Wireline safety valve with split ball

Claim 2

In a subsurface shutoff valve for wells adapted to be supported in a well fluid production pipe: a body having a flow passage therethrough; shutoff valve means including a ball valve shiftable between a first position closing said passage and a second position at which said passage is open; actuator means for shifting said ball valve between said positions, including means defining a control fluid pressure chamber for moving said ball valve to said second position, and means responsive to the pressure of well fluid in the production pipe for biasing said ball valve to said first position upon reduction in the pressure of control fluid in said chamber; said shutoff ball valve including by-pass valve means, and a passage for equalizing the well fluid across said shutoff valve means before said member is moved from said first position to said second position, and screen means for limiting entry of solids into said equalizing passage.

Claim 3

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 1; said ball valve having said flow passage therethrough and a spherical sealing surface, said actuator means comprising actuator piston means movable longitudinally in said body responsive to control fluid pressure in said chamber, a seating sleeve having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical sealing surface of said ball, said piston means and said sleeve being relatively longitudinally movable to open and close said by-pass valve means, and including means for rotating said ball valve between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said actuator sleeve.

Claim 4

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 1; said ball valve having said flow passage therethrough and a spherical sealing surface, said actuator means comprising actuator piston means movable longitudinally in said body responsive to control fluid pressure in said chamber, a seating sleeve having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical sealing surface of said ball, said piston means and said sleeve being relatively longitudinally movable to open and close said by-pass valve means, and including means for rotating said ball valve between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said actuator sleeve, and spring means acting on said piston means for opposing said control fluid pressure.

Claim 5

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 1; said ball valve comprising a base and a cap, said cap having said equalizing passage, and said screen means including portions of said base defining flow paths smaller than said equalizing passage.

Claim 6

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 1; said ball valve comprising a base and a cap, said cap having said equalizing passage, said screen means including grooves in said base communicable with said passage when said cap is elevated with respect to said base, none of said grooves being greater in width than the diameter of said equalizing passage.

Claim 7

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 1; said ball valve comprising a base and a cap, said cap having said equalizing passage, and said screen means including portions of said base defining flow paths smaller than said equalizing passage, said base having a stem for projecting into said equalizing passage, said by-pass valve means including a resilient seal around said stem and engageable between said base and said cap.

Claim 8

In a subsurface shufoff valve for wells adapted to be supported in a well fluid production pipe: an elongated tubular body; an elongated inner tubular assembly including piston sleeve means, a ball valve having a flow passage therethrough, support means for said ball valve carried by said piston sleeve means; cooperable means on said ball valve and said body for rotating said ball valve between first and second positions at which said flow passage is open and closed, respectively, in response to longitudinal movement of said piston sleeve means and said ball valve in opposite directions in said tubular body, said piston sleeve means and said tubular body defining a chamber for control fluid pressure; and shifting means for moving said piston sleeve means and said ball valve upwardly, said support means including a pair of pivot arms at opposite sides of said ball valve and having means pivotally supporting said ball, said pivot arms being initially disassembled from said piston sleeve means, and means connecting said pivot arms to said piston sleeve means.

Claim 9

In a subsurface shufoff valve for wells adapted to be supported in a well fluid production pipe: an elongated tubular body; an elongated inner tubular assembly including piston sleeve means, a ball valve having a flow passage therethrough, support means for said ball valve carried by said piston sleeve means; cooperable means on said ball valve and said body for rotating said ball valve between first and second positions at which said flow passage is open and closed, respectively, in response to longitudinal movement of said piston sleeve means and said ball valve in opposite directions in said tubular body, said piston sleeve means and said tubular body defining a chamber for control fluid pressure; and shifting means for moving said piston sleeve means and said ball valve upwardly, said support means including a pair of pivot arms at opposite sides of said ball valve and having means pivotally supporting said ball, said pivot arms being initially disassembled from said piston sleeve means, and means connecting said pivot arms to said piston sleeve means.

Claim 10

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 7; said cooperable means for rotating said ball comprising rotary drive means which are released to enable free further longitudinal movement of said sleeve means and said ball when said ball is in said positions.

Claim 11

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 7; said shifting means including a spring acting on said sleeve means to bias the latter and said ball valve upwardly.

Claim 12

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 7; said tubular body including a lower tubular sleeve below said ball valve, said shifting means including a spring surrounding and supported by said lower sleeve and acting on said sleeve means to bias said sleeve means and ball valve upwardly.

Claim 13

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 10; the upper end of said lower sleeve being engageable by said ball valve when said ball valve is in said first position.

Claim 14

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 10; means mounting said lower tubular sleeve for longitudinal adjustment with respect to the tubular body thereabove.

Claim 15

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 7; said means connecting said pivot arms to said piston sleeve means including means enabling spreading to said arms during connection with said ball valve, and including means engaging said arms for holding said arms against spreading following connection of said arms with said piston sleeve means.

Claim 16

In a subsurface shutoff valve for wells adapted to be supported in a well fluid production pipe: a body having a flow passage therethrough; shutoff valve means including a ball valve shiftable between a first position closing said passage and a second position at which said passage is open; actuator means for shifting said ball valve between said positions, including means defining a control fluid pressure chamber for moving said member to said second position, and means responsive to the pressure of well fluid in the production pipe for biasing said ball valve to said first position upon reduction in the pressure of control fluid in said chamber; said shutoff ball valve including a by-pass passage for equalizing the well fluid across said shutoff valve means before said ball valve is moved from said first position to said second position, said ball valve having a flow passage therethrough adapted to communicate with said body flow passage, said ball valve having a spherical sealing surface, said actuator means comprising actuator piston means movable longitudinally in said body responsive to control fluid pressure in said chamber, an upper seating sleeve having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical sealing surface of said ball valve, said piston means and said sleeve being relatively longitudinally movable to open and close said by-pass passage, means for rotating said ball valve between said first and second position responsive to longitudinal movement of said actuator sleeve, and a lower seating sleeve secured to said body and having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical seal surface of said ball valve.

Claim 17

In a subsurface shutoff valve for wells adapted to be supported in a well fluid production pipe: a body having a flow passage therethrough; shutoff valve means including a ball valve shiftable between a first position closing said passage and a second position at which said passage is open; actuator means for shifting said ball valve between said positions, including means defining a control fluid pressure chamber for moving said member to said second position, and means responsive to the pressure of well fluid in the production pipe for biasing said ball valve to said first position upon reduction in the pressure of control fluid in said chamber; said shutoff ball valve including a by-pass passage for equalizing the well fluid across said shutoff valve means before said ball valve is moved from said first position to said second position, said ball valve having a flow passage therethrough adapted to communicate with said body flow passage, said ball valve having a spherical sealing surface, said actuator means comprising actuator piston means movable longitudinally in said body responsive to control fluid pressure in said chamber, an upper seating sleeve having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical sealing surface of said ball valve, said piston means and said sleeve being relatively longitudinally movable to open and close said by-pass passage, means for rotating said ball valve between said first and second position responsive to longitudinal movement of said actuator sleeve, and a lower seating sleeve secured to said body and having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical seal surface of said ball valve.

Claim 18

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 14; and means for communicating said pressure chamber with said upper seating sleeve, whereby fluid pressure in said chamber acts on said seating sleeve to urge its sealing end surface against said ball valve.

Claim 19

In a subsurface shutoff valve for wells adapted to be supported in a well fluid production pipe; a body having a flow passage therethrough; shutoff valve means including a ball valve shiftable between a first position closing said passage and a second position at which said passage is open; actuator means for shifting said ball valve between said positions, including means defining a control fluid pressure chamber for moving said member to said second position, and means responsive to the pressure of well fluid in the production pipe for biasing said ball valve to said first position upon reduction in the pressure of control fluid in said chamber; said shutoff ball valve including a by-pass passage for equalizing the well fluid across said shutoff valve means before said ball valve is moved from said first position to said second position, said ball valve having a flow passage therethrough adapted to communicate with said body flow passage, said ball valve having a spherical sealing surface, said actuator means comprising actuator piston means movable longitudinally in said body responsive to control fluid pressure in said chamber, a seating sleeve having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical sealing surface of said ball valve, said piston means and said sleeve being relatively longitudinally movable to open and close said by-pass passage, and including means for rotating said ball valve between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said actuator sleeve; means for adjusting the position of said ball valve and said sealing end surface of said sleeve with respect to each other.

Claim 20

In a subsurface shutoff valve for wells adapted to be supported in a well fluid production pipe; a body having a flow passage therethrough; shutoff valve means including a ball valve shiftable between a first position closing said passage and a second position at which said passage is open; actuator means for shifting said ball valve between said positions, including means defining a control fluid pressure chamber for moving said member to said second position, and means responsive to the pressure of well fluid in the production pipe for biasing said ball valve to said first position upon reduction in the pressure of control fluid in said chamber; said shutoff ball valve including a by-pass passage for equalizing the well fluid across said shutoff valve means before said ball valve is moved from said first position to said second position, said ball valve having a flow passage therethrough adapted to communicate with said body flow passage, said ball valve having a spherical sealing surface, said actuator means comprising actuator piston means movable longitudinally in said body responsive to control fluid pressure in said chamber, a seating sleeve having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical sealing surface of said ball valve, said piston means and said sleeve being relatively longitudinally movable to open and close said by-pass passage, and including means for rotating said ball valve between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said actuator sleeve; means for adjusting the position of said ball valve and said sealing end surface of said sleeve with respect to each other.

Claim 21

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 16; and additional sealing means opposed to said sealing end surface of said sleeve and engageable by said ball valve when said ball valve is open.

Claim 22

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 16; and additional sealing means opposed to said sealing end surface of said sleeve and engageable by said ball valve when said ball valve is open, and including means for adjusting the relationship between said additional sealing means and said ball valve.

Claim 23

In a subsurface shutoff valve for wells adapted to be supported in a well fluid production pipe: a body having a flow passage therethrough; shutoff valve means including a ball valve shiftable between a first position closing said passage and a second position at which said passage is open; actuator means for shifting said ball valve between said positions, including means defining a control fluid pressure chamber for moving said member to said second position, and means responsive to the pressure of well fluid in the production pipe for biasing said ball valve to said first position upon reduction in the pressure of control fluid in said chamber; said shutoff ball valve including a by-pass passage for equalizing the well fluid across said shutoff valve means before said ball valve is moved from said first position to said second position, said ball valve having a flow passage therethrough adapted to communicate with said body flow passage, said ball valve having a spherical sealing surface, said actuator means comprising actuator piston means movable longitudinally in said body responsive to control fluid pressure in said chamber, a seating sleeve having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical sealing surface of said ball valve, said piston means and said sleeve being relatively longitudinally movable to open and close said by-pass passage, and including means for rotating said ball valve between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said actuator sleeve, means for biasing said ball valve to a closed position including a coiled compression spring, and a guide internally of said spring secured to said body and against which said spring bears.

Claim 24

In a subsurface shutoff valve for wells adapted to be supported in a well fluid production pipe: a body having a flow passage therethrough; shutoff valve means including a ball valve shiftable between a first position closing said passage and a second position at which said passage is open; actuator means for shifting said ball valve between said positions, including means defining a control fluid pressure chamber for moving said member to said second position, and means responsive to the pressure of well fluid in the production pipe for biasing said ball valve to said first position upon reduction in the pressure of control fluid in said chamber; said shutoff ball valve including a by-pass passage for equalizing the well fluid across said shutoff valve means before said ball valve is moved from said first position to said second position, said ball valve having a flow passage therethrough adapted to communicate with said body flow passage, said ball valve having a spherical sealing surface, said actuator means comprising actuator piston means movable longitudinally in said body responsive to control fluid pressure in said chamber, a seating sleeve having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical sealing surface of said ball valve, said piston means and said sleeve being relatively longitudinally movable to open and close said by-pass passage, and including means for rotating said ball valve between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said actuator sleeve, means for biasing said ball valve to a closed position including a coiled compression spring, and a guide internally of said spring secured to said body and against which said spring bears.

Claim 25

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 14; said spring surrounding said guide with its lower end seated against said guide and with its upper end bearing against said actuator means.

Claim 26

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 19; said spring surrounding said guide with its lower end seated against said guide and with its upper end bearing against said actuator means, and releasable latch means on said body operable by a wireline tool for releasably latching said shutoff valve in the production pipe.

Claim 27

In a subsurface shutoff valve for wells adapted to be supported in a well fluid production pipe: a body having a flow passage therethrough; shutoff valve means including a ball valve shiftable between a first position closing said passage and a second position at which said passage is open; actuator means for shifting said ball valve between said positions, including means defining a control fluid pressure chamber for moving said member to said second position, and means responsive to the pressure of well fluid in the production pipe for biasing said ball valve to said first position upon reduction in the pressure of control fluid in said chamber; said shutoff ball valve including a by-pass passage for equaling the well fluid across said shutoff valve means before said ball valve is moved from said first position to said second position, said ball valve having a flow passage therethrough adapted to communicate with said body flow passage, said ball valve having a spherical sealing surface, said actuator means comprising actuator piston means movable longitudinally in said body responsive to control fluid pressure in said chamber, a seating sleeve having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical sealing surface of said ball valve, said piston means and said sleeve being relatively longitudinally movable to open and close said by-pass passage, and including means for rotating said ball valve between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said actuator sleeve, means for biasing said ball valve to a closed position including a coiled compression spring, and an internal guide for said spring, and releasable latch means on said body operable by a wireline tool for releasably latching said shutoff valve in the production pipe.

Claim 28

In a subsurface shutoff valve for wells adapted to be supported in a well fluid production pipe: a body having a flow passage therethrough; shutoff valve means including a ball valve shiftable between a first position closing said passage and a second position at which said passage is open; actuator means for shifting said ball valve between said positions, including means defining a control fluid pressure chamber for moving said member to said second position, and means responsive to the pressure of well fluid in the production pipe for biasing said ball valve to said first position upon reduction in the pressure of control fluid in said chamber; said shutoff ball valve including a by-pass passage for equaling the well fluid across said shutoff valve means before said ball valve is moved from said first position to said second position, said ball valve having a flow passage therethrough adapted to communicate with said body flow passage, said ball valve having a spherical sealing surface, said actuator means comprising actuator piston means movable longitudinally in said body responsive to control fluid pressure in said chamber, a seating sleeve having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical sealing surface of said ball valve, said piston means and said sleeve being relatively longitudinally movable to open and close said by-pass passage, and including means for rotating said ball valve between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said actuator sleeve, means for biasing said ball valve to a closed position including a coiled compression spring, and an internal guide for said spring, and releasable latch means on said body operable by a wireline tool for releasably latching said shutoff valve in the production pipe.

Claim 29

In a subsurface shutoff valve for wells adapted to be operated in a well fluid production pipe: a body having a flow passage therethrough; shutoff valve means including a ball valve shiftable between a first position closing said passage and a second position at which said passage is opened; actuator means for shifting said ball valve between said positions, including means defining a controlled fluid pressure chamber for moving said member to said second position, and means responsive to the pressure of well fluid in the production pipe for biasing said ball valve to said first position upon reduction in the pressure of controlled fluid in said chambers; said actuator means comprising actuator piston means movable longitudinally in said body responsive to control fluid pressure in said chamber, an upper seating sleeve having a sealing end surface, means for rotating said ball valve between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said actuator means, and a lower seating sleeve secured to said body and having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical sealing surface of said ball valve.

Claim 30

In a subsurface shutoff valve for wells adapted to be operated in a well fluid production pipe: a body having a flow passage therethrough; shutoff valve means including a ball valve shiftable between a first position closing said passage and a second position at which said passage is opened; actuator means for shifting said ball valve between said positions, including means defining a controlled fluid pressure chamber for moving said member to said second position, and means responsive to the pressure of well fluid in the production pipe for biasing said ball valve to said first position upon reduction in the pressure of controlled fluid in said chambers; said actuator means comprising actuator piston means movable longitudinally in said body responsive to control fluid pressure in said chamber, an upper seating sleeve having a sealing end surface, means for rotating said ball valve between said first and second positions responsive to longitudinal movement of said actuator means, and a lower seating sleeve secured to said body and having a sealing end surface engageable with said spherical sealing surface of said ball valve.

Claim 31

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 23; means for adjusting the position of said ball valve and said sealing end surface of said upper sleeve with respect to each other.

Claim 32

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 23; and means for adjusting the relationship between said sealing end surface of said lower sleeve and said ball valve.

Claim 33

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 23; means for adjusting the position of said ball valve and said sealing end surface of said upper sleeve with respect to each other, and means for adjusting the relationship between said sealing end surface of said lower sleeve and said ball valve.

Claim 34

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 23; means for biasing said ball valve to a closed position including a coiled compression spring surrounding said lower sleeve and against which said spring bears.

Claim 35

In a subsurface shutoff valve as defined in claim 23; means for biasing said ball valve to a closed position including a coiled compression spring surrounding said lower sleeve and against which said spring bears, the upper and lower ends of said spring bearing against said actuator means and lower sleeve, respectively.