Bypass valve
AssigneeBaker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC
InventorsDarin H. Duphorne, Gregory L. Hern, William A. Hered
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling fluid flow through a drill string includes a housing having an axis, a radial wall with a bore extending axially therethrough, and an aperture formed in the radial wall. The aperture is in fluid communication with the bore. A piston is located inside the housing and has an orifice configured to permit axial fluid flow through the housing. The spring axially biases the piston to a closed position.
Claims25
A fluid pressure actuated diverter valve apparatus for controlling fluid flow to a mud motor for a milling tool supported on a tubular string, comprising:
- a housing forming a part of the tubular string and further comprising an inlet, a straight through outlet and at least one lateral wall port;
- a piston reciprocally mounted within said housing;
- the piston including a top end, at least one internal passage disposed through the piston downwardly from the top end through which fluid is permitted to flow through the piston to the mud motor without obstruction during a milling operation;
- a lateral flow passage which extends between the top end and a lateral outlet within the piston;
- wherein the piston is reciprocated from an upper position and a lower position within the housing by increasing flow through the piston to maintain a predetermined flow to the mud motor by circulating excess flow into said housing through said lateral flow passage;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of the lateral flow passage is maintained at a position within the housing above the lateral wall port when the piston is in the lower position.
A flow control method for a borehole tool, comprising:
- providing a housing further comprising an inlet, a straight through outlet and at least one lateral wall port, the housing further having end connections for attaching to a tubular string to position a borehole tool in a borehole;
- additively manufacturing a piston in said housing selectively covering said wall port, said piston comprising an internal passage extending downwardly from an orifice proximate a top end of the piston in flow communication with said straight through outlet and a lateral flow passage beginning adjacent said top end to a circulation outlet and extending to an outer periphery of said piston, said circulation outlet movable into aligned or misaligned positions with respect to said at least one lateral wall port responsive to flow generated force in said straight through passage opposing a bias force on said piston;
- maintaining a predetermined flow to the borehole tool by circulating excess flow into said housing through said lateral flow passage, at least a portion of the lateral flow passage remaining above the lateral wall port as said excess flow is circulated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.