Mud saver valve

A mud saver valve for controlling flow of drilling fluid through a drill string, the mud saver valve comprising:

• a tubular housing removably attachable to the drill string;
• a support assembly mounted within the tubular housing;
• a sleeve assembly movably disposed within the tubular housing, the sleeve assembly co-operating with the support assembly and forming a fluid chamber there between;
• the sleeve assembly having an outer surface and an inner surface, a first actuator and a second actuator projecting from the inner surface,
• biasing means disposed between the support assembly and the sleeve assembly movably interconnecting the two assemblies;
• a ball closure rotatably disposed within the housing, the ball closure having a body, a flow channel therethrough, a first body side and a second body side opposite the first body side, a first lug projecting from the first body side and a second lug projecting from the second body side;
• and
• the first actuator and second actuator co-acting with the first lug and the second lug of the ball closure to rotate the ball closure between open and closed positions in response to fluid pressure in the fluid chamber and co-action of the tubular housing with the drill string.

A mud saver valve for installation at an end of a drill kelly for controlling flow of drilling fluid through a drill string, the mud saver valve comprising:

• a tubular housing removably attachable to the kelly at a first end and attachable to the drill string at a second opposite end;
• a support assembly disposed inside the tubular housing and removably attached to the tubular housing at the first end, the support assembly having a top support element, a center support element and a bottom support element, the three support elements coupled together, the bottom support element housing a ball closure;
• a sleeve assembly movably disposed inside the tubular housing, the sleeve assembly co-operating with the support assembly and defining a fluid chamber therebetween, the sleeve assembly having an upper and lower sleeve elements;
• the lower sleeve element having an outer surface and an inner surface, a first actuator and a second actuator projecting from the inner surface;
• a biasing element disposed within the tubular housing and between the support assembly and the sleeve assembly for interconnecting the support and the sleeve assemblies;
• a ball closure rotatably disposed within the tubular housing inside the bottom support element, the ball closure having a body, a flow channel therethrough, a first body side and a second body side opposite the first body side, a first lug projecting from the first body side and a second lug projecting from the second body side;
• and
• the first actuator and the second actuator coacting with the first lug and the second lug to rotate the ball closure between an open and closed position.