US3703213A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mud saver apparatus
Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
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Filing: 1970-10-21
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Granted: 1972-11-21
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Expires: 1990-10-21
Abstract
Abstract Mud saver apparatus to be disposed at the lower end of a kelly adapted to be secured to a string of drill pipe and to pass through a rotary table, which can rotate the kelly, drill pipe, and bit secured thereto, for the purpose of drilling a bore hole in a formation while drilling mud is being pumped through the kelly drill pipe and bit, the apparatus including a tubular body and an elastic bladder disposed across the body passage by a gas under pressure to close the passage when drilling mud or other fluid is not being pumped through the kelly, but which is deflected to passage opening position by drilling mud pumped through the kelly and body passage at a pressure exceeding the gas pressure. Automatic closing of the body passage by the gas pressure when pumping of drilling mud ceases prevents the drilling mud from dropping out of the kelly when it is disconnected from the drill pipe therebelow.
Inventors
- 👤 Archer W Kammerer Jr
- 👤 Gary R Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:03
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B21/00; E21B21/10; E21B21/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
In valve apparatus for incorporation in a tubular string at the lower end of a kelly: a body having a fluid passage therethrough and adapted to be disposed at the lower end of the kelly; a generally cup-shaped elastic bladder in said body adapted to extend across said passage to close the same, said body having a lateral opening communicating with said passage, said bladder having an open end portion in said opening and sealed against said body, said bladder having a portion projecting from said end portion laterally across said passage and adapted to conform to and seal against a substantial portion of the wall of the body defining said passage, and means for feeding a gaseous medium under pressure through said open end portion into the interior of said bladder to exert an inflating force in said bladder tending to retain it in extended position sealeD against said body passage wall to close said passage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
In valve apparatus for incorporation in a tubular string at the lower end of a kelly: a body having a fluid passage therethrough and adapted to be disposed at the lower end of the kelly; a generally cup-shaped elastic bladder in said body adapted to extend across said passage to close the same, said body having a lateral opening communicating with said passage, said bladder having an open end portion in said opening and sealed against said body, said bladder having a portion projecting from said end portion laterally across said passage and adapted to conform to and seal against a substantial portion of the wall of the body defining said passage, and means for feeding a gaseous medium under pressure through said open end portion into the interior of said bladder to exert an inflating force in said bladder tending to retain it in extended position sealeD against said body passage wall to close said passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
157 words
In valve apparatus for incorporation in a tubular string at the lower end of a kelly: a body having a fluid passage therethrough and adapted to be disposed at the lower end of the kelly; a generally cup-shaped elastic bladder in said body adapted to extend across said passage to close the same, said body having a lateral opening communicating with said passage, said bladder having an open end portion in said opening and sealed against said body, said bladder having a portion projecting from said end portion laterally across said passage and adapted to conform to and seal against a substantial portion of the wall of the body defining said passage, and means for feeding a gaseous medium under pressure through said open end portion into the interior of said bladder to exert an inflating force in said bladder tending to retain it in extended position sealeD against said body passage wall to close said passage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
157 words
In valve apparatus for incorporation in a tubular string at the lower end of a kelly: a body having a fluid passage therethrough and adapted to be disposed at the lower end of the kelly; a generally cup-shaped elastic bladder in said body adapted to extend across said passage to close the same, said body having a lateral opening communicating with said passage, said bladder having an open end portion in said opening and sealed against said body, said bladder having a portion projecting from said end portion laterally across said passage and adapted to conform to and seal against a substantial portion of the wall of the body defining said passage, and means for feeding a gaseous medium under pressure through said open end portion into the interior of said bladder to exert an inflating force in said bladder tending to retain it in extended position sealeD against said body passage wall to close said passage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said feeding means including a valve adapted to permit introduction of the gaseous medium into said bladder but preventing return flow of the gaseous medium to the exterior of the body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; and closure means in said opening closing said opening and securing said open end portion in sealed relation to said body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; closure means in said opening closing said opening and securing said open end portion in sealed relation to said body; said feeding means including a valve in said closure means adapted to permit introduction of the gaseous medium into said bladder but preventing return flow of the gaseous medium to the exterior of said closure means and body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; closure means in said opening closing said opening and securing said open end portion in sealed relation to said body; said closure means having gas storage means therein communicating with the interior of said bladder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; closure means in said opening closing said opening and securing said open end portion in sealed relation to said body; said feeding means including a valve in said closure means adapted to permit introduction of the gaseous medium into said bladder but preventing return flow of the gaseous medium to the exterior of said closure means and body; said closure means having gas storage means therein communicating with the interior of said bladder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
119 words
In valve apparatus for incorporation in a tubular string at the lower end of a kelly: a body having a fluid passage therein and adapted to be disposed at the lower end of the kelly; and elastic bladder sleeve in said passage; means confining the end portions of said sleeve against laterally inward movement in said passage; and means for feeding gaseous medium under pressure into said body for action upon the exterior of said bladder to contract an intermediate portion of said bladder inwardly of said passage to substantially fully close the same; said bladder sleeve having an inherent hour-glass shape when not subjected to fluid pressure differential acting upon the interior and exterior of said bladder sleeve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
119 words
In valve apparatus for incorporation in a tubular string at the lower end of a kelly: a body having a fluid passage therein and adapted to be disposed at the lower end of the kelly; and elastic bladder sleeve in said passage; means confining the end portions of said sleeve against laterally inward movement in said passage; and means for feeding gaseous medium under pressure into said body for action upon the exterior of said bladder to contract an intermediate portion of said bladder inwardly of said passage to substantially fully close the same; said bladder sleeve having an inherent hour-glass shape when not subjected to fluid pressure differential acting upon the interior and exterior of said bladder sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 7; said confining means including a mounting sleeve secured in said body; said bladder being disposed in said mounting sleeve with its end portions secured thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 7; said confining means including a perforate mounting sleeve secured in said body; said bladder being disposed in said mounting sleeve with its end portions secured thereto, said body having one or more expansion chambers therein externally of said mounting sleeve and communicating through the mounting sleeve perforations with the exterior of said bladder to permit flow of the gaseous medium between the exterior of said bladder and said one or more expansion chambers as said intermediate portion contracts and expands.
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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) | 1975-11-21 | 1976-05-22 | 1976-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-21 | 1980-05-22 | 1980-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-21 | 1984-05-22 | 1984-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |