Two-way actuator and method
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsRobert S. O'Brien, Robert T. O'Brien
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a two-way actuator. The actuator includes, a tubular, movably positionable within a structure between at least a first position and a second position, the tubular having a first density selected such that buoyancy forces urge the tubular toward the first position in response to submersion of the tubular within a fluid having a second density that is greater than the first density, and at least one flow resistor disposed at the tubular configured to urge the tubular toward the second position in response to fluid flow interacting with the at least one flow resistor.
Claims18
A two-way actuator, comprising:
- a tubular, movably positionable within a structure between at least a first position and a second position, the tubular having a first density selected such that buoyancy forces urge the tubular toward the first position in response to submersion of the tubular within a fluid having a second density that is greater than the first density;
- and
- at least one flow resistor disposed at the tubular configured to urge the tubular toward the second position in response to fluid flow interacting with the at least one flow resistor.
A method of actuating in two directions, comprising:
- flowing fluid through a tubular;
- moving the tubular in a first direction in response to resisting the flowing fluid with the tubular;
- reducing a rate of fluid flow;
- and
- moving the tubular in a second direction with buoyancy forces acting on the tubular from fluid surrounding the tubular.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.