Pressure-actuated valve and method

Patent 5609178 Issued on March 11, 1997. Estimated Expiration Date:

September 28, 2015. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

2793908

3378068

Pressure controlled reversing valve
Patent #: 3986554
Issued on: 10/19/1976
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Inventors

Assignee

Baker Hughes Incorporated

Application

No. 535846 filed on 09/28/1995

US Classes:

137/10, By speed of fluid137/12, By fluid pressure137/115.09, Choke137/115.24, Mechanical movement between sensor and valve137/624.14, Self-cycling166/317, Destructible element166/319, Fluid operated166/332.1Longitudinally movable operator

Examiners

Primary: Hepperle, Stephen M.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Browning Bushman

Foreign Patent References

0409446A1 EP. 01/24/1991
2214540 GB 09/24/1989
93/10328 WO 05/24/1993

International Class

E21B 034/10

Abstract

A downhole valve 10 opens or closes a bypass (12,13) in response to the pressure of the fluid in the valve. The valve housing body 14 is adapted for fluid communication with a tubular within a well bore. The valve bypass may be repeatedly cycled from open to closed position by selectively raising and lowering the fluid pressure. A replaceable flow restriction 18 in the valve is sized to produce a desired flow-induced pressure drop across the valve to cycle the valve with fluid flow. Differential sealing areas (11c and 15,16) are provided to cycle the valve by varying the static fluid pressure in the valve. According to the method, a flowing fluid pressure drop induced by fluid flow through the valve is used to change the state of the valve, and a subsequent change in hydrostatic fluid pressure or fluid pressure is used to return the valve to its original state.