# US 8,770,950 B2 · Pump device for the hydraulic actuation of a valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,950 B2 - Document ID: US8770950B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/096,934 - Filed: 2011-04-28 - Published: 2011-08-18 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2003-07-17 - Assignees: Cameron International Corporation - Applicants: Klaus Biester - Inventors: Klaus Biester - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770950B2 ## CPC - F04B 17/03: driven by electric motors - F04B 9/02: the means being mechanical - F04B 9/04: the means being cams, eccentrics or pin-and-slot mechanisms - F16K 31/12: actuated by fluid ({fluid-actuated lift valves F16K1/126} ; fluid-actuated check valves F16K15/00; fluid-actuated safety valves F16K17/00) - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract Pump device for hydraulically activating a valve in particular used for oil and gas exploration wherein such a valve may be a safety valve assigned to a riser or a tree, said pump device including a piston cylinder unit from which pressurized hydraulic fluid can be pumped in direction to the valve. To improve such a pump device so that the pressure of the hydraulic fluid is produced in particular at the corresponding site and near to the valve and is safe and constructed in a simple way an electrical drive means is movably connected to a piston of the piston cylinder unit for alternating movement in axial direction of the piston within the cylinder. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a hydrocarbon production safety valve system, comprising: a hydraulic pump comprising a hydraulic inlet and a hydraulic outlet, wherein the hydraulic pump is configured to pump a hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic inlet to the hydraulic outlet; a hydraulically actuated safety valve coupled to the hydraulic outlet, wherein the hydraulically actuated safety valve receives the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic outlet, the hydraulically actuated safety valve and the hydraulic pump are physically separate from one another, and the hydraulically actuated safety valve is proximate to the hydraulic pump; and a first servomotor and a second servomotor, wherein the first and second servomotors are arranged redundantly with respect to one another, and the first and second servomotors are configured to operate an internal safety valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic pump and the hydraulically actuated safety valve are configured to be subsea devices. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic pump comprises: a piston-cylinder unit having a piston disposed within a cylinder, the cylinder comprising: a first port coupled to an internal discharge line disposed in an interior of the hydraulic pump and coupled to the hydraulic outlet; and a second port coupled to an intermediate reservoir disposed in the interior of the hydraulic pump, wherein the intermediate reservoir is configured to store a portion of the hydraulic fluid; and an electrical drive movably coupled to the piston, wherein the electrical drive is configured to alternately move the piston in opposite directions between a first position and a second position within the cylinder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the piston is configured to move toward the first position to drive the hydraulic fluid from the cylinder out through the hydraulic outlet, and the piston is configured to move toward the second position to draw the hydraulic fluid from the intermediate reservoir into the cylinder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the hydraulic pump comprises: a first non-return valve coupled to the first port, wherein the first non-return valve is configured to block flow of the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic outlet into the cylinder; and a second non-return valve coupled to the second port, wherein the second non-return valve is configured to block flow of the hydraulic fluid from the cylinder into the intermediate reservoir. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the hydraulic pump comprises: a first branch line coupled to the internal discharge line; a second branch line coupled to the internal discharge line; an the internal safety valve, wherein an inlet of the internal safety valve is coupled to the second branch line, and an outlet of the internal safety valve is coupled to a feedback line coupled to the intermediate reservoir; and an internal pressure switch coupled to the first branch line, wherein the internal pressure switch is configured to output a signal to move the internal safety valve from a closed position to an open position when a pressure of the first branch line exceeds a predetermined value, and the internal safety valve in the open position is configured to transfer the hydraulic fluid from the second branch line to the feedback line. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the first and second servomotors are configured to receive the signal from the internal pressure switch and open the internal safety valve when the pressure of the first branch line exceeds the predetermined value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a quick-release coupling configured to couple the hydraulic inlet to a hydraulic fluid supply pipe and the hydraulic outlet to a hydraulic fluid discharge pipe, wherein the quick-release coupling is configured to convey only the hydraulic fluid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising: an accumulator disposed between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulically actuated safety valve, wherein the accumulator is configured to store a portion of the hydraulic fluid, and the accumulator is physically separate from the hydraulic pump and the hydraulically actuated safety valve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the electrical drive comprises a spindle drive, a reduction gear, a spur gear, at least one drive shaft, at least one electric motor configured to rotate the at least one drive shaft, a spindle nut, and a threaded spindle; wherein the spindle nut is threadingly engaged with the threaded spindle and is movably connected to the reduction gear, and the spindle nut is rotatable and axially immovable; wherein the threaded spindle has an actuating end releasably connected to the piston, and the threaded spindle is axially movable; wherein the reduction gear comprises a flexible, cup-shaped toothed sleeve coupled to the spindle nut; and wherein the spur gear comprises a first helical spur wheel rotationally rigidly connected to a wave generator, and a second helical spur wheel rotationally rigidly arranged on the at least one drive shaft. ### Claim 11 A system, comprising: a hydraulic pump configured to actuate a hydraulically actuated safety valve of a hydrocarbon production system, wherein the hydraulic pump comprises a hydraulic inlet and a hydraulic outlet, the hydraulic pump is configured to pump a hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic inlet to the hydraulically actuated safety valve coupled to the hydraulic outlet, the hydraulic pump is configured to be disposed external to the hydraulically actuated safety valve, and the hydraulic pump is configured to be disposed proximate to the hydraulically operated safety valve; and a first servomotor and a second servomotor, wherein the first and second servomotors are arranged redundantly with respect to one another, and the first and second servomotors are configured to operate an internal safety valve of the hydraulic pump. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the hydraulic pump is configured to be a subsea device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the hydraulic pump comprises: a piston-cylinder unit having a piston disposed within a cylinder, the cylinder comprising: a first port coupled to an internal discharge line disposed in an interior of the hydraulic pump and coupled to the hydraulic outlet; and a second port coupled to an intermediate reservoir disposed in the interior of the hydraulic pump, wherein the intermediate reservoir is configured to store a portion of the hydraulic fluid; and an electrical drive movably coupled to the piston, wherein the electrical drive is configured to alternately move the piston in opposite directions between a first position and a second position within the cylinder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the piston is configured to move toward the first position to drive the hydraulic fluid from the cylinder out through the hydraulic outlet, and the piston is configured to move toward the second position to draw the hydraulic fluid from the intermediate reservoir into the cylinder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the hydraulic pump comprises: a first non-return valve coupled to the first port, wherein the first non-return valve is configured to block flow of the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic outlet into the cylinder; and a second non-return valve coupled to the second port, wherein the second non-return valve is configured to block flow of the hydraulic fluid from the cylinder into the intermediate reservoir. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the hydraulic pump comprises: a first branch line coupled to the internal discharge line; a second branch line coupled to the internal discharge line; an the internal safety valve, wherein an inlet of the internal safety valve is coupled to the second branch line, and an outlet of the internal safety valve is coupled to a feedback line coupled to the intermediate reservoir; and an internal pressure switch coupled to the first branch line, wherein the internal pressure switch is configured to output a signal to move the internal safety valve from a closed position to an open position when a pressure of the first branch line exceeds a predetermined value, and the internal safety valve in the open position is configured to transfer the hydraulic fluid from the second branch line to the feedback line. ### Claim 17 A method, comprising: pumping a hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic outlet of a hydraulic pump to a hydraulically actuated safety valve of a hydrocarbon production system, wherein the hydraulic pump comprises a hydraulic inlet and the hydraulic outlet, and the hydraulic pump is configured to pump a hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic inlet to the hydraulic outlet; actuating the hydraulically actuated safety valve using the hydraulic fluid pumped from the hydraulic pump, wherein the hydraulically actuated safety valve and the hydraulic pump are configured to be physically separate from one another, and the hydraulically actuated safety valve is configured to be proximate to the hydraulic pump; and operating an internal safety valve of the hydraulic pump with a redundant set of a first servomotor and a second servomotor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, comprising sensing an internal pressure of the hydraulic fluid inside the hydraulic pump using an internal pressure switch, and opening the internal safety valve inside the hydraulic pump to transfer at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid out of the hydraulic pump when the internal pressure exceeds a predetermined value. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, comprising coupling the hydraulic pump to a hydraulic pipe using a quick-release coupling device, wherein the quick-release coupling device is configured to convey only the hydraulic fluid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, comprising storing at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid in an accumulator, wherein the accumulator is disposed between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulically actuated safety valve, and the accumulator is physically separate from the hydraulic pump and the hydraulically actuated safety valve. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic pump comprises the internal safety valve. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second servomotors are configured to receive a signal from an internal pressure switch and open the internal safety valve when a pressure exceeds a predetermined value. ### Claim 23 A system, comprising: a hydrocarbon production safety valve system, comprising: a hydraulic pump comprising a hydraulic inlet and a hydraulic outlet, wherein the hydraulic pump is configured to pump a hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic inlet to the hydraulic outlet; a hydraulically actuated safety valve coupled to the hydraulic outlet, wherein the hydraulically actuated safety valve receives the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic outlet, the hydraulically actuated safety valve and the hydraulic pump are physically separate from one another, and the hydraulically actuated safety valve is proximate to the hydraulic pump; and an electrical drive coupled to the hydraulic pump, wherein the electrical drive comprises a spindle nut, a spur gear, and a wave generator coupled to the spur gear. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the electrical drive comprises a spindle drive, a reduction gear, at least one drive shaft, at least one electric motor configured to rotate the at least one drive shaft, and a threaded spindle. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the spindle nut is threadingly engaged with the threaded spindle and is movably connected to the reduction gear, and the spindle nut is rotatable and axially immovable. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the threaded spindle has an actuating end releasably connected to a piston of the hydraulic pump, and the threaded spindle is axially movable. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the reduction gear comprises a flexible, cup-shaped toothed sleeve coupled to the spindle nut. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the spur gear comprises a first helical spur wheel rotationally rigidly connected to the wave generator, and a second helical spur wheel rotationally rigidly arranged on the at least one drive shaft.