US3741249A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball valve with resilient seal
Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
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Filing: 1971-03-22
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1991-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A ball valve is incorporated in a subsurface shutoff valve for wells. The ball valve is actuated rotatively and longitudinally within its support and effects sealing engagement with a stationary resilient seal by longitudinal movement.
Inventors
- 👤 K Leutwyler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:41
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/10; E21B34/101; E21B2200/00; E21B2200/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86928; Y10T137/86936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
In a subsurface shutoff valve for wells adapted to be supported in a well fluid production pipe: an elongated outer tubular body; an elongated inner tubular assembly including an upper sleeve and a lower sleeve; a ball valve between said sleeves and having a flow passage therethrough; said ball valve and said sleeves having complemental spherical sealing surfaces; a support for said ball fixed in said outer body; supplemental resilient seal means carried by said support and sealingly engageable with said spherical surface of said ball in radially spaced relation to said sealing surface of one of said sleeves; cooperable means on said ball and said support for rotating said ball between first and second positions at which said flow passage is open and closed, respectively, in response to longitudinal movement of said sleeves and said ball valve in opposite directions in said outer body; said upper sleeve and said outer body defining a chamber for control fluid pressure; said upper sleeve having means responsive to the pressure of control fluid in said chamber for moving said sleeves and said ball valve downwardly; said lower sleeve having means responsive to the pressure of well fluid for moving said sleeves and said ball valve upwardly; and by-pass valve means openable in response to the pressure of control fluid in said chamber to equalize fluid pressure across said ball valve when said ball valve is in said second position to relieve frictional coengagement of said complemental sealing surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
In a subsurface shutoff valve for wells adapted to be supported in a well fluid production pipe: an elongated outer tubular body; an elongated inner tubular assembly including an upper sleeve and a lower sleeve; a ball valve between said sleeves and having a flow passage therethrough; said ball valve and said sleeves having complemental spherical sealing surfaces; a support for said ball fixed in said outer body; supplemental resilient seal means carried by said support and sealingly engageable with said spherical surface of said ball in radially spaced relation to said sealing surface of one of said sleeves; cooperable means on said ball and said support for rotating said ball between first and second positions at which said flow passage is open and closed, respectively, in response to longitudinal movement of said sleeves and said ball valve in opposite directions in said outer body; said upper sleeve and said outer body defining a chamber for control fluid pressure; said upper sleeve having means responsive to the pressure of control fluid in said chamber for moving said sleeves and said ball valve downwardly; said lower sleeve having means responsive to the pressure of well fluid for moving said sleeves and said ball valve upwardly; and by-pass valve means openable in response to the pressure of control fluid in said chamber to equalize fluid pressure across said ball valve when said ball valve is in said second position to relieve frictional coengagement of said complemental sealing surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 1, said means for rotating said ball including means for enabling bodily longitudinal movement of said ball with respect to said body during the final increment of movement of said ball to said first and second positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 1, said means for rotating said ball including means for enabling bodily longitudinal movement of said ball with respect to said body during the final increment of movement of said ball to said first and second positions, comprising cooperative pin and pin engaging surfaces on said support and said ball for rotating said ball between said first and second positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 1, said means for rotating said ball comprising pins on said support, and walls on said ball engageable with said pins for rotating said ball between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said ball.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 1, said means for rotating said ball comprising pins on said support, and walls on said ball engageable with said pins for rotating said ball between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said ball, said pins and walls clearing upon rotation of said ball to either of said position to enable further non-rotative longitudinal movement of said ball.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 1, said means for rotating said ball comprising pins on said support, and walls on said engageable with said pins for rotating said ball between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said ball, and stop means on said ball and said support for limiting rotation of said ball to said first and second positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 1, said means for rotating said ball comprising pins on said support, and walls on said ball engageable with said pins for rotating said ball between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said ball, and stop means on said ball and said support for limiting rotation of said ball to said first and second positions, said pins and walls clearing upon rotation of said ball to either of said position to enable further non-rotative longitudinal movement of said ball.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a subsurface shutoff vaLve as defined in claim 1, said supplemental resilient seal means comprising a carrier ring connected with said support, and a resilient annular body in said ring and having portions engaging said one of said sleeves and said spherical surface of said ball.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a ball valve assembly: an elongated body having a flow passage therethrough, a ball valve in said passage having a port therethrough, operating means for rotating said ball valve between a first position in which said port is aligned with said passage and a second position at which said ball closes said passage, means defining a pair of opposed annular primary sealing surfaces engaging opposite sides of said ball valve in face-to-face sealing engagement, and a secondary annular resilient seal spaced radially outwardly from one of said primary sealing surfaces and engaged with said ball, and means for moving said ball longitudinally of said passage and from engagement by said resilient seal before rotation of said ball between said positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a ball valve assembly: an elongated body having a flow passage therethrough, a ball valve in said passage having a port therethrough, operating means for rotating said ball valve between a first position in which said port is aligned with said passage and a second position at which said ball closes said passage, means defining a pair of opposed annular primary sealing surfaces engaging opposite sides of said ball valve in face-to-face sealing engagement, and a secondary annular resilient seal spaced radially outwardly from one of said primary sealing surfaces and engaged with said ball, and means for moving said ball longitudinally of said passage and from engagement by said resilient seal before rotation of said ball between said positions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
In a ball valve assembly as defined in claim 9, actuator sleeves in said body at opposite sides of said ball and having said primary sealing surfaces on opposing ends of said sleeves, means for moving said sleeves and said ball longitudinally in said body, and said means for rotating said ball including cooperable means on said ball and said body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |