Claims
- 1. A drilling tool apparatus adapted for connection in a drilling string to control undesired flow through the bore of the drill string including:
- a tubular member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough and means for connection at its upper and lower ends in a drill string with said longitudinal bore in alignment with the bore of the drill string for forming a longitudinal flow passage through said tubular member;
- bore closure means movably disposed in said bore of said tubular member for movement to and from an open position for enabling flow of fluid through said longitudinal bore of said tubular member and a closed position for blocking flow of fluid through said longitudinal bore of said tubular member;
- means operably connected with said bore closure means for effecting movement of said bore closure means to the open and closed positions, said means including:
- piston means forming a longitudinally extending flow passage aligned with said longitudinal bore of said tubular member for providing a longitudinal flow path through the drilling tool and having a first pressure responsive surface exposed to fluid pressure in said bore of said tubular member above said bore closure means for urging on said first pressure responsive surface to effect movement of said piston means in a first direction for moving said bore closure means to the open position to enable flow of fluid through said longitudinal bore;
- means sealing with said first pressure responsive surface for increasing the pressure responsive surface area exposed to the fluid pressure as said piston means commences to move in a first direction to move said bore closure means from said closed to said open position for moving said bore closure means in said bore to control flow of fluid through said bore wherein the fluid pressure in said bore effects positive movement of said bore closure means to the open position;
- said piston means having a second pressure responsive surface for urging movement of said piston means in a second direction for moving said bore closure means to the closed position;
- a flow channel formed in said tubular member and extending from a location on an exterior surface of said tubular member to communicate the pressure adjacent said tubular member with said second pressure responsive surface wherein the pressure adjacent said tubular member urges said piston means to move in the second direction and said bore closure means to move to block flow through said bore of said drill string;
- means mounted with said tubular member for urging movement of said piston sleeve in the second direction to move said bore closure means to the closed position to predetermine the pressure in said bore of said tubular member exceeding the pressure adjacent the exterior of said tubular member communicated into said expansible chamber to commence to move said piston means in the first direction; and
- said piston means carrying said bore closure means when moving in the first direction for effecting movement of said bore closure means relative to said piston means to move said bore closure means to the open position.
- 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bore closure means includes a ball-type valve member having an opening therethrough for rotational movement to and from open and closed positions.
- 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including:
- means for locking said bore closure means in the open position wherein said bore closure means is rendered inoperative to control flow through the bore of the drill string.
- 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
- said piston means includes a piston sleeve movably disposed in said bore of said tubular member and having a first pressure response surface area exposed to fluid pressure in said bore for urging movement of said piston sleeve in a first direction to operate said bore closure means to the open position in response to the urging of the pressure in said bore for enabling the desired flow.
- 5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein:
- said piston sleeve and said tubular member form an expansible chamber therebetween;
- said second pressure responsive surface for urging movement of said piston means in the second direction to operate said bore closure means to the closed position in response to the pressure in said expansible chamber, and
- a flow channel formed in said tubular member and extending from a location on an exterior surface of said tubular member to communicate the pressure adjacent said tubular member with said expansible chamber wherein the pressure adjacent said tubular member urges said bore closure means to move to block flow through said bore of said drill string.
- 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein:
- said bore closure means includes a rotatable ball-type valve member having an opening therethrough for movement to and from the open position aligning said opening with said bore and the closed position with said opening positioned for enabling said ball-type valve member to block flow through said bore when said piston sleeve member moves in response to the urgings thereon.
- 7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
- said bore closure means having a ball-type valve member and an upper seat means mounted concentrically above the valve member and engageable with the valve member for blocking passage of fluid around said valve member.
- 8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein:
- said bore closure means having a means for urging said valve member into engagement with said upper seat means.
- 9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein:
- said urging means being movable relative to the upper seat means to provide spacing of said valve member from engagement with said upper seat means when said urging means on said bore closure means is overcome.
- 10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
- said second pressure responsive surface includes means sealing with said second pressure responsive surface for increasing the pressure responsive surface area exposed to the fluid as said piston means commences to move in said second direction to move said bore closure means from said open to said closed position for moving said bore closure means in said bore to control flow of fluid through said bore wherein the fluid pressure adjacent said tubular member effects positive movement of said bore closure means to the closed position.
- 11. A drilling tool apparatus adapted for connection in a drilling string to control undesired flow through the bore of the drill string including:
- a tubular member having a bore therethrough and adapted for connection at its upper and lower ends in a drill string with said bore communicating with the bore of the drill string for forming a flow passage through said tubular member;
- bore closure means disposed in said bore of said tubular member for movement to and from an open position for enabling flow of fluid through said bore of said tubular member and a closed position for blocking flow of fluid through said bore of said tubular member;
- means operably connected with said bore closure means for urging movement of said bore closure means to the open and closed positions said means including:
- piston means having a pressure responsive surface exposed to fluid pressure for urging on said pressure responsive surface to effect movement of said piston means for moving said bore closure means to control flow of fluid through said bore;
- means sealing with said pressure responsive surface for increasing the pressure responsive surface area exposed to the fluid pressure as said piston means commences to move for moving said bore closure means to control flow of fluid through said bore wherein the fluid pressure effects positive movement of said bore closure means to the other position to control the flow; and
- stabbing means removably mounted with said tubular member for controlling an undesired flowing stream of fluid through the bore of the drilling string by enabling connection of said tubular member with the drilling string with said bore closure means maintained in the open position to form a full bore opening bore flow path and thereafter enabling said bore closure means to move to the closed position by removing said stabbling means from said tubular member wherein the undesired flowing stream is controlled.
- 12. A drilling tool adapted for connection in a drill string to control undesired flow through the bore of the drill string including:
- a tubular member having a bore therethrough and adapted for connection at its upper and lower ends in a drill string with said bore in alignment with the bore of the drill string;
- bore closure means movably disposed in said bore of said tubular member for movement to and from an open position enabling flow of fluid through said bore of said tubular member and to and from a closed position blocking flow of fluid through said bore of said tubular member;
- piston means operably connected with said bore closure means for urging movement of said bore closure means to the open position when the pressure in said bore for enabling the desired flow exceeds the pressure adjacent said tubular member by a predetermined value;
- said piston means includes a piston sleeve movably disposed in said bore of said tubular member and having a first pressure response surface area for urging movement of said piston sleeve in a first direction to operate said bore closure means to the open position when the pressure in said bore for enabling the desired flow exceeds the pressure adjacent said tubular member;
- said piston sleeve and said tubular member form an expansible chamber therebetween;
- said piston sleeve having a second pressure responsive surface for urging movement of said piston means in a second direction to operate said bore closure means to the closed position in response to the pressure in said expansible chamber;
- a flow channel formed in said tubular member and extending from a location on an exterior surface of said tubular member to communicate the pressure adjacent said tubular member with said expansible chamber;
- means mounted with said tubular member for urging movement of said piston sleeve in the second direction to move said bore closure means to the closed position when the pressure adjacent the exterior of said tubular member communicated into said expansible chamber by less than the predetermined pressure;
- said bore closure means includes a ball-type valve member operably connected with said piston sleeve and having an opening therethrough for rotational movement to and from the open and closed positions when said piston sleeve member moves in response to the urgings thereon;
- a seat ring mounted for movement with said piston sleeve and having a sealing surface engaging said ball member for blocking flow of fluid between said ball and said seat ring when said ball is in the open and closed positions; and
- means for spacing said ball member from said sealing surface of said seat ring prior to commencing to effect rotation of said ball member to the open position wherein the spacing movement of said ball member protects said sealing surface from wear.
- 13. A drilling tool adapted for connection in a drill string to control undesired flow through the bore of the drill string including:
- a tubular member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough and means for connection at its upper and lower ends in a drill string with said longitudinal bore in alignment with the bore of the drill string;
- bore closure means movably disposed in said bore of said tubular member for movement to and from an open position enabling flow of fluid through said longitudinal bore of said tubular member and to and from a closed position blocking flow of fluid through said bore of said tubular member;
- piston means operably connected with said bore closure means for urging movement of said bore closure means to the open position when the pressure in said bore for enabling the desired flow exceeds the pressure adjacent said tubular member by a predetermined value;
- said piston means includes a piston sleeve movably disposed in said bore of said tubular member and having a first pressure responsive annular surface area for urging movement of said piston sleeve in a first direction to operate said bore closure means to the open position when the pressure in said bore for enabling the desired flow exceeds the pressure adjacent said tubular member;
- said piston sleeve and said tubular member form an expansible chamber therebetween;
- said piston sleeve having a second pressure responsive annular surface for urging movement of said piston means in a second direction to operate said bore closure means to the closed position in response to the pressure in said expansible chamber;
- a flow channel formed in said tubular member and extending from a location on an exterior surface of said tubular member to communicate the pressure adjacent said tubular member with said expansible chamber;
- means mounted with said tubular member for urging movement of said piston sleeve in the second direction to move said bore closure means to the closed position when the pressure in said bore of said tubular member exceeds the pressure adjacent the exterior of said tubular member communicated into said expansible chamber by less than the predetermined pressure;
- said bore closure means includes a ball-type valve member operably connected with said piston sleeve and having an opening therethrough for rotational movement relative to said piston sleeve to and from the open and closed positions when said piston sleeve member moves in response to the urgings thereon;
- said ball member moves along the longitudinal axis of said bore of said tubular member when rotating to and from the open and closed positions;
- means sealing with said pressure responsive surface for increasing the first pressure responsive surface area exposed to the fluid pressure in said bore as said piston means commences to move for moving said bore closure means to the open position to enable flow of fluid through said bore wherein the fluid pressure effects positive movement of said bore closure means to the open position to control the flow;
- said piston sleeve concentrically positioned in said bore of said tubular member between said ball member and said tubular member; and
- means operably connecting said ball member with said piston sleeve for providing relative movement of said bore closure means to said piston means when said piston sleeve moves in the first direction.
- 14. A drilling tool adapted for connection in a drill string to control undesired flow through the bore of the drill string including:
- a tubular member having a bore therethrough and adapted for connection at its upper and lower ends in a drill string with said bore in alignment with the bore of the drill string;
- bore closure means movably disposed in said bore of said tubular member for movement to and from an open position enabling flow of fluid through said bore of said tubular member and to and from a closed position blocking flow of fluid through said bore of said tubular member;
- piston means operably connected with said bore closure means for urging movement of said bore closure means to the open position when the pressure in said bore for enabling the desired flow exceeds the pressure adjacent said tubular member by a predetermined value;
- said piston means includes a piston sleeve movably disposed in said bore of said tubular member and having a first pressure responsive surface area for urging movement of said piston sleeve in a first direction to operate said bore closure means to the open position when the pressure in said bore for enabling the desired flow exceeds the pressure adjacent said tubular member;
- said piston sleeve and said tubular member form an expansible chamber therebetween;
- said piston sleeves having a second pressure responsive surface for urging movement of said piston means in a second direction to operate said bore closure means to the closed position in response to the pressure in said expansible chamber;
- a flow channel formed in said tubular member and extending from a location on an exterior surface of said tubular member to communicate the pressure adjacent said tubular member with said expansible chamber;
- means mounted with said tubular member for urging movement of said piston sleeve in the second direction to move said bore closure means to the closed position when the pressure in said bore of said tubular member exceeds the pressure adjacent the exterior of said tubular member communicated into said expansible chamber by less than the predetermined pressure; and
- means movably mounted with said tubular member for releasably locking said bore closure means in the open position by operating movement of said releasable locking means actuated by the direct application of fluid pressure in a predetermined manner to effect locking or releasing movement wherein said bore closure means is releasably rendered inoperative to control flow through the bore of the drill string.
- 15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said means for releasably locking said bore closure means in the open position includes:
- a. said bore of said tubular member defining a surface having a recess therein;
- b. a latch assembly movably disposed in said bore of said tubular member for movement when a preselected directional pressure urges thereon to and from a released position enabling pressure responsive movement of said bore closure means and to and from a locking position for blocking movement of said bore closure means from the open position to the closed position; and
- c. a detent member movably mounted with said latch device and adapted to move into said recess when said latch device is in the locking position, said detent member latched in said recess by said latch assembly to secure said latch assembly in the locking position when the preselected directional pressure for locking said bore closure is reduced wherein said bore closure means is rendered inoperative to control flow through the bore of the drill string.
- 16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said latch assembly includes:
- a. a detent latching member having a first pressure responsive surface area for urging said latch assembly to the locking position in response to the preselected directional pressure urging thereon and a second pressure responsive surface area for urging said detent latching member to release said detent from said recess in response to the preselected directional pressure urging thereon;
- b. a latch assembly movement control sleeve movably disposed in said bore of said tubular member for forming a first expansible chamber therebetween for providing pressure urging to said first pressure responsive surface of said detent latching member through a first passageway formed in said sleeve to communicate the pressure in said bore of said tubular member with said first pressure responsive surface, said sleeve and said tubular member forming a second expansible chamber therebetween for providing pressure urging to said second pressure responsive surface of said detent latching member through a second passageway formed in said sleeve to communicate the pressure in said bore of said tubular member with said second pressure responsive surface for normally providing equal pressure urging on said detent latching member; and
- c. said first passageway and said second passageway spaced a sufficient distance to receive a plug means therebetween to control the directional pressure urging on said latch device wherein the operating movements of said latch device are effected.
- 17. A drilling tool adapted for connection in a drill string to control undesired flow through the bore of the drill string including:
- a tubular member having a bore therethrough and adapted for connection at its upper and lower ends in a drill string with said bore in alignment with the bore of the drill string;
- bore closure means movably disposed in said bore of said tubular member for movement to and from an open position enabling flow of fluid through said bore of said tubular member and to and from a closed position blocking flow of fluid through said bore of said tubular member;
- piston means operably connected with said bore closure means for urging movement of said bore closure means to the open position when the pressure in said bore for enabling the desired flow exceeds the pressure adjacent said tubular member by a predetermined value;
- said piston means includes a piston sleeve movably disposed in said bore of said tubular member and having a first pressure responsive surface area for urging movement of said piston sleeve in a first direction to operate said bore closure means to the open position when the pressure in said bore for enabling the desired flow exceeds the pressure adjacent said tubular member;
- said piston sleeve and said tubular member form an expansible chamber therebetween;
- said piston sleeve having a second pressure responsive surface for urging movement of said piston means in a second direction to operate said bore closure means to the closed position in response to the pressure in said expansible chamber;
- a flow channel formed in said tubular member and extending from a location on an exterior surface of said tubular member to communicate the pressure adjacent said tubular member with said expansible chamber;
- means mounted with said tubular member for urging movement of said piston sleeve in the second direction to move said bore closure means to the closed position when the pressure in said bore of said tubular member exceeds the pressure adjacent the exterior of said tubular member communicated into said expansible chamber by less than the predetermined pressure; and
- stabbing means for moving said piston sleeve to overcome said urging means for controlling an undesired flowing stream of fluid from the bore of the drilling string by enabling connection of said tubular member with the drilling string with said bore closure means maintained in the full open position to form a full opening flow path and thereafter enabling said bore closure means to move to the closed position wherein the undesired flowing stream of fluid is controlled.
- 18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said stabbing means includes a stabbing member removably secured in said bore of said tubular member for engaging said piston sleeve to maintain said bore closure means in the open position, said bore closure means moving to the closed position when the stabbing member is removed from said bore wherein the undesired flowing stream of fluid is controlled.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 201,878 filed Nov. 24, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,942.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
201878 |
Nov 1971 |
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