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US 10,480,284 B2Granted
Balanced valve assembly
AssigneeSilverwell Energy Ltd.
InventorPeter Watson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A downhole tool has a pressure differential from one side of the tool to the other. The pressure differential is balanced across the actuating assembly and tool surfaces to minimize the force required to move a portion of the tool, such as a valve, between a first position to a second position, such as when opening or closing a downhole valve.
Claims13
A valve assembly for use downhole comprising:
- a housing having a chamber;
- an inlet formed through an end of the housing;
- a valve element,
- selectively disposed in a first position in sealing engagement with the inlet to form a barrier between the chamber and an environment ambient to the housing, and
- selectively moveable to a second position spaced away from the inlet to provide fluid communication between the chamber and the environment;
- an elongated valve stem disposed in the chamber having an end attached to the valve element, an opposite end distal from the valve element profiled with an enlarged radius;
- a surface on a side of the opposite end of the valve stem facing away from the valve element that is in communication with the environment, and has an area substantially the same as an area of a side of the valve element facing away from the inlet;
- a motor in the chamber and coupled to the valve stem;
- a planar flange circumscribing the valve stem between the motor and the valve element, and having a radial surface facing the valve element with an area substantially the same as a surface area of the valve element in communication with the chamber when the valve element is in the first position;
- actuating bellows having an end attached to the planar flange, and an opposite end attached to the motor;
- and
- matching bellows having an end attached to the opposite end of the valve stem, and an opposing end attached to the motor.
9 more elements
A valve assembly for use downhole comprising:
- a housing defining an inner chamber;
- an opening formed through the housing;
- a motor in the chamber;
- an elongated valve stem having a portion coupled with the motor, the valve stem moveable between open and closed configurations with actuation of the motor;
- a valve element mounted on an end of the valve stem, the valve element engaging the opening when the valve stem is in the closed configuration to form a barrier to fluid communication between the chamber and an environment ambient to the housing;
- a means for exerting an ambient balancing force to the valve stem, the ambient balancing force having a magnitude the same as, and a direction opposite to, a force exerted onto the valve element from a pressure of the environment ambient to the housing when the valve stem is in the closed configuration;
- and
- a means for exerting a chamber balancing force onto the valve stem, the chamber balancing force having a magnitude the same as, and a direction opposite to, a force exerted onto the valve element from a pressure inside the chamber when the valve stem is in the closed configuration.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.