Mud saver valve with replaceable inner sleeve
AssigneeDrilex Systems, Inc.
InventorsThomas F. Bailey, Raymond A. Todd, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mud saver valve for insertion within the drill string to retain mud in the drill pipe and prevent the mud column from flowing past the valve when pumping is interrupted. The valve body has a tubular body and a piston having an axial passage for the flow of drilling mud. This piston is biased within the body by a spring and axially movable in response to the mud flow. A check valve plug is disposed within the bore which may be removed to run wireline tools. The plug is seated within a reduced diameter portion of the body and includes a replaceable inner sleeve which engages the piston to prevent flow through the valve. The inner sleeve is replaced as it becomes worn due to the erosive forces of the drilling mud.
Claims14
In a mud saver valve for retaining drilling mud within a drill string when downhole pumping of the mud is interrupted, the mud saver valve including a tubular housing adapted to be received within the drill string, the housing receiving an upwardly biased, axially movable piston having a fluid passageway to permit the flow of fluids through the valve when the mud is being pumped downhole and a closure plug removably received within the upper end of the mud saver valve, the closure plug including check valve means to permit the upward flow of mud through the mud saver valve to relieve downhole fluid pressure, the improvement comprising:
- a selectively replaceable inner sleeve supported within the upper end of the mud saver valve by at least one retaining bolt and matingly receiving the removably closure plug, said inner sleeve including a lower end engageable with the piston to prevent the flow of fluid through the fluid passageway.
In a mud saver valve for retaining well fluids within a drill string when downhole pumping of the fluid is interrupted, the mud saver valve including a tubular housing adapted to be received within the drill string, the housing receiving an axially movable piston biased upwardly by a spring and having a fluid passageway to permit the flow of fluids through the valve when the fluid is being pumped downhole and a closure plug removably supported within the upper end of the tubular housing, the closure plug including check valve means to permit the upward flow of mud through the mud saver valve to relieve downhole fluid pressure when the piston is biased upwardly, the improvement comprising:
- a replaceable inner sleeve supported within the upper end of the mud saver valve and matingly receiving the removable closure plug, said inner sleeve retained within the upper end of the mud saver valve by at least one retaining bolt extending from the tubular housing to engage said inner sleeve, said inner sleeve including a lower end engageable with the piston to prevent the flow of fluid through the fluid passageway, said lower end of said sleeve including coating means for resisting erosion of said inner sleeve as the fluid flows past said lower end of said sleeve.
A mud saver valve for retaining drilling mud within a drill string when downhole pumping of the mud is interrupted, said mud saver valve comprising:
- a tubular housing adapted to be received in a radially enlarged portion of the drill string;
- an axially movable piston mounted within said tubular housing and having a central fluid passageway, said piston biased upwardly against the downhole flow of drilling mud by a spring;
- a selectively replaceable inner sleeve supported within the upper end of said tubular housing by a pair of retaining bolts extending from said tubular housing through said inner sleeve;
- said inner sleeve including a lower end engageable with said piston to prevent mud flow through said mud saver valve when pumping is interrupted, said piston biased into engagement with said lower end of said inner sleeve when pumping of drilling mud is interrupted;
- and
- a closure plug having check valve means seated within said inner sleeve, said closure plug being removable from said inner sleeve and tubular housing when an upward force is applied to said closure plug.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.