Patent US5340436A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4021137A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4021137A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Storm choke apparatus for submergible pumps
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1975-09-24
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Granted: 1977-05-03
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Expires: 1995-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A choke valve (safety valve) is provided in association with a submergible pump employed in oil wells or the like to prevent the flow of well fluid toward the well head when the pump is not operating. Differential pressure across the pump is employed to open the valve, and the valve closes automatically when the pump is de-energized. Bottom-hole pressure merely closes the valve more tightly. A reciprocating tapered valve member controls the opening and closing of a longitudinal passage through a tubular valve housing, the differential pump pressure being applied across an annular piston reciprocating in an annular chamber surrounding the longitudinal passage and connected to the valve member by a plurality of longitudinal piston rods, springs surrounding the piston rods biasing the valve member to a closed position. The storm choke can be operated by fluid pressure applied from the earth's surface in order to permit "killing the well" or flushing sand from the choke.
Inventors
- 👤 James N. Zehren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:56
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/08; F; F04; F04D; F04D13/00; F04D13/02; F04D13/06; F04D13/08; F04D13/10; F04D15/00; F04D15/0077
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
Storm choke apparatus for use with submergible pump means, comprising a tubular housing associated with said pump means and adapted to be submerged in a fluid to be pumped therethrough, said housing having a longitudinal fluid flow passage therethrough with a circumferential valve seat, an axially reciprocating valve member which, when in a closed position, engages said seat and isolates a space in said housing at one side of said member from a space at a different side of said member, operating means coupled to said valve member and responsive to differential pumping pressure across said pump means for moving said valve member to an open position away from said seat for providing communication between said spaces, and means coupled to said valve member for moving said valve member to said closed position in the absence of said differential pumping pressure, said different side of said valve member being exposed to said fluid to be pumped and responding to the pressure thereof, when said valve member is in closed position, for holding said valve member in said closed position more tightly, said operating means comprising piston means supported for reciprocation in chamber means located laterally outward of said longitudinal passage, said piston means having a plurality of rods extending axially of said housing at opposite sides of said passage, connected to said piston means at one end thereof, and connected to said valve member at the opposite end thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
Storm choke apparatus for use with submergible pump means, comprising a tubular housing associated with said pump means and adapted to be submerged in a fluid to be pumped therethrough, said housing having a longitudinal fluid flow passage therethrough with a circumferential valve seat, an axially reciprocating valve member which, when in a closed position, engages said seat and isolates a space in said housing at one side of said member from a space at a different side of said member, operating means coupled to said valve member and responsive to differential pumping pressure across said pump means for moving said valve member to an open position away from said seat for providing communication between said spaces, and means coupled to said valve member for moving said valve member to said closed position in the absence of said differential pumping pressure, said different side of said valve member being exposed to said fluid to be pumped and responding to the pressure thereof, when said valve member is in closed position, for holding said valve member in said closed position more tightly, said operating means comprising piston means supported for reciprocation in chamber means located laterally outward of said longitudinal passage, said piston means having a plurality of rods extending axially of said housing at opposite sides of said passage, connected to said piston means at one end thereof, and connected to said valve member at the opposite end thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said piston means and said chamber means are annular and surround said longitudinal passage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pump means is located in said housing at said one side of said valve member for pumping fluid away from said valve member and has a passage connecting said chamber means to the discharge side of said pump means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said pump means comprises rotary pump elements fixed to a shaft in said housing extending along the length thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said chamber means is located between said pump means and said valve member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for moving said valve member to said closed position comprises a biasing spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, comprising means for providing communication between said spaces in response to fluid pressure exerted in said housing at said one side of said valve member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the last-mentioned means comprises means for applying fluid pressure to said valve member at said one side to move said valve member to an open position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a pair of aligned connected sections, one of which has a wall spaced inwardly from a wall of the other to define sides of said chamber means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein one of said sections has a wall extending between the aforesaid walls to define an end of said chamber means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said housing comprises a further section aligned with and connected to said pair of sections, said further section extending between the first-mentioned walls to define an end of said chamber means spaced from the first-mentioned end.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-02 | 1980-11-01 | 1981-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-02 | 1984-11-01 | 1985-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-02 | 1988-11-01 | 1989-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |