Well bore test and safety valve structure

Claim 2

A tubing string supported valve structure for use in a well bore and operated by fluid pressure from a source other than the tubing string controlled from the well head, said valve structure comprising: a. an annular housing structure depending from the tubing string and having a bore communicating with the interior of the tubing string; b. a valve block within the housing structure bore and rotatable about an axis transverse thereto between a position closing the housing structure bore and a position in alignment therewith; c. a driven gear carried by the valve block; d. an annular drive means journalled in the housing structure and including an arcuate drive gear concentric with the housing structure and engageable with the driven gear; e. an axially movable operating means within the housing structure and responsive to said fluid pressure source; f. a cam and pin means connecting the drive means and axially movable means for causing the drive gear to turn the driven gear and valve block upon axial movement of the operating means.

Claim 3

A valve structure as defined in claim 1, which further comprises: a. a yieldable means for applying a predetermined counterforce on the operating means approximating the force exerted by the static head of the pressure fluid whereby predetermined added force may be applied at the well head to effect movement of the valve block.

Claim 4

A valve structure as defined in claim 2, wherein: a. the yieldable means is a spring assembly.

Claim 5

A valve structure as defined in claim 2, wherein: a. the yieldable means is a pressurized hydraulic assembly.

Claim 6

A valve structure as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. means is provided to form a bypass externally of the valve block and relieve the pressure differential across the valve block upon initial movement from its closed position.

Claim 7

A valve structure as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said valve block occupies an initially closed position; b. said cam means is a helical slot to effect movement of the valve block from its initially closed position to an open position upon first operation of the operating means and to effect closure of the valve block upon return movement of the operating means.

Claim 8

A valve structure as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said block occupies an initially open position; b. said cam means is a helical slot, said slot being joined at one end to an axial slot whereby, upon first operation of the operating means, the valve block is moved from its initially open position to its closed position, whereupon the pin of the cam and pin means is received in the axial slot rendering the valve block inoperative to further movement of the operating means.

Claim 9

A valve structure, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. a chamber is formed in the housing structure; b. a first piston exposed to the chamber is connected to the operating means; c. a second piston exposed to the chamber is also exposed to said pressure fluid source; d. the chamber is filled with a force transmitting liquid whereby change in the force exerted at said pressure fluid source is transmitted to the first piston and operating means.

Claim 10

A valve structure, as defined in claim 8, wherein: a. a yieldable means is carried within the housing structure and exerts a force on the operating means in opposition to the force exerted at said pressure fluid source, to effect return movement of the operating means upon predetermined reduction in force exerted at said pressure fluid source.

Claim 11

A valve structure, as defined in claim 9, wherein: a. the yieldable means, is a precompressed spring means.

Claim 12

A valve structure, as defined in claim 9, wherein: a. the yieldable means is a closed pressure fluid chamber divided by a piston bypassed by valve means operable at a preselected pressures.

Claim 13

A valve structure adapted to be suspended from a tubing string within a well bore and responsive to static fluid pressure externally of the tubing string supplemented by a variable fluid pressure supply means applied at the well head, said valve structure comprising: a. an annular valve housing depending from the tubing string and having a bore communicating with the interior of the tubing string; b. a valve block within the valve housing bore and rotatable about an axis transverse thereto between a position closing the housing bore and a position in alignment therewith; c. an axially movable drive means for rotating the valve block between its open and closed positions; said drive means including a first piston, means operatively connecting the first piston and valve block, a second piston exposed to the fluid pressure externally of the tubing string, and a chamber formed within the valve housing closed by the pistons and filled with a force transmitting liquid to effect movement of the valve block in one direction; upon a predetermined increase of pressure at the well head fluid supply means; d. and yieldable means carried by the valve housing, engaging the drive means to effect opposing movement of the valve block upon predetermined reduction of pressure at the well head fluid supply means.

Claim 14

A valve structure adapted to be suspended from a tubing string within a well bore and responsive to static fluid pressure externally of the tubing string supplemented by a variable fluid pressure supply means applied at the well head, said valve structure comprising: a. an annular valve housing depending from the tubing string and having a bore communicating with the interior of the tubing string; b. a valve block within the valve housing bore and rotatable about an axis transverse thereto between a position closing the housing bore and a position in alignment therewith; c. an axially movable drive means for rotating the valve block between its open and closed positions; said drive means including a first piston, means operatively connecting the first piston and valve block, a second piston exposed to the fluid pressure externally of the tubing string, and a chamber formed within the valve housing closed by the pistons and filled with a force transmitting liquid to effect movement of the valve block in one direction; upon a predetermined increase of pressure at the well head fluid supply means; d. and yieldable means carried by the valve housing, engaging the drive means to effect opposing movement of the valve block upon predetermined reduction of pressure at the well head fluid supply means.

Claim 15

A valve structure, as defined in claim 12, wherein: a. means forming a pressure equalizing bypass around the valve block is provided, said bypass means being operated by the drive means immediately prior to movement of the valve block from its closed position.

Claim 16

A testing and safety means adapted to be suspended from a tubing string within a well bore and responsive to fluid pressure externally of the tubing string supplemented by a variable pressure supply means applied at the well head, said means comprising: a. a lower valve structure and an upper valve structure; b. each valve structure including a valve housing having a bore communicating with the bore of the tubing string, a valve in each bore, the lower valve being initially in a closed position, the upper valve being initially in an open position; c. each valve structure including a valve operating means responsive to fluid pressure externally of the tubing string, the valve operating means being operable at different fluid pressures; d. the operating means for the lower valve structure adapted to open and close the corresponding valve repeatedly; e. and the operating means for the upper valve structure being adapted to close the corresponding valve and lock the valve in its closed position.

Claim 17

A testing and safety means adapted to be suspended from a tubing string within a well bore and responsive to fluid pressure externally of the tubing string supplemented by a variable pressure supply means applied at the well head, said means comprising: a. a lower valve structure and an upper valve structure; b. each valve structure including a valve housing having a bore communicating with the bore of the tubing string, a valve in each bore, the lower valve being initially in a closed position, the upper valve being initially in an open position; c. each valve structure including a valve operating means responsive to fluid pressure externally of the tubing string, the valve operating means being operable at different fluid pressures; d. the operating means for the lower valve structure adapted to open and close the corresponding valve repeatedly; e. and the operating means for the upper valve structure being adapted to close the corresponding valve and lock the valve in its closed position.