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US 7,350,765 B2Granted
Double-stop floating ball valve
AssigneeHydril Company
InventorsJohn R. Leblanc, Jimmy Fultz, Ryan Gustafson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Valve assemblies and methods of designing valve assemblies having a valve ball, an upper seat, and a lower seat. When fluid pressure is applied to the valve ball, the valve ball will float in the axial direction between an upper position, a neutral position, and a lower position in response to fluid pressure. The valve assembly may be made suitable for internal blowout preventers.
Claims23
A valve assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising a passage therethrough;
- a valve ball comprising a through hole, the valve ball disposed in the housing, wherein the valve ball is rotatable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the through hole is aligned with the passage, and in the closed position the through hole is misaligned with the passage;
- an upper seat disposed in the housing above the valve ball and biased toward the valve ball;
- and
- a lower seat disposed in the housing below the valve ball and biased toward the valve ball;
- wherein the valve ball is moveable in an axial direction between a lower position, a neutral position, and an upper position in response to pressure;
- wherein a prevention mechanism prevents sealing contact between the valve ball and the upper seat when the valve ball is in the lower position;
- and
- wherein the prevention mechanism prevents sealing contact between the valve ball and the lower seat when the valve ball is in the upper position.
6 more elements
An internal blowout preventer comprising:
- a housing having a passage therethrough, wherein the housing is configured to be connected to a drill string;
- a valve ball having a through hole and disposed in the housing, said valve ball rotatable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the through hole is aligned with the passage, and in the closed position the through hole is misaligned with the passage, wherein the valve ball is moveable in an axial direction between a lower position, a neutral position, and an upper position in response to pressure;
- a rotation means for rotating the valve ball between the open position and the closed position;
- an upper seat disposed in the housing above the valve ball;
- a lower seat disposed in the housing below the valve ball;
- a biasing means for biasing the upper seat into sealing contact with the valve ball when the valve ball is in the upper position and the neutral position;
- a biasing means for biasing the lower seat into sealing contact with the valve ball when the valve ball is in the neutral position and the lower position;
- a spacer disposed in the housing between the upper seat and the lower seat and at least partially surrounding the valve ball;
- and
- a seat stop disposed adjacent to the spacer;
- wherein one of the spacer and the seat stop prevents sealing contact between the valve ball and the upper seat when the valve ball is in the lower position;
- and
- wherein the other of the spacer and the seat stop prevents sealing contact between the valve ball and the lower seat when the valve ball is in the upper position.
10 more elements
A valve assembly comprising:
- a housing having a passage therethrough;
- a valve ball having a through hole and disposed in the housing, said valve ball rotatable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the through hole is aligned with the passage, and in the closed position the through hole is misaligned with the passage, wherein the valve ball is moveable in an axial direction between a lower position, a neutral position, and an upper position in response to pressure;
- a rotation means for rotating the valve ball between the open position and the closed position;
- an upper seat disposed in the housing above the valve ball;
- a lower seat disposed in the housing below the valve ball;
- a biasing means for biasing the upper seat into sealing contact with the valve ball when the valve ball is in the upper position and the neutral position;
- and
- a biasing means for biasing the lower seat into sealing contact with the valve ball when the valve ball is in the neutral position and the lower position;
- wherein a prevention mechanism prevents sealing contact between the valve ball and the upper seat when the valve ball is in the lower position;
- and
- wherein the prevention mechanism prevents sealing contact between the valve ball and the lower seat when the valve ball is in the upper position.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.