# US 10,371,284 B2 · Local position indicator for subsea isolation valve having no external position indication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,284 B2 - Document ID: US10371284B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/044,950 - Filed: 2016-02-16 - Published: 2017-08-17 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-16 - Assignees: Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC - Applicants: Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC - Inventors: Wade A. Miller; Michael L. Hair; Leonard Medill - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371284B2 ## CPC - F16K 37/0016: {having a graduated scale} - F16K 31/122: the fluid acting on a piston (F16K31/143, F16K31/163, F16K31/363, F16K31/383 take precedence) - F16K 37/0041: {for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence)} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract A local position indicating device for a subsea isolation valve that has no other visual signals of its position integrates to the hydraulic actuation system for the isolation valve. Three way valves, connected to an operating control line and a force closed balance line leading to opposed ends of an operating piston, are located by the isolation valve and redirected by a diver or ROV, to locally operate the valve. The balance line has a piston that is displaced with fluid pushed by the operating piston when the isolation valve is opened with hydraulic pressure in the operating control line local connection. The piston connected to the balance line moves an indicator out of its housing for the local indication that the isolation valve is open. Displaced fluid from movement of the piston in the position indicator moves a floating piston to keep seawater away from the indicating piston. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve position indicating assembly located subsea for a valve comprising a valve member operated by at least one hydraulic control line, said valve having no visible external indication of a position of said valve member, comprising: a housing having an inlet in fluid communication with said at least one control line; an indicating piston in said housing, said indicating piston exposed to control line pressure on one side of a piston seal thereon and acted upon directly or indirectly by subsea hydrostatic pressure on an opposite side of said piston seal, said indicating piston moving responsively to a variable volume of hydraulic fluid delivered from and sent to said control line; an indicating member moving with said indicating piston and selectively extending to be visible from an opening in said housing to provide a visual subsea indication of position for the valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein: said indicating piston defines a first sealed variable volume in said housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein: said indicating member extending from and beyond said first sealed variable volume. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3, wherein: said indicating piston is biased from within said first variable volume toward said inlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3, further comprising: a floating piston further defining said first sealed variable volume on one side thereof and a second variable volume at about atmospheric pressure in said housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3, wherein: said indicating member comprising a seal to retain fluid in said first sealed variable volume chamber from another fluid at said outlet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein: said indicating member is adjustably mounted to said indicating piston for greater or lesser axial extension from said indicating piston and further comprises a lock for maintaining a predetermined extension. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein: said indicating piston is insensitive to pressure outside said opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, further comprising: a second piston mounted to said indicating member in said housing having the same piston area as said indicating piston, with said opening in said housing between said pistons. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein: said second piston defining a second sealed variable volume in said housing initially about atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, further comprising: a floating piston further defining said first sealed variable volume on one side thereof and a third variable volume at about atmospheric pressure in said housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein: said indicating member comprises scales extending on opposed sides of an end plate, said scales visible as said end plate moves axially in said opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein: said indicating member comprises a scale extending to an end plate, said scale visible as said end plate moves away from said opening and moving into said housing as said end plate moves toward said opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein: said indicating piston is exposed to fluid at said opening of said housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein: the valve is operated by an operating and a force closed control lines and said inlet of said housing is connected to either control line. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein: movement of said indicating member triggers a signal to a remote location of the position of said valve. ### Claim 17 A subsea hydraulically operated valve assembly for isolation in a tubular string, comprising: a valve hydraulically operated through at least one control line between an open and a closed position without a visible indication of position; a position indicating assembly operably connected to said at least one control line responsive to a variable volume of hydraulic fluid moving between said control line and said position indicating assembly to visually indicate valve position subsea related to said moving volume. ### Claim 18 An indicating method for a subsea hydraulically operated isolation valve having no external indication of its position, comprising: connecting a volumetric fluid displacement sensitive position indicator to a control line, said control line used to operate said valve; providing a visible indication subsea responsive to displaced hydraulic fluid volume, said displaced volume proportional to movement of said valve between an open and a closed position. ### Claim 19 A valve assembly for subsea use, comprising: a hydraulically operated flapper valve further comprising a flapper valve housing with a passage therethrough selectively closed by a flapper in said passage; a surrounding outer housing for said flapper valve housing, said outer housing comprising flanged ends for connection to a marine riser to said passage; at least one opening in said outer housing for sealingly connecting at least one control line for hydraulic operation of said flapper valve through said flapper valve housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The assembly of claim 19, further comprising: a subsea position indicating assembly mounted adjacent said outer housing operably connected to said at least one control line that operates said valve. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The assembly of claim 20, further comprising: said subsea position indicating assembly responsive to a variable volume of hydraulic fluid moving between said control line and said position indicating assembly to visually indicate, outside said outer housing, valve position related to said moving volume. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The assembly of claim 21, further comprising: said moving volume proportional to movement of said valve between an open and a closed position. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The assembly of claim 22, further comprising: said moving volume displacing an indicating piston in a position indicating housing; and an indicating member moving with said indicating piston and extending to be visible from an opening in said position indicating housing to provide a visual indication of position for said valve. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The assembly of claim 23, further comprising: said indicating piston is insensitive to pressure outside said opening by virtue of a second piston mounted to said indicating member in said position indicating housing having the same piston area as said indicating piston, with said opening in said housing between said pistons. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The assembly of claim 20, further comprising: said at least one control line comprises an operating and a force closed control lines such that pressure in said operating control line opens said valve and pressure in the force closed control line closes said valve, said subsea position indicator in selective flow communication with said force close control line. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The assembly of claim 20, further comprising: said at least one control line comprises an operating and a force closed control lines such that pressure in said operating control line opens the valve and pressure in the force closed control line closes said valve, said subsea position indicating assembly in selective flow communication with said operating control line. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The assembly of claim 20, further comprising: said position indicating assembly providing a local signal of the position of said valve or transmitting a position signal to a remote location.