U.S. patent number 3,776,308 [Application Number 05/172,447] was granted by the patent office on 1973-12-04 for safety valve arrangement for controlling communication between the interior and exterior of a tubular member.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Lynes, Inc.. Invention is credited to Billy C. Malone.
United States Patent |
3,776,308 |
Malone |
December 4, 1973 |
SAFETY VALVE ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE
INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF A TUBULAR MEMBER
Abstract
An arrangement for controlling fluid communication between the
interior of a tubular member and interior of an inflatable element
supported externally on the tubular member including fluid passage
means communicating from the interior of the tubular member to the
interior of the inflatable element with valve means normally seated
to close off flow from the interior of the tubular member to the
interior of the inflatable element until a predetermined pressure
has been exerted thereon. After the valve has been opened to
communicate fluid from the interior of the tubular member to the
interior of the inflatable element for inflation thereof, the valve
closes when a predetermined relationship is reached between the
pressure in the interior of the tubular member and externally of
the tubular member. Locking means are provided to lock the valve in
closed position and prevent further communication between the
interior of the tubular member and interior of the inflatable
element when the valve closes.
Inventors: |
Malone; Billy C. (Houston,
TX) |
Assignee: |
Lynes, Inc. (Houston,
TX)
|
Family
ID: |
22627725 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/172,447 |
Filed: |
August 17, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/187;
166/122 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
33/127 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
33/127 (20060101); E21B 33/12 (20060101); E21b
033/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;166/120,122,141,187,212 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Champion; Marvin A.
Assistant Examiner: Ebel; Jack E.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An arrangement for controlling fluid communication between the
interior of a tubular member and the interior of an inflatable
element supported externally on the tubular member comprising:
a. valve housing means adapted to be connected with a tubular
member;
b. there being first passage means in said valve housing for
communicating fluid from the interior of the tubular member to the
interior of an inflatable element supported externally on the
tubular member;
c. there being second passage means in said valve housing extending
through said housing from the exterior and terminating in said
first passage means;
d. valve means positioned in said second passage means for
controlling flow through said first passage means;
e. means to retain said valve means in closed position to prevent
fluid flow from the interior of the tubular member to the interior
of the inflatable element until a predetermined pressure is exerted
in said first passage means against said valve means;
f. spring means normally urging said valve toward closed position;
and
g. valve locking means responsive after said valve means has been
opened and then moved to closed position for locking said valve in
closed position.
2. The invention of claim 1 including frangible closure means
closing off the first passage means to the interior of the tubular
member.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,142, there is disclosed an inflatable packer
for external use on tubular members such as casing, liners, and the
like. A valving arrangement is disclosed therein for containing
fluid within the interior of the inflatable member after it has
been inflated to prevent its return to the tubular member.
In some instances it is desirable to prevent any further
communication between the interior of the tubular member and the
interior of the inflatable element after the inflatable element has
been inflated and set in a well bore. For example, should the
packer rupture or should a leak occur therein, the valving
arrangement of the above-identified patent will not necessarily
preclude the possibility of fluid communication internally of the
tubular member to the exterior thereof through the damaged
inflatable element. Even in those instances, where an inflatable
element is set with cement therein or some other type of substance
such as a plastic, this still would not preclude communication to
the exterior of the tubular member into the surrounding well bore
through the damaged or ruptured inflated element.
While the valving arrangement of the above-identified invention is
satisfactory for the purposes intended as disclosed therein, in
those instances where it is desired to prevent communication
between the interior and exterior of the tubular member on which
the inflatable element is carried, the present invention may be
employed to permit inflation of the inflatable element and to
thereafter seal off communication between the interior of the
tubular member and the interior of the inflatable element carried
on the exterior of the tubular member to reduce, if not eliminate,
the possibility of any fluid communication should any damage or
leakage later occur in the inflated element externally positioned
on the tubular member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention relates to a valving arrangement for
use primarily in connection with an external inflatable element
such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,142. It can be
appreciated, however, that the present invention may be employed in
connection with any well tool wherein it is desired to control
communication between the interior of the tubular member and
externally thereof.
The present invention is constructed and arranged so that valve
means remains seated to prevent communication between the interior
of the tubular member and the interior of an inflatable element
carried on the exterior of the tubular member until a
pre-determined pressure has been reached. This reduces the
possibility of premature inflation of the inflatable element by
sudden changes or pressure surges which may occur within the
tubular member as the tubular member is being positioned in a well
bore.
After the valve arrangement of the present invention has been
opened to accommodate fluid passage from the interior of the
tubular member to the interior of the inflatable element positioned
on the exterior of the tubular member, it is constructed and
arranged so that when a predetermined pressure relationship between
the interior of the tubular member and the exterior thereof is
reached, the valve will move towards seated position, and means are
provided for locking the valve in seated, closed position to
prevent any further communication in the fluid passage between the
interior of the tubular member and the interior of the inflatable
element carried on the exterior thereof. This closes off the
passage to any fluid communication between the interior and
exterior of the tubular member.
An object of the present invention is to provide a valving
arrangement for communicating fluid from the interior of a tubular
member to the exterior thereof including means to maintain the
valve closed until the application of a predetermined pressure
thereof, means to urge the valve towards reseating when the
pressure differential between the interior of the tubular member
and exterior thereof reaches a predetermined amount, and means for
locking the valve in seated position when the pressure differential
between the interior and exterior of the tubular member reaches a
predetermined amount.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a sectional view partly in elevation illustrating the
form of the valve arrangement of the present invention in
connection with its use with an inflatable element positioned on
the exterior of a tubular member;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cutaway view on the line 2--2 of FIG.
1 illustrating in greater detail the preferred form of the valving
arrangement of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating the components of the
portion of the valve means employed with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrates the position of
the valving means after having moved towards open position to
accommodate fluid flow from the interior of the tubular member to
the interior of the well tool such as the inflatable element as
illustrated in FIG. 1 positioned externally of the tubular member;
and
FIG. 5 is a schematic representation showing the position of the
valve means after the valve means have been reseated and locked in
position to prevent any further fluid communication between the
interior and exterior of the tubular member through the fluid
passage means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 of the drawings wherein a
tubular member 10 such as a casing or the like is illustrated. A
valve housing referred to generally by the numeral 15 is secured by
suitable means such as threads as illustrated in FIG. 1 with the
tubular member 10 and incorporated therein is an arrangement
illustrated generally at 20 for communicating fluid from the
interior 21 of the tubular member 10 and valve housing 15 to the
interior 21a of the reinforced inflatable element referred to
generally at 25 carried externally on the tubular member.
The present invention is described in detail in connection with its
use wherein it is desired to communicate fluid from the interior 21
of the tubular member 10 to the interior 21a of the inflatable
element 25 positioned externally on the tubular member 10. The
inflatable element includes the spaced annular heads 26 and 27, the
head 26 being secured to the valve housing 15 at its upper end and
the inflatable element 25 extends between the heads 26 and 27. The
inflatable element may be of any suitable length and is provided
with an elastomer outer cover 28, a reinforcing 29, and an inner
tube 30 which extend between the spaced annular heads 26 and 27.
The tubular member 10 is connected to the lower end of the valve
housing 15 by suitable means such as threads and extends downwardly
through the inflatable element 25 as shown in FIG. 1. Suitable seal
means as illustrated at 31 are provided in the head 27 of
inflatable element 25 to inhibit leakage therefrom.
A first fluid passage means identified generally at 16 is formed on
the valve housing 15 and includes the annular groove 17 formed on
the inner surface of the valve housing 15; the annular groove 18 in
the valve housing; the annular passage 17a between grooves 17 and
18; the port 19 extending partially through the wall of the valve
housing 15; and the passage portions 19' and 19a which extend
through the valve housing 15 between the inner and outer walls
thereof as generally illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the
drawings.
The portion 19' of first passage means 16 includes a first portion
19b, a second portion 19c, and a third portion 19d which extend as
shown in FIG. 2 and are circumferentially spaced in the wall 15a of
valve housing 15. The passage portion 19b communicates with the
port 19; passage portion 19c communicates with portion 19b and
portion 19d; and passage portion 19d communicates with passage
portion 19a.
As illustrated, a plurality of second passage means 21, 22, and 23
each extends partially through the wall 15a of the valve housing
from the exterior surface thereof represented at 24 and interrupt
the fluid passage 16 at the portion 19 thereof at spaced intervals
as illustrated in FIG. 2. Valve means referred to generally at 40,
40a, and 40b are provided in each of the second passage means 21,
22, and 23, respectively.
The valve means 40 arranged in second passage means 21 includes an
end portion 42 provided with an elastomer for engaging on the seat
43 formed between passage portions 19b and 19c of first passage
means 16. The valve body 44, as illustrated, is cylindrical in
configuration and is reduced in size at a point spaced from the end
portion 42 to form a valve stem 45 and a first shoulder 46 on the
valve stem at the juncture of the valve body and the valve stem 45.
Suitable seal means 47 are arranged on the valve body 44 between
the end portion 42 and first shoulder 46 for sealing with the
second passage means 21 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.
A second shoulder 48 is provided on the valve stem spaced from the
shoulder 46 and from the end 49 of the valve stem 45. A collet 50
better illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings surrounds the valve
stem adjacent one end with the end 49 of the valve stem abutting
the inner end of the collet 50.
Means are provided for retaining the valve means 40 in the second
passage means 21, such means being illustrated in the form of an
annular retainer housing 51 which may be secured in the outer end
of the second passage means by any suitable means such as threads
or the like as illustrated in the drawings.
A shear pin 52 extends through the end of the retainer housing
means 51 and the end of the collet means as shown in FIG. 2 to
retain valve means 40 in seated position on the seat 43 to block
off fluid flow in passage means 16 from the interior 21 of the
tubular member 10 to the interior 21a of the inflatable element 25.
Spring means 53 surround valve stem 45 with one end of the spring
abutting the shoulder 46 and its other end abutting the end 55 of
the collet, such spring means being forced to a collapsed position
as illustrated when the valve means 40 is in the position as
illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.
As more clearly seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the shear pin 52 is
adapted to be received through an opening 52a formed in the
retainer housing means 51, and an opening 50a in collet 50 and the
strength of shear pin 52 will determine the amount of fluid
pressure necessary in passage 16 to unseat the valve 40 and permit
fluid flow through the passage means 16 from the interior of the
tubular member 10 to the interior of the inflatable element 25. The
retainer housing 51 is provided with a bore 51a extending from one
end for receiving the end of the collet 50 which surrounds the stem
45, and also includes an enlarged counterbore 52b extending from
the other end of the collet. At the end of the counterbore 52b
there is formed a first shoulder 53 having an inwardly tapered
surface 53a as shown in FIG. 3. At the inner end of the surface 53a
there is a second counterbore 53b of reduced diameter relative to
counterbore 52b, but larger than bore 51a. This second counterbore
along with annular inwardly tapered surface 54a which extends from
second counterbore 53b form a second shoulder 54 immediately
adjacent one end of bore 51a. Thus, the second shoulder 54 is
spaced radially inwardly towards the longitudinal center line
through the counterbore 52b and opening 51a of the retainer housing
51 relative to first shoulder 53 for a purpose as will be described
in greater detail hereinafter.
The collet 50 includes a plurality of longitudinal slots 56 which
extend from a point spaced from one end of the collet 50 to the
other end. Enlarged cylindrical ends 57 are provided on the other
end of the collet 50, and each of the cylindrical ends 57 has a
sloping surface 58 sloping downwards towards the cylindrical
surface 59 of the collet 50. The longitudinally extending slots 56
are wide enough to permit the collet to collapse or to flex
inwardly relative towards the valve stem 45 for a purpose to be
described hereinafter.
It will be noted that the valve housing 15 is provided with a
cylindrical bore and suitable sleeve means 15b are provided within
the bore to retain the seals 15c in position to inhibit leakage
into the passage means 16. The sleeve 15b may be retained by spring
15g. The first fluid passage means 16 may be closed off by any
suitable means such as the plug 15d which may be threaded in the
opening 15e of the sleeve 15b adjacent the annular groove 17 in the
valve housing 15. When the closure 15d is employed, it can be
appreciated that any communication between the interior of the
tubular member 10 and the fluid passage means 16 is inhibited. This
prevents pressure variations or pressure surges from acting through
the passage means 16 and unseating the valve means 40 which might
prematurely inflate the element 25.
When it is desired to actuate the device and communicate fluid to
the interior 21a of the inflatable member 25 carried on the
exterior of the casing, or tubular member 10, any suitable means
may be dropped through the casing 10 so as to break or shear the
closure 15d to thereby permit fluid communication with the annular
groove 17 of the first passage means 16 in the valve housing 15 as
illustrated by the arrow 15f in FIG. 4 of the drawings. Thereafter,
fluid may be communicated through the groove 17, annular passage
17a, groove 18, and to the passage portion 19, port 19 forming a
part of the fluid passage means 16 which, as noted previously, is
formed between the inner and outer walls of the valve housing 15.
Such fluid pressure then acts upon the end portion 42 of the valve
means 40, and the pressure within the tubular member 10 may be
increased so as to shear the pin 52 whereupon the valve means 40
moves to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. When
this occurs, the valve means 40 moves longitudinally of the second
fluid passage means 21 and its valve stem 45 as well as the collet
50 surrounding the end thereof move outwardly through the opening
51a of the valve retaining housing 51 as illustrated in FIG. 2 of
the drawings. When this occurs, the sloped surfaces 58 on the
collet 50 engage the annular tapered surface 53a of first shoulder
means 53 in the valve retaining housing or means 51 as shown in
FIG. 3 of the drawings. The movement of the valve 40 also collapses
the spring 53 between the shoulder 46 formed at one end of the
valve stem 45 and the end 55 of the collet. As illustrated in the
drawings, additional valves 40a and 40b are provided in each of the
second fluid passage means 22 and 23, respectively. A retainer
housing 51c of slightly different configuration is provided for
each of the valves 40a and 40b, the valves 40a and 40b being in the
form of spring loaded check valves as illustrated.
Since the shear pin 52 retains the valve 40 closed until a
predetermined pressure is built up in the passage 16 acting on the
end 42, opening of the valve 40 enables the inflatable element to
be supplied with a surge of inflating pressure fluid so that it may
inflate rapidly. As the inflatable element 25 inflates, the lower
annular head 27 moves along the exterior surface of the tubular
member 10, and to inhibit leakage of fluid from the interior of the
inflatable element, suitable seals as illustrated at 28b are
provided in an extension of head 27 for sealing with the exterior
surface of the tubular member 10 as expansion of the inflatable
element 25 occurs.
Fluid is conducted from tubular member 10 to the interior of the
inflatable element 25 until inflation thereof is accomplished.
Valve 40 will remain in open position until the pressure exteriorly
of the tubular member 10 approaches the pressure interiorly of the
tubular member 10 that is supplied through the fluid passage 16. It
will be noted that pressure exteriorly of the tubular member may
act on the valve member 40 in conjunction with spring 53 to tend to
close it, and when the spring pressure plus the pressure externally
of the tubular member 10 acting on the seal 47 equals or exceeds
the pressure within the first fluid passage means 16, the valve
means 40 will be moved towards seating position. When this occurs,
the spring 53 will act to move the collet 50 longitudinally along
the valve stem until the tapered surfaces 58 thereon engage the
annular tapered surface 54a of the second shoulder means 54, and
when this occurs, the collet means 50 is collapsed radially
inwardly as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings so that the end
55 of the collet engages the second shoulder 48 formed on valve
stem 45. When this occurs, the valve means 40 is then locked in
closed, seated position to prevent any further communication in the
passage means 16 from the interior of the tubular member 10 to the
exterior of the tubular member 10 and the interior of the
inflatable element 25.
It will be noted that the passage portion 19a of first passage
means 16 terminates at the end 15h of the valve housing. The fluid
from passage portion 19a then passes to the interior of inner tube
30 which surrounds the exterior of tubular member 10 extending from
the valve housing 15.
It can be appreciated that if any damage should occur to the
inflatable element at a later date so as to cause leakage
therefrom, such leakage will be prevented from communicating with
the interior of the tubular member 10 since the valve member 40 is
locked in seated closed position. Also, no well fluids will be
communicated to the interior of the tubular member.
The inflatable element may be inflated with cement, liquid,
plastic, or gas, and the present invention will still function to
prevent communication should a leak ever occur in the inflated
element.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are
illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the
size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the
illustrated construction may be made without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
* * * * *