US3884300A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic safety valve
Assignee: Macco Oil Tool Co Inc
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Filing: 1973-11-28
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1993-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A self-contained, automatic valve assembly designed to be anchored at a subsurface location within a well casing which extends into a subterranean formation employed to store pressurized gas. The valve is supported by a retrievable packer which anchors the valve within the casing and forms a seal to force the gas to flow through the valve. Operation of the valve is governed by a bellows control which moves a valve stem to closed position to terminate flow through the valve in response to a drop in casing pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry U Garrett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:16
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/08; E21B33/00; E21B33/10; E21B33/12; E21B34/10; E21B34/102; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7781; Y10T137/7835; Y10T137/7836
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
284 words
An automatic safety valve for use in a well conduit comprising: a. valve body means having flow passage means extending through at least a portion of said valve body means, said Passage means including inlet and outlet means; b. movable valve closure means connected with said valve body means and movable between opened and closed positions for opening or closing said flow passage means to respectively permit or terminate the flow of fluids through said passage means; c. pressure responsive control means connected with said closure means by a linking means for automatically moving said closure means into said closed position in response to the presence of predetermined pressure conditions within said well conduit; d. trigger means cooperating with said control means and said closure means for retaining said closure means in substantially fully opened position, said trigger means further including means for releasing said closure means for movement toward said closed position only when said linking means is moved more than a predetermined amount; e. powering means included in said closure means and controlled by said trigger means for snapping said closure means toward said closed position when said linking means moves beyond said predetermined amount; f. a closure portion included in said closure means movable to said closed position for forming a sealing engagement with said flow passage means to terminate flow through said passage means; and g. releasable locking means included in said trigger means for holding said closure portion in a fully opened position until said control means moves beyond said predetermined amount, movement of said closure means toward said closed position being independent of control means movement following release of said closure means for movement toward said closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
284 words
An automatic safety valve for use in a well conduit comprising: a. valve body means having flow passage means extending through at least a portion of said valve body means, said Passage means including inlet and outlet means; b. movable valve closure means connected with said valve body means and movable between opened and closed positions for opening or closing said flow passage means to respectively permit or terminate the flow of fluids through said passage means; c. pressure responsive control means connected with said closure means by a linking means for automatically moving said closure means into said closed position in response to the presence of predetermined pressure conditions within said well conduit; d. trigger means cooperating with said control means and said closure means for retaining said closure means in substantially fully opened position, said trigger means further including means for releasing said closure means for movement toward said closed position only when said linking means is moved more than a predetermined amount; e. powering means included in said closure means and controlled by said trigger means for snapping said closure means toward said closed position when said linking means moves beyond said predetermined amount; f. a closure portion included in said closure means movable to said closed position for forming a sealing engagement with said flow passage means to terminate flow through said passage means; and g. releasable locking means included in said trigger means for holding said closure portion in a fully opened position until said control means moves beyond said predetermined amount, movement of said closure means toward said closed position being independent of control means movement following release of said closure means for movement toward said closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
An automatic safety valve as defined in claim 1 further including surface operable anchoring and sealing means for respectively anchoring said valve body at a subsurface location within a well conduit and for forming a seal between said well conduit and said valve body means to prevent fluids in said well conduit from flowing axially past said sealing means without first flowing through said passage means whereby closure of said closure means may terminate flow of fluids through said well conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An automatic safety valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve includes pressure bypass means operable when opened to equalize pressure at the inlet and outlet ends of said passage means when said closure means is in closed position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automatic safety valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said anchoring and sealing includes a retrievable packer means with radially expansible and retractable securing means, a radially expansible and retractable elastomeric seal and a flow opening extending radially through a supporting packer body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An atuomatic saftey valve as defined in claim 1 wherein: a. said powering means includes a compressed spring means; and b. said locking means includes axially movable sleeve means and radially moving ball means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
An automatic safety valve as defined in claim 5 wherein: a. said control means includes bellows means separating pressure dome means from the well fluid, said bellows means being movable in response to a pressure differential between the fluid in said dome means and the fluid in said well conduit; and b. said linking means is operatively connected to said bellows means and movable by said bellows means to release said triggering means when said bellows means moves beyond a predetermined amount.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
An automatic safety valve as defined in claim 1 further including means operatively connected with said linking means for permitting said control means to move in the direction opposite to that for closing said passage means without unseating said sealing and seat means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An automatic safety valve as defined in claim 7 wherein said control means includes pressure charged bellows means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
191 words
An automatic safety valve for use in a well conduit comprising: a. valve body means having a flow passage means extending through At least a portion of said valve body means, said passage means including inlet and outlet means; b. movable valve closure means connected with said valve body means for opening or closing said passage means to respectively permit or terminate the flow of fluids through said passage means; c. pressure responsive means connected by a linking means with said closure means, said pressure responsive means being movable from a first position to a second position for automatically moving said closure means from open position into closed position in response to pressure conditions present within said well conduit; d. valve seat means included in said closure means; e. valve stem means included in said closure means, said stem means including sealing means for sealingly engaging and disengaging said seat means to respectively terminate or permit flow through said passage means; and f. means included in said linking means for permitting said pressure responsive means to return from said second to said first position without unseating said sealing and seat means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
191 words
An automatic safety valve for use in a well conduit comprising: a. valve body means having a flow passage means extending through At least a portion of said valve body means, said passage means including inlet and outlet means; b. movable valve closure means connected with said valve body means for opening or closing said passage means to respectively permit or terminate the flow of fluids through said passage means; c. pressure responsive means connected by a linking means with said closure means, said pressure responsive means being movable from a first position to a second position for automatically moving said closure means from open position into closed position in response to pressure conditions present within said well conduit; d. valve seat means included in said closure means; e. valve stem means included in said closure means, said stem means including sealing means for sealingly engaging and disengaging said seat means to respectively terminate or permit flow through said passage means; and f. means included in said linking means for permitting said pressure responsive means to return from said second to said first position without unseating said sealing and seat means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
An automatic safety valve as defined in claim 9 wherein said valve includes pressure bypass means operable when opened to equalize pressure at the inlet and outlet ends of said passage means when said closure means is in closed position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An automatic safety valve as defined in claim 9 wherein said pressure responsive means includes pressure charged bellows means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
An automatic safety valve as defined in claim 9 further including surface operable anchoring and sealing means for respectively anchoring said valve body at a subsurface location within a well conduit and for forming a seal between said well conduit and said valve body means to prevent fluids in said well conduit from flowing axially past said sealing means without first flowing through said passage means whereby closure of said closure means may terminate flow of fluids thorugh said well conduit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
An automatic safety valve as defined in claim 12 wherein said anchoring and sealing means includes a retrievable packer means with radially expansible and retractable securing means, a radially expansible and retractable elastomeric seal and a flow opening extending radially through a supporting packer body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |