Claims
- 1. A valve apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having a flow passage disposed therethrough;
- flow valve means disposed in said housing and movable between a closed position wherein said flow passage is closed, and an open position wherein said flow passage is open;
- power mandrel means, disposed in said housing, said power mandrel means being operatively associated with said flow valve means for moving said flow valve means from its closed position to its open position upon movement of said power mandrel means in a first direction longitudinally within said housing from a first position to a second position;
- a power piston included in said power mandrel means, said power piston including:
- a main piston having a first differential area; and
- a booster piston means, operably associated with said main piston, for initially providing an additional differential area to said first differential area of said main piston, and for thereby providing an additional initial force for moving said flow valve means from its closed position to a partially open position;
- power passage means disposed in said housing for transmitting pressure from a well annulus external of said housing to a first side of said power piston;
- a first chamber disposed in said housing and filled at least partially with a compressible liquid, a second side of said power piston being in fluid communication with said first chamber so that pressure from said compressible liquid is transmitted to said second side of said power piston;
- a second chamber disposed in said housing;
- a floating piston means disposed in said second chamber and dividing said second chamber into a first zone and a second zone;
- an equalizing passage means, disposed in said housing for transmitting said pressure from said well annulus external of said housing to said second zone of said second chamber;
- a pressurizing passage communicating said first chamber with said first zone of said second chamber;
- a first back pressure check valve means, disposed in said pressurizing passage, for allowing liquid to flow from said first zone of said second chamber through said pressurizing passage into said first chamber when a pressure in said first zone of said second chamber exceeds a pressure of said compressible liquid in said first chamber by a first predetermined value, and for preventing liquid from flowing from said first chamber through said pressurizing passage to said first zone of said second chamber;
- a depressurizing passage communicating said first chamber with said first zone of said second chamber; and
- a second back pressure check valve means, disposed in said depressurizing passage, for allowing liquid to flow from said first chamber through said depressurizing passage into said first zone of said second chamber when the pressure in said first chamber exceeds the pressure in said first zone of said second chamber by a second predetermined value, said second predetermined value being greater than said first predetermined value, and for preventing liquid from flowing from said first zone of said second chamber through said depressurizing passage into said first chamber.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
- said first chamber is completely filled with said compressible liquid; and
- said first zone of said second chamber is filled with said compressible liquid.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
- said first chamber is divided into a first zone and a second zone by a second floating piston;
- said first zone of said first chamber is filled with said compressible liquid;
- said second zone of said first chamber is communicated with said pressurizing passage and said depressurizing passage; and
- both said second zone of said first chamber and said first zone of said second chamber are filled with a substantially noncompressible liquid.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
- an initial volume of said first chamber when said power mandrel means is in its first position is sufficiently large that said compressible liquid in said first chamber may be compressed into a final volume of said first chamber as said power mandrel means moves rapidly from its first position to its second position, said final volume being smaller than said initial volume.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
- said second predetermined value exceeds said first predetermined value by an amount sufficient that when a pressure differential of said amount is applied across said power piston from said second side toward said first side thereof, when said power mandrel means is in its said second position, a sufficient force is exerted on said power piston to move said power mandrel means back to its said first position.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- a flow impedance means, disposed in said pressurizing passage, for impeding flow of liquid through said pressurizing passage so that upon rapid pressurization of said well annulus an annulus fluid pressure in said annulus will increase faster than said annulus fluid pressure can be transmitted through said pressurizing passage to said first chamber, thereby creating a differential pressure across said power piston from said first side toward said second side thereof sufficient to move said power mandrel means from its said first position to its said second position to thereby open said flow valve means.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- a flow impedance means, disposed in said depressurizing passage, for impeding flow of liquid through said depressurizing passage so that when said power mandrel means is in its said second position and said well annulus is rapidly depressurized, an annulus fluid pressure in said annulus will decrease faster than the pressure of the compressible liquid in said first chamber will decrease, thereby creating a pressure differential across said power piston from said second side toward said first side thereof greater than an amount by which said second predetermined value exceeds said first predetermined value.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
- said floating piston means is arranged within said second chamber so that said floating piston means may move in either of two opposite directions relative to said housing to either increase or decrease a volume of said first zone of said second chamber to allow for both expansion and contraction of said compressible liquid due to pressure and temperature changes as said valve apparatus is lowered into a well.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- releasable holding means, operably associated with said housing and said power mandrel means, for holding said power mandrel means in its said first position until a pressure differential across said power piston from said first side toward said second side thereof exceeds a third predetermined value, and for holding said power mandrel means in its said second position until a pressure differential across said power piston from said second side toward said first side thereof exceeds a fourth predetermined value, said fourth predetermined value being less than a difference between said first predetermined value and said second predetermined value.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:
- said releasable holding means includes a radially resilient collet sleeve connected to said housing and a shoulder extending radially outward from said power mandrel means, said sleeve and said shoulder each having upper and lower tapered surfaces arranged so that when said shoulder moves past said sleeve one of said tapered surfaces of said shoulder engages one of said tapered surfaces of said sleeve and causes said sleeve to expand radially to allow said shoulder to pass therethrough.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
- said compressible liquid is silicone oil.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
- said flow passage is a central axial flow passage; and
- said flow valve means is a full opening ball valve.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
- said power mandrel means and said flow valve means are so arranged and constructed that said flow valve means is moved from its closed position to its open position in one continuous movement simultaneous with movement of said power mandrel means from its first position to its second position in one continuous movement.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
- an initial volume of said first chamber when said power mandrel means is in its first position is sufficiently large that said compressible liquid in said first chamber may be compressed into a final volume of said first chamber as said power mandrel means moves rapidly from its first position to its second position, said final volume being smaller than said initial volume;
- said second predetermined value exceeds said first predetermined value by an amount sufficient that when a pressure differential of said amount is applied across said power piston from said second side toward said first side thereof, when said power mandrel means is in its second position, a sufficient force is exerted on said power piston to move said power mandrel means back to its said first position;
- said apparatus further includes a flow impedance means, disposed in said pressurizing passage, for impeding flow of liquid through said pressurizing passage so that upon rapid pressurization of said well annulus an annulus fluid pressure in said annulus will increase faster than said annulus fluid pressure can be transmitted through said pressurizing passage to said first chamber, thereby creating a differential pressure across said power piston from said first side toward said second side thereof sufficient to move said power mandrel means from its said first position to its said second position to thereby open said flow valve means;
- said apparatus further includes a second flow impedance means, disposed in said depressurizing passage, for impeding flow of liquid through said depressurizing passage so that when said power mandrel means is in its said second position and said well annulus is rapidly depressurized, an annulus fluid pressure in said annulus will decrease faster than the pressure of the compressible liquid in said first chamber will decrease, thereby creating a pressure differential across said power piston from said second side toward said first side thereof greater than an amount by which said second predetermined value exceeds said first predetermined value;
- said floating piston means is arranged within said second chamber so that said floating piston means may move in either of two opposite directions relative to said housing to either increase or decrease a volume of said first zone of said second chamber to allow for both expansion and contraction of said compressible liquid due to pressure and temperature changes as said valve apparatus is lowered into a well; and
- said power mandrel means and said flow valve means are so arranged and constructed that said flow valve means is moved from its closed position to its open position in one continuous movement simultaneous with movement of said power mandrel means from its first position to its second position in one continuous movement.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- limit means, operably associated with said booster piston means, for limiting movement of said booster piston means in said first direction when said flow valve has been moved to said partially open position and for allowing said main piston to continue moving in said first direction.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:
- second limit means, operably associated with said booster piston means, for limiting movement of said booster piston means in a second direction opposite said first direction, when said booster piston means returns to an initial position thereof.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:
- an initial volume of said first chamber when said power mandrel means is in its first position is sufficiently large that said compressible liquid in said first chamber may be compressed into a final volume of said first chamber as said power mandrel means moves rapidly from its first position to its second position, said final volume being smaller than said initial volume.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:
- said limit means is a stop lug extending radially inward from said housing for engaging said booster piston means and preventing further movement thereof in said first direction.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
- said booster piston means is an annular booster piston means disposed concentrically about said main piston;
- said power piston includes a first annular resilient sliding seal means between said main piston and said booster piston means, and a second annular resilient sliding seal means between said booster piston means and an internal bore of said housing; and
- said annular booster piston means includes an engagement means for engaging said main piston, and for transferring to said main piston a force resulting from a pressure differential between said well annulus and said first chamber acting across said additional differential area of said annular booster piston means when a pressure of said well annulus exceeds a pressure in said first chamber and when said power mandrel means is in its said first position.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
- limit means, operably associated with said booster piston means, for limiting movement of said booster piston means in said first direction when said flow valve has been moved to said partially open position and for allowing said main piston to continue moving in said first direction.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:
- said limit means is a stop lug extending radially inward from said housing for engaging said booster piston means and preventing further movement thereof in said first direction.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:
- second limit means, operably associated with said booster piston means, for limiting movement of said booster piston means in a second direction opposite said first direction, when said booster piston means returns to an initial position thereof.
- 23. A valve apparatus, comprising:
- an outer housing including:
- an upper housing adapter;
- a valve housing section connected to said upper housing adapter;
- an upper filler nipple connected to said valve housing section;
- a power housing section connected to said upper filler nipple;
- a liquid spring chamber connector connected to said power housing section;
- a liquid spring chamber housing section connected to said liquid spring chamber connector;
- a lower filler nipple connected to said liquid spring chamber housing section;
- a lower housing section connected to said lower filler nipple; and
- a lower housing adapter connected to said lower housing section;
- valve means, disposed in said valve housing section, and movable between open and closed positions;
- power mandrel means, disposed in said outer housing, and including a power piston received within a cylindrical inner bore of said power housing section, said power mandrel including:
- a main piston;
- an annular booster piston disposed concentrically about said main piston;
- a first annular resilient sliding seal means disposed between said main piston and said booster piston;
- a second annular resilient sliding seal means disposed between said booster piston and said cylindrical inner bore of said power housing section;
- an engagement means, disposed on said annular booster piston, for engaging said main piston and transferring to said main piston a force developed by a differential pressure acting across said booster piston; and
- a stop lug means extending radially inward from said power housing section, for engaging said booster piston and preventing further movement thereof, after said valve means is partially opened; said power mandrel means being operatively associated with said valve means for movement of said valve means between its open and closed positions upon movement of said power piston within said power housing section, a lower end of said power mandrel means being slidably and sealingly received within a central bore of said liquid spring chamber connector;
- a power port disposed through a wall of said power housing section and arranged to be in fluid communication with an upper side of said power piston;
- a liquid spring chamber mandrel means having an upper end connected to said liquid spring chamber connector and a lower end received in a bore of said lower filler nipple, said liquid spring chamber mandrel means being spaced radially inward from said liquid spring chamber housing section so as to define an annular main spring chamber which is in fluid communication with a lower side of said power piston;
- a lower mandrel having an upper end connected to said lower filler nipple and a lower end sealingly received in a bore of said lower housing adapter, said lower mandrel being spaced radially inward from said lower housing section to define an annular equalizing chamber;
- a metering cartridge disposed between said lower housing section and said lower mandrel at an upper end of said equalizing chamber;
- pressurizing passage means, disposed through said lower filler nipple and said metering cartridge, for communicating said main spring chamber with said equalizing chamber;
- a pressurizing back pressure check valve disposed in said pressurizing passage means within said metering cartridge, for allowing liquid to flow from said equalizing chamber to said main spring chamber;
- a first time delay liquid flow restriction disposed in said pressurizing passage means within said metering cartridge;
- a depressurizing passage means, disposed through said lower filler nipple and said metering cartridge for communicating said main spring chamber with said equalizing chamber;
- a depressurizing back pressure check valve, disposed in said depressurizing passage means within said metering cartridge, for allowing liquid to flow from said main spring chamber to said equalizing chamber;
- a second time delay liquid flow restriction disposed in said depressurizing passage means within said metering cartridge;
- an equalizing port disposed through a wall of said lower housing section; and
- a floating piston means, disposed in said equalizing chamber above said equalizing port.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:
- a limit means, operably associated with said booster piston, for limiting upward movement of said booster piston when said booster piston returns to an initial position thereof.
- 25. A downhole tool apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
- an operating element disposed in said housing;
- a power piston means disposed in said housing, one side of said power piston means being communicated with a power source of pressurized fluid, said power piston means being operably associated with said operating element so that said operating element is moved between first and second positions in response to movement of said power piston means between an initial position and a final position;
- a first chamber disposed in said housing and filled at least partially with a compressible liquid, a second side of said power piston means being in fluid communication with said first chamber so that pressure from said compressible liquid is transmitted to said second side of said power piston means, said first chamber and said compressible liquid providing a compressible liquid spring means for resiliently opposing motion of said power piston means in a first direction from its initial position toward its final position and for providing a restoring force to move said power piston means back to its initial position;
- wherein said power piston means includes:
- a main piston having a first differential area acted upon by a pressure differential between said power source and said first chamber; and
- a booster piston means, operably associated with said main piston, for initially providing an additional differential area to said first differential area of said main piston and for thereby providing an additional initial force for moving said operating element through a first portion of its travel from its first position toward its second position.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:
- limit means, operably associated with said booster piston means, for limiting movement of said booster piston means in said first direction when said operating element has been moved through said first portion of its travel from its first position toward its second position and for allowing said main piston to continue moving in said first direction.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:
- second limit means, operably associated with said booster piston means, for limiting movement of said booster piston means in a second direction opposite said first direction, when said booster piston means returns to an initial position thereof.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein:
- said operating element is a flow valve;
- said first and second positions of said flow valve are closed and open positions, respectively; and
- said first portion of travel of said flow valve corresponds to movement of said flow valve from its said closed position to a partially open position whereby a pressure differential across said flow valve is relieved thereby reducing a frictional force opposing continued movement of said flow valve to its open second position.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein:
- an initial volume of said first chamber, when said power piston means is in its initial position, is sufficiently large that said compressible liquid in said first chamber may be compressed into a final volume of said first chamber as said power piston means moves rapidly from its initial position to its final position, said final volume being smaller than said initial volume.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein:
- said booster piston means is an annular booster piston means disposed concentrically about said main piston;
- said power piston means includes a first annular resilient sliding seal means between said main piston and said booster piston means, and a second annular resilient sliding seal means between said booster piston means and an internal bore of said housing; and
- said annular booster piston means includes an engagement means for engaging said main piston and transferring to said main piston a force resulting from said pressure differential between said power source and said first chamber acting across said additional differential area of said annular booster piston means, when a pressure of said power source exceeds pressure in said first chamber and when said power piston means is in its initial position.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:
- limit means, operably associated with said booster piston means, for limiting movement of said booster piston means in said first direction when said operating element has been moved through said first portion of its travel from its first position toward its second position and for allowing said main piston to continue moving in said first direction.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:
- second limit means, operably associated with said booster piston means, for limiting movement of said booster piston means in a second direction opposite said first direction, when said booster piston means returns to an initial position thereof.
- 33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein:
- said limit means is a stop lug extending radially inward from said housing for engaging said booster piston means and preventing further movement thereof in said first direction.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending previously filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 354,529 filed Mar. 4, 1982.
US Referenced Citations (30)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
"APR Ball Valve Tester", Halliburton Services Sales and Service Catalog--No. 39, pp. 3310-3311. |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
354529 |
Mar 1982 |
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