US4260164A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable packer assembly with control valve
Assignee: Halliburton Co
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Filing: 1979-06-15
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Granted: 1981-04-07
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Expires: 1999-06-15
Abstract
Abstract An inflatable packer assembly includes a cylindrical mandrel with a cylindrical valve body concentrically disposed about the mandrel. The valve body includes an inlet communicating with an interior of the mandrel and an outlet for directing fluid to an inflatable element of the packer assembly. First and second axial bores, containing first and second pistons, respectively, are disposed in said valve body and communicate with an end surface thereof. The first bore also communicates with said inlet. A first port connects the first and second bores. A second port connects the second bore and the outlet. The first piston is held in a first position blocking said first port until a pressure differential across the first piston reaches a first level at which the first piston is released and is moved to a second position allowing fluid communication between the inlet and the first port. The second piston is held in a first position allowing fluid communication between said first and second ports until a pressure differential across said second piston reaches a second level, higher than said first level, at which said second piston is released and is moved to a second position blocking said second port.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene E. Baker
- 👤 Ernest E. Carter, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:48
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/10; E21B33/12; E21B33/127; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1624; Y10T137/1632; Y10T137/1669; Y10T137/1677; Y10T137/1782; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7723; Y10T137/7728; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87917
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
370 words
A control valve assembly for a downhole tool, said downhole tool being constructed for connection to a tubular member to be lowered into a well hole; comprising: a mandrel; a valve body, connected to said mandrel, said valve body including: an inlet means for communicating with an interior of said tubular member; an outlet means, for directing fluid to a component of said downhole tool which is to be actuated by said fluid; a first bore means, disposed in said valve body, for communicating said inlet with an annular space between said tubular member and said well hole; a second bore means, disposed in said valve body, for communicating with said annular space; a first port means, connecting said first and second bore means; and a second port means, connecting said second bore means and said outlet; a first piston disposed in said first bore means, said first piston having first and second ends arranged for fluid communication with said inlet and said annular space, respectively, said first piston being movable between a first position blocking said first port means and a second position allowing fluid communication between said inlet and said first port means; means for holding said first piston in said first position until a fluid pressure differential between said interior of said tubular member and said annular space reaches a first predetermined level, and for releasing said first piston so that it may be moved to said second position by said pressure differential when said differential reaches said first level; a second piston disposed in said second bore means, said second piston having first and second ends arranged for fluid communication with said first port means and said annular space, respectively, said second piston being movable between a first position allowing fluid communication between said first and second port means and a second position blocking said second port means; and means for holding said second piston in its said first position until said fluid pressure differential reaches a second predetermined level, said second level being higher than said first level, and for releasing said second piston so that it may be moved to its second position by said pressure differential when said differential reaches said second level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
370 words
A control valve assembly for a downhole tool, said downhole tool being constructed for connection to a tubular member to be lowered into a well hole; comprising: a mandrel; a valve body, connected to said mandrel, said valve body including: an inlet means for communicating with an interior of said tubular member; an outlet means, for directing fluid to a component of said downhole tool which is to be actuated by said fluid; a first bore means, disposed in said valve body, for communicating said inlet with an annular space between said tubular member and said well hole; a second bore means, disposed in said valve body, for communicating with said annular space; a first port means, connecting said first and second bore means; and a second port means, connecting said second bore means and said outlet; a first piston disposed in said first bore means, said first piston having first and second ends arranged for fluid communication with said inlet and said annular space, respectively, said first piston being movable between a first position blocking said first port means and a second position allowing fluid communication between said inlet and said first port means; means for holding said first piston in said first position until a fluid pressure differential between said interior of said tubular member and said annular space reaches a first predetermined level, and for releasing said first piston so that it may be moved to said second position by said pressure differential when said differential reaches said first level; a second piston disposed in said second bore means, said second piston having first and second ends arranged for fluid communication with said first port means and said annular space, respectively, said second piston being movable between a first position allowing fluid communication between said first and second port means and a second position blocking said second port means; and means for holding said second piston in its said first position until said fluid pressure differential reaches a second predetermined level, said second level being higher than said first level, and for releasing said second piston so that it may be moved to its second position by said pressure differential when said differential reaches said second level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said valve body is further characterized as a cylindrical valve body having a first end surface for communicating with said annular space; and said first and second bore means include first and second axial bores, respectively, said axial bores communicating with said end surface of said valve body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus of claim 2, wherein: said cylindrical valve body is concentrically disposed about said mandrel; and said inlet of said cylindrical valve body is permanently aligned with a hole disposed through a wall of said mandrel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a removable means for blocking said hole in said wall of said mandrel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus of claim 2, wherein said outlet of said valve body includes an annular axially extending groove communicating with a second end of said cylindrical valve body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus of claim 2, wherein said cylindrical valve body is welded at its ends to said mandrel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus of claim 2, wherein: said cylindrical valve body further comprises a counterbore concentric with said second bore at said end surface of said valve body; and said second piston includes an expandable ring for engaging said counterbore and locking said second piston in its said second position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein: p1 said means for holding said first piston includes a first shear pin connecting said first piston to said valve body; and said means for holding said second piston includes a second shear pin connecting said second piston to said valve body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second piston includes a reduced diameter portion, so that when said second piston is in said first position said first and second port means are communicated through said second bore around said reduced diameter portion of said second piston.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus of claim 9, wherein a volume of said second port means when said second piston is in said first position is equal to a volume of said second port means when said second piston is in said second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein a volume of said second port means when said second piston is in said first position is equal to a volume of said second port means when said second piston is in said second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first piston includes a reduced diameter portion between said first and second ends thereof so that said first piston may bend when moving between said first and second positions within said first bore means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second bore means include first and second relief holes, respectively, for communicating with said annular space, said relief hole being disposed substantially radially through a wall of said valve body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second piston includes an axial blind bore communicating with said second port means and a radial bore for communicating said blind bore with said first port means when said second piston is in its said first position.
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) | 1984-04-06 | 1984-10-06 | 1985-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-04-06 | 1988-10-06 | 1989-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-04-06 | 1992-10-06 | 1993-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |