# US 9,518,457 B2 · Downhole tool for opening a travelling valve assembly of a reciprocating downhole pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,457 B2 - Document ID: US9518457B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/515,983 - Filed: 2014-10-16 - Published: 2015-04-23 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-18 - Assignees: Global Oil and Gaa Aupplies Inc. - Applicants: David Gronning - Inventors: David Gronning - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518457B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/127: {Adaptations of walking-beam pump systems} - F04B 47/02: the driving mechanisms being situated at ground level (F04B47/12 takes precedence) - E21B 43/12: Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) - F04B 47/00: Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps (by using positive or negative pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped F04F1/00) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - 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) ## Abstract A downhole tool for opening a travelling valve assembly of a downhole pump is disposed with the travelling valve assembly within a pump barrel, and includes a substantially cylindrical housing and a piston. The housing defines an axial bore extending from a bottom opening for fluid communication with the pump barrel, a radial port for fluid communication between the axial bore and the pump barrel, and a channel formed in the outer surface of the housing for fluid communication between the radial port and the travelling valve assembly. The piston occludes the axial bore above the radial port, and in response to an upward pressure exerted by a production fluid below the piston, slides upwardly within the axial bore to engage and open a valve member of the travelling valve assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A downhole tool for opening a travelling valve assembly of a downhole pump, the tool and travelling valve assembly being disposed within a pump barrel, and the travelling valve comprising a valve member in a travelling valve housing, the valve member movable between an open position and a closed position, the tool comprising: (a) a substantially cylindrical housing, wherein the housing comprises an outer surface and defines: (i) an axial bore extending from a bottom opening for fluid communication with the pump barrel; (ii) at least one radial port for fluid communication between the axial bore and the pump barrel; (iii) for each of the at least one radial port, a channel formed in the outer surface of the housing for fluid communication between the at least one radial port and the travelling valve assembly; and (b) a piston slidably disposed within the axial bore and occluding the axial bore above the at least one radial port, wherein the piston is responsive to an upward pressure exerted by a production fluid below the piston to slide upwardly within the axial bore from a retracted position to an extended position in which the piston engages the valve member in the travelling valve housing to move the valve member to the open position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a threaded connection for removable attachment to a complementary threaded connection of the travelling valve assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1 wherein either the housing comprises a lower segment and an upper segment removably attachable to the lower segment, wherein the piston is removable from the housing when the upper segment is detached from the lower segment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1 wherein the at least one radial port comprises a plurality of radial ports circumferentially spaced apart on the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1 wherein the channel tapers inwardly towards the at least one radial port. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1 wherein the housing defines a pair of internal shoulders that engage the piston to limit sliding of the piston between the retracted position and the extended position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1 wherein the piston comprises a cylindrical rod and an intermediate section attached to rod between the lower end of the rod and a top end of the rod, wherein the intermediate section engages an internal shoulder of the housing to occlude the axial bore above the at least one radial port. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1 wherein the piston comprises a cylindrical rod and a base attached to a lower end of the rod, wherein the base engages an internal shoulder of the housing to occlude the axial bore above the at least one radial port. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1 wherein the piston comprises a concave bottom surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1 wherein the valve member is a ball, and the piston comprises a concave top surface adapted to engage the ball. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1 further comprising a seal for sealing the outer surface to the pump barrel below the at least one radial port. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tool of claim 11 wherein each of the seal comprises a sealing ring disposed circumferentially around the housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tool of claim 12 wherein the outer surface of the housing defines a circumferential groove for retaining the sealing ring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tool of claim 13 wherein the sealing ring tapers radially outwards from a top end to a bottom end. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1 wherein the channel extends from the at least one radial port to an upper end of the housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1 wherein: (a) the axial bore extends from the bottom opening to a top opening for fluid communication with the travelling valve assembly; (b) the at least one radial port comprises a lower radial port and an upper radial port; and (c) the piston occludes the axial bore above the lower radial port and below the upper radial port. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tool of claim 16 further comprising a lower seal for sealing the outer surface to the pump barrel below the lower radial port, and an upper seal for sealing the outer surface to the pump barrel above the upper radial port. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The tool of claim 16 wherein each of the lower seal and the upper seal comprises a sealing ring disposed circumferentially around the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The tool of claim 18 wherein the outer surface of the housing defines a lower circumferential groove for retaining the sealing ring of the lower seal, and an upper circumferential groove for retaining the sealing ring of the upper seal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The tool of claim 18 wherein the sealing rings taper radially outwards from a top end to a bottom end.