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US 10,472,924 B2Granted
Apparatus and methods for manual override of hydraulic choke or valve actuators
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorChristopher D. Nicholson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic actuator comprises a chamber, a first line, a second line, and an auxiliary line. The chamber allows fluid to move therethrough and comprises a movable element therein. The first line is in fluid communication with the chamber. The second line is in fluid communication with the chamber. The auxiliary line connects the first line and the second line and comprises a valve to selectively allow fluid communication between the first line and the second line as the movable element is moved in the chamber.
Claims12
A method comprising:
- automatically filling an interior space of a chamber with a fluid using a flow control device in an automatic mode, wherein the fluid is configured to enter the chamber through an inlet line and to exit the chamber through an outlet line, the chamber contains a movable element in contact with the fluid, an auxiliary line extends from the inlet line to the outlet line such that the auxiliary line connects the inlet line to the outlet line, and a first reservoir or a first reservoir line of the first reservoir is connected to the auxiliary line between the inlet line and the outlet line;
- providing fluid communication between the inlet line, the outlet line, and the first reservoir through the auxiliary line or the auxiliary line and the first reservoir line of the first reservoir;
- generating fluid flow though the auxiliary line to balance a volumetric change in a first chamber portion of the chamber relative to a second chamber portion of the chamber by moving the movable element when the automatic mode malfunctions;
- and
- moving a first valve to an open position to provide fluid communication between the inlet line and the outlet line and moving a second valve to an open position to provide fluid communication between the auxiliary line and the first reservoir or the first reservoir line of the first reservoir.
2 more elements
A hydraulic actuator comprising:
- a chamber comprising an interior space in which fluid and a movable element are located, wherein movement of one of the movable element and the fluid generates movement of the other of the movable element and the fluid;
- an inlet line in fluid communication with the interior space;
- an outlet line in fluid communication with the interior space;
- an auxiliary line extending from the inlet line to the outlet line such that the auxiliary line connects the inlet line to the outlet line;
- an auxiliary valve on the auxiliary line between the inlet line and the outlet line;
- a first reservoir or a first reservoir line of the first reservoir connected to the auxiliary line between the inlet line and the outlet line such that the inlet line, the outlet line and the first reservoir are in fluid communication through the auxiliary line and the auxiliary valve or the auxiliary line, the auxiliary valve and the first reservoir line;
- and
- a second reservoir connected to the auxiliary line by a second reservoir line,
- wherein the auxiliary valve is manually movable to an open position and the auxiliary valve, when located in the open position, provides fluid communication between at least the inlet line and the outlet line.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- automatically filling an interior space of a chamber with a fluid using a flow control device in an automatic mode, wherein the fluid is configured to enter the chamber through an inlet line and to exit the chamber through an outlet line, the chamber contains a movable element in contact with the fluid, an auxiliary line extends from the inlet line to the outlet line such that the auxiliary line connects the inlet line to the outlet line, and a first reservoir or a first reservoir line of the first reservoir is connected to the auxiliary line between the inlet line and the outlet line;
- providing fluid communication between the inlet line, the outlet line, and the first reservoir through the auxiliary line or the auxiliary line and the first reservoir line of the first reservoir;
- connecting the inlet line to a second reservoir through the auxiliary line, wherein fluid communication between the inlet line and the second reservoir is provided through the auxiliary line;
- and
- generating fluid flow though the auxiliary line to balance a volumetric change in a first chamber portion of the chamber relative to a second chamber portion of the chamber by moving the movable element when the automatic mode malfunctions.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.