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US 8,739,862 B2Granted
System for controlling flow of an actuating fluid
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsNobuyoshi Niina, Oleg Polyntsev
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve system structure to facilitate actuation of tools, such as actuating pads in a steering section of a wellbore drilling assembly. A valve system may comprise a bi-stable actuator which controls two double-stage valves. Each of the double-stage valves is able to perform both charging and dumping functions which facilitate use of the valve system in a variety of downhole applications. In drilling applications, a single valve system is able to operate a plurality of actuating pads.
Claims10
A system for facilitating a downhole operation, comprising:
- a downhole tool actuated by an actuating fluid;
- and
- a valve system coupled to the downhole tool to control flow of the actuating fluid with respect to the downhole tool, the valve system comprising:
- a bi-stable actuator;
- a first valve section coupled to the bi-stable actuator by a plunger;
- a second valve section coupled to the bi-stable actuator by the plunger, wherein movement of the plunger via the bi-stable actuator in a first direction opens flow to the downhole tool through the first valve section and closes flow to the downhole tool through the second valve section, further wherein movement of the plunger via the bi-stable actuator in a second direction closes flow to the downhole tool through the first valve section and opens flow to the downhole tool through the second valve section,
- wherein each of the first valve section and the second valve section has a dumping chamber, a charging chamber, and an inlet chamber through which flow is controlled by a pair of plunger tips interacting with corresponding orifices, the plunger tips and corresponding orifices being arranged to balance hydraulic holding forces.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.