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US 10,883,338 B2Granted
Polymagnetic flow control valves
AssigneeOneSubsea IP UK Limited
InventorTej Bhadbhade
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve includes a chamber and a piston positioned at least partially in the chamber. A first POLYMAGNET is coupled to a first side of the piston, and a second POLYMAGNET is positioned in the chamber and faces the first POLYMAGNET. An actuator is coupled to the second POLYMAGNET and rotates the second POLYMAGNET from a first rotational position to a second rotational position, which causes the first POLYMAGNET and the piston to move with respect to the second POLYMAGNET.
Claims22
A valve, comprising:
- a chamber;
- a fluid path between at least two ports;
- a piston positioned at least partially in the chamber;
- a first programmed magnet coupled to a first side of the piston, wherein the first programmed magnet comprises a first programmed magnetic field having north and south poles arranged on a first surface;
- a second programmed magnet positioned in the chamber and facing the first programmed magnet, wherein the second programmed magnet has a second programmed magnetic field having north and south poles arranged on a second surface;
- and
- an actuator coupled to and configured to rotate the second programmed magnet, wherein different rotational positions of the second programmed magnet relative to the first programmed magnet cause the first and second programmed magnetic fields to vary a magnetic repulsion or attraction between the first and second programmed magnet to move the valve between an open position and a closed position relative to the fluid path, wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the second programmed magnet from a first rotational position to a second rotational position, which causes the first programmed magnet and the piston to move with respect to the second programmed magnet.
4 more elements
A downhole equipment unit, comprising:
- a fluid conduit;
- and
- a valve disposed along the fluid conduit, the valve comprising:
- a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit;
- a piston positioned at least partially in the chamber;
- a first programmed magnet coupled to a first side of the piston, wherein the first programmed magnet comprises a first programmed magnetic field having north and south poles arranged on a first surface;
- a second programmed magnet positioned in the chamber and facing the first programmed magnet, wherein the second programmed magnet has a second programmed magnetic field having north and south poles arranged on a second surface;
- and
- an actuator coupled to and configured to rotate the second programmed magnet, wherein different rotational positions of the second programmed magnet relative to the first programmed magnet cause the first and second programmed magnetic fields to vary a magnetic repulsion or attraction between the first and second programmed magnet to move the valve between an open position and a closed position relative to the fluid conduit, wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the second programmed magnet from a first rotational position to a second rotational position, which causes the first programmed magnet and the piston to move axially within the chamber with respect to the second programmed magnet.
6 more elements
A method for actuating a valve, comprising:
- directing fluid through an inlet of a chamber of the valve to apply fluid pressure to a piston positioned at least partially in the chamber, wherein the piston has a first programmed magnet coupled a first side of the piston, wherein the first programmed magnet comprises a first programmed magnetic field having north and south poles arranged on a first surface;
- and
- actuating an actuator coupled to and configured to rotate a second programmed magnet, wherein the second programmed magnet has a second programmed magnetic field having north and south poles arranged on a second surface, wherein different rotational positions of the second programmed magnet relative to the first programmed magnet cause the first and second programmed magnetic fields to vary a magnetic repulsion or attraction between the first and second programmed magnet to move the valve between an open position and a closed position, wherein actuating comprises actuating the actuator to rotate the second programmed magnet from a first rotational position to a second rotational position, which causes the first programmed magnet and the piston to move with respect to the second programmed magnet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.