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US 4,889,199 AGranted
Downhole valve for use when drilling an oil or gas well
OwnerPaul B. Leeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A downhole drilling device utilizing a spring-loaded sleeve within the casing for controlling circulation of fluid material. A plastic, i.e., deformable ball is used to block a flow opening in the sleeve for positioning the sleeve and aligning flow ports. Subsequently, the ball is deformed and the drilling operation continues. In one form, an expandable packer may be operated to close off the annulus about the casing.
Claims16
A downhole drilling device for a hollow drill string comprising tubular casing means for mounting in a drill string;
- first outlet means in said casing means for discharging fluid from said casing means;
- sleeve means slidably mounted in said casing means;
- spring means in said casing means biasing said sleeve means to a closed position in which said sleeve means closes said first outlet means;
- second outlet means in said sleeve means for discharging fluid from said sleeve means when said first and second outlet means are aligned;
- a ball, retainer means in said sleeve means for releasably retaining said ball for preventing flow of drilling fluid through said sleeve means and causing said sleeve means to move relative to said casing means into an open position in which said first and second outlet means are aligned to discharge fluid through said casing means, a second ball for blocking said second outlet means so that pressure on said first and second balls increases sufficiently to drive said first ball through said sleeve means for restoring the normal flow of drilling fluid through said sleeve means and for allowing the return of said sleeve means to said closed position.
2 more elements
A downhole drilling device for a hollow drill string comprising tubular casing means for mounting in a drill string;
- outlet means in said casing means for discharging fluid from said casing means;
- sleeve means slidably mounted in said casing means;
- spring means in said casing means biasing said sleeve means to a closed position in which said sleeve means closes said outlet means;
- a first ball, retainer means in said sleeve means for releasably retaining said first ball for preventing flow of drilling fluid through said sleeve means and causing said sleeve means to move relative to said casing means into an open position in which the top end of said sleeve means is located beneath said outlet means to discharge fluid through said casing means, a second ball for blocking said outlet means so that pressure on said first and second ball increases sufficiently to drive said first ball through said sleeve means for restoring the normal flow of drilling fluid through said sleeve means and for allowing the return of said sleeve means to said closed position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.