Flow valve and method

A method for drilling a hydrocarbon well bore comprising:

• providing a work string within the hydrocarbon well bore, the work string having a bit;
• providing a valve device within the work string, said valve device comprising:
• a base having a plurality of arms extending from the base;
• a seat housing abutting said plurality of arms and wherein said seat housing and said plurality of arms defines a cage;
• a ball member positioned within said cage;
• a spring member for biasing said ball member into engagement with a valve seat;
• a cylindrical biasing housing disposed within said base, wherein the flow of a drilling fluid in a first direction compresses the spring member so that flow of said drilling fluid proceeds through the valve device with said spring member disposed within said biasing housing preventing said spring member from exposure to said drilling fluid;
• and wherein the flow of a hydrocarbon well reservoir fluid in a second direction causes said spring member to bias the ball member into engagement with the valve seat;
• flowing said drilling fluid in the first direction through the work string, said flow of said drilling fluid in said first direction opens said valve device by causing said ball member to unseat from the valve seat so that a passageway is formed about the ball member and said spring member to collapse within said cylindrical biasing housing preventing said spring member from exposure to said drilling fluid;
• directing said drilling fluid about the biasing housing;
• and
• drilling the well bore with the bit.

A valve apparatus for controlling the flow of a medium in a hydrocarbon well bore comprising:

• a base having a plurality of arms extending from the base;
• a seat housing abutting said plurality of arms, wherein said base and said plurality of arms defines a cage, and wherein said seat housing includes a valve seat arid wherein a flow path is defined through said cage;
• a ball member positioned within said cage arid wherein said ball member is moveable within said cage;
• a spring for biasing said ball member into engagement with said valve seat;
• a cylindrical biasing housing disposed within said base, and wherein said spring is disposed within said cylindrical biasing housing when said spring is compressed;
• a passageway formed about the valve apparatus when the flow of a drilling fluid is in a first direction, and wherein said drilling fluid flows on an outer portion of the cylindrical biasing housing;
• wherein when said valve a apparatus is in a closed position the flow of a hydrocarbon well reservoir fluid in a second direction causes said spring to bias the ball member into engagement with the valve seat, and wherein when said valve apparatus is in an opened position the flow of said drilling fluid in the first direction compresses and disposes the spring within said cylindrical biasing housing so that flow of said drilling fluid proceeds through the apparatus with said ball member blocking the flow of said drilling fluid from entering the cylindrical biasing housing and flowing through said spring.

A valve apparatus for controlling the flow of a medium in a hydrocarbon well comprising:

• a base having a plurality of arms extending from the base;
• a seat housing abutting said plurality of arms, wherein said base and said plurality of arms defines a cage, and wherein said seat housing includes a valve seat;
• a ball valve positioned within said cage;
• a spring housing disposed within said base and attached to said plurality of arms;
• a passageway formed about the ball valve when the flow of a drilling fluid is in a first direction, and wherein said drilling fluid flows through an inner bore of the seat housing;
• a bleed off vent passage positioned within the seat housing for communicating a pressure upstream of the ball member with a pressure downstream of the ball member;
• a spring for urging the ball valve into engagement with said valve seat;
• a spring guide disposed within said spring, and wherein said spring and spring guide are partially disposed within said spring housing;
• a cradle attached to said spring guide, said cradle having a concave surface engaging said ball member;
• wherein when said valve apparatus is in a closed position the flow of a hydrocarbon well reservoir fluid in a second direction causes said spring to bias.