predetermined path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The valve of claim 1 wherein said gasket comprises an almost uncompressible material which is about 85% Teflon and 15% glass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The valve of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a plurality of threaded tubes which may be threaded together and interconnected to form an integral unit, each of said actuators comprising another tubing slidingly disposed within said housing, and a plurality of O-ring members formed between said sliding tubular members to scrape debris when said actuators move.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The valve of claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprises scrapers positioned between at least one of said actuators and said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The valve of claim 1 wherein said non-compressible gasket comprises Teflon mixed with glass particles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The valve of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a plurality of hollow threaded tubes which may be connected to each other by said threaded sections to form an integral unit with said ball cavity therein, said actuators comprising other tubings slidingly disposed within said housing, and said O-rings being positioned between said actuator and tubes longitudinally displaced along the length of said actuator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |