Well pipe valve

Claim 2

A valve for well pipe comprising, a tubular body adapted to be mounted in the well pipe, a ball for selectively modifying the function of the valve, a diaphragm means mounted in and extending across said tubular body and having an expandable orifice, an expandable split metal ring mounted immediately above said diaphragm means in said tubular body for allowing the ball to pass downwardly through the orifice of said diaphragm means but preventing upward return therethrough whereby said ball forms a seal against said diaphragm means, and cage means below said diaphragm means for retaining said ball.

Claim 3

The valve of claim 1 wherein said metal ring has a frusto-conical outer surface converging in the upward direction, and said tubular body has a mating frusto-conical inner surface supporting said metal ring for allowing said ring to expand in response to downward relative movement and for causing said ring to contract in response to upward relative movement.

Claim 4

The valve of claim 2 wherein said metal ring is resiliently mounted in said tubular body for allowing said relative movements and returning said ring to a neutral position.

Claim 5

The valve of claim 1 wherein said expandable split metal ring has a normal minimum internal diameter across at least one point that is less than the diameter of said ball.

Claim 6

The valve of claim 4 wherein said split metal ring forms a positive mechanical support against excessive upward flexure of said diaphragm.

Claim 7

The valve of claim 5 wherein said metal ring has a frusto-conical outer surface converging in the upward direction, and said tubular body has a mating frusto-conical inner surface supporting said metal ring for allowing said ring to expand in response to downward relative movement and for causing said ring to contract in response to upward relative movement.

Claim 8

A valve for well pipe comprising, a tubular body adapted to be mounted in the well pipe, a ball for selectively modifying the function of the valve, a diaphragm means mounted in and extending across said tubular body and having an expandable orifice, expandable ring means mounted in said tubular body for allowing the ball to pass downwardly through the orifice of said diaphragm means but preventing upward return therethrough whereby said ball forms a seal against said diaphragm means, said diaphragm means and expandable ring means being an integrally molded component with said expandable ring means located immediately above said diaphragm means, and cage means below said diaphragm means for retaining said ball.

Claim 9

A valve for well pipe comprising, a tubular body adapted to be mounted in the well pipe, a ball for selectively modifying the function of the valve, a diaphragm means mounted in and extending across said tubular body and having an expandable orifice, expandable ring means mounted in said tubular body for allowing the ball to pass downwardly through the orifice of said diaphragm means but preventing upward return therethrough whereby said ball forms a seal against said diaphragm means, said diaphragm means and expandable ring means being an integrally molded component with said expandable ring means located immediately above said diaphragm means, and cage means below said diaphragm means for retaining said ball.

Claim 10

The valve of claim 7 wherein said expandable ring means comprises a resilient split metal ring a normal internal diameter in at least one location less than the diameter of said ball.

Claim 11

The valve of claim 7 wherein said expandable ring is comprised of two semi-circular metal rings resiliently supported in opposed relationship by said diaphragm in a normal position with the diametric distance between the mid-points of said two semi-circular rings being less than the diameter of said ball.

Claim 12

The valve of claim 9 wherein said two semi-circular rings have frusto-conical outer surfaces converging upwardly, and said tubular body has a mating frusto-conical surface for causing contraction of said rings in response to upward force for positive mechanical prevention of said ball upwardly therethrough.

Claim 13

A valve for well pipe comprising, a tubular body adapted to be mounted in the well pipe, a ball adapted to selectively modify the function of the valve, a diaphragm means mounted in said tubular body and having an expandable orifice for controlling the rate of fluid flow therethrough in response to varying fluid pressure thereacross and allowing the ball to pass therethrough, an expandable split metal ring integraLly formed with and on top of said diaphragm means for allowing the ball to pass downwardly through said diaphragm means but preventing upward return whereby said ball forms a seal against said diaphragm means, said ring having at least one internal diametric dimension less than said ball diameter, and cage means below said diaphragm means for retaining said ball.

Claim 14

A valve for well pipe comprising, a tubular body adapted to be mounted in the well pipe, a ball adapted to selectively modify the function of the valve, a diaphragm means mounted in said tubular body and having an expandable orifice for controlling the rate of fluid flow therethrough in response to varying fluid pressure thereacross and allowing the ball to pass therethrough, an expandable split metal ring integraLly formed with and on top of said diaphragm means for allowing the ball to pass downwardly through said diaphragm means but preventing upward return whereby said ball forms a seal against said diaphragm means, said ring having at least one internal diametric dimension less than said ball diameter, and cage means below said diaphragm means for retaining said ball.

Claim 15

The valve of claim 11 wherein said metal ring has a frusto-conical outer surface converging in the upward direction, and said tubular body has a mating frusto-conical inner surface supporting said metal ring for allowing said ring to expand in response to downward relative movement and for causing said ring to contract in response to upward relative movement.

Claim 16

The valve of claim 12 wherein said ring is split into two semi-circular havles with an internal cylindrical surface having a radius of curvature slightly greater than the diameter of said ball, and said ring halves appropriately spaced to produce said internal diameter dimension at approximately the mid-points of said halves.

Claim 17

A valve for well pipe comprising, a tubular body having means for mounting in the well pipe and a spherical ball adapted to selectively modify the operation of the valve, said body having a frusto-conical internal surface tapering outwardly in the downward direction, a valve member mounted in said body and having a frusto-conical outer surface engaging said body internal surface, said valve member having a central flexible diaphragm portion subtending the body with an orifice through said diaphragm, said orifice allowing restricted fluid flow therethrough and dilating by flexure of said diaphragm for varying the restriction in inverse proportion to the fluid pressure differential thereacross, said valve member including a split ring having an internal diameter in at least one direction which is less than the diameter of said ball, said body having a cage portion below said valve member for receiving and retaining said ball in a supported position allowing downward fluid flow, and said ball forcing said split ring downwardly and expanding the split ring outwardly when the ball is urged downwardly by fluid pressure thereby allowing the ball to pass through said valve member by also expanding said orifice, said ball being restrained from subsequent upward movement by said split ring cooperating with said internal frusto-conical surface to tend to contract and said ball forming a fluid seal with the underside of said diaphragm.

Claim 18

A valve for well pipe comprising, a tubular body having means for mounting in the well pipe and a spherical ball adapted to selectively modify the operation of the valve, said body having a frusto-conical internal surface tapering outwardly in the downward direction, a valve member mounted in said body and having a frusto-conical outer surface engaging said body internal surface, said valve member having a central flexible diaphragm portion subtending the body with an orifice through said diaphragm, said orifice allowing restricted fluid flow therethrough and dilating by flexure of said diaphragm for varying the restriction in inverse proportion to the fluid pressure differential thereacross, said valve member including a split ring having an internal diameter in at least one direction which is less than the diameter of said ball, said body having a cage portion below said valve member for receiving and retaining said ball in a supported position allowing downward fluid flow, and said ball forcing said split ring downwardly and expanding the split ring outwardly when the ball is urged downwardly by fluid pressure thereby allowing the ball to pass through said valve member by also expanding said orifice, said ball being restrained from subsequent upward movement by said split ring cooperating with said internal frusto-conical surface to tend to contract and said ball forming a fluid seal with the underside of said diaphragm.

Claim 19

The valve of claim 14 wherein said split ring has an external frusto-conical surface mating with said body internal frusto-conical surface.

Claim 20

The valve of claim 15 wherein said split ring is comprised of two semi-circular halves with said internal diameter less than said ball diameter being approximately between the mid-points of said ring halves.