US2219736A

US2219736A - Valve

Info

Publication number: US2219736A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bryant Frank Leone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-11-14
Filing date: 1936-11-14
Publication date: 1940-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1957-10-29

Description

Oct. 29, 1940. R. rla. BRYANT* VALVE `Filed NOV. 14, 1936 Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE y executrix of the will deceased ofsaid Boy B. Bryant,

Application November 14, 1938, Serial No. 110,795

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in valves.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved valve adapted to be connected in a well tubing for controlling the introduction of a lifting uid into said tubing, whereby the well liquid is raised in said tubing.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved flow valve which is actuated by the differential of pressure within the well tubing and well casing, there being positive means for holding the valve open to permit the admittance of lifting uid into the tubing until such time as the tubing above said valve is entirely emptied of well liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved flow valve which is so constructed that a definite pressure dierential between the pressures in the tubing and casing is required to open said valve to admit the lifting fluid into the tubing, whereby the presence of well liquid in the tubing above the valve, and the presence of lsufficient lifting fluid in the tubing is assured before the valve is opened, thereby producing emcient operation, as well as conserving the lifting uid.

`A further object of the invention is to' provide an improved ilow valve which is so arranged that an excessive column of well liquid will not be built up in the well tubing above the valve, whereby the lifting medium is always sufllcient to raise said liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved flow valve assembly which may be bodily removed from the well tubing, whereby mounting or dismounting thereof is facilitated; the entire structure being simple in construction, whereby manufacturing costs are reduced to a minimum.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention. p

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a well tubing having a plurality of flow valves, constructed in accordance with the invention connected therein, Y

Figure 2 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the flow valve showing the ball in its lower seated position,

Figure 3 is a similar view, with the ball in an intermediate position, I

Figure 4 is a similar view, with the ball in its upper seated position, and

Figure 5 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

In the drawing, the numeral I designates the f usual well casing which has the well tubing II extending axially therethrough. The tubingand casing are, of course, of different diameters whereby an annular space is formed between the tubing and casing. In carrying out the invention, a plurality of flow valves I2 are connected in the well tubing II, being spaced from each other throughout the length of the tubing string. Each valve includes a coupling collar I3 which is internally screw-threaded at each end, whereby said collar may be readily connected to the usual well tubing.

A valve housing I4 is formed at one side of vthe collar I3 and is preferably made integral therewith. The housing is elongate being substantially the same length as the collar I3, and the outer surface of the housing is rounded (Figure while its lowerend is bevelled at Il',

` whereby when the housing is lowered within the well casing with the tubing string II, said housing will not hang or catch on the inside couplings of the 'well casing III.

An axial bore I5 extends from a point near the lower end of the housing I4 to the extreme upper end thereof and the bore is preferably cylindrical. A flanged valve seat member I6 is disposed within the lower end of the bore I5 of the housing, and this member is provided with an axial bore I1 extending therethrough. When the member I6 is within the bore I5 (Figures 2, 3 and 4), the lower end of the bore I1 of said member communicates with the upper-end of angular ports I8 which are formed in the lower end of the housing Il. 'I'he opposite ends of the ports I8 are open to the interior of the well casing, whereby a communication is established between the interior of the casing and the bore I1. A suitable packing ring I9 is interposed between the underside of the flanged member I6 and the bottom of the bore I5 to prevent leakage at this point.

'I'he upper end ofthe bore of the member I6 is enlarged and is formed with an annular valve seat 2li.- The member I6 is externally screwthreaded to receive the lower end of an elongate sleeve 2I which is inserted within the bore I5 above said member. The outer diameter of the sleeve 2I is such that said sleeve has a tight sliding fit within the bore I5 of the housing.

The sleeve extends substantially throughout the forms an annular shoulder 23 at the upper end of such reduced portion, while an annular bevelled valve seat 24 is formed at the lower end of said portion. It is noted that the reduced portion 22 of the bore is located so that the seat 24 is spaced some distance above the annular seat 20 formed at the upper end of the member I6. A ball 25 is mounted in this space between the

valve seats

20 and 24 aud is adapted to engage one or the other of said seats, as will be hereinafter explained.

A piston 25 is mounted to slide within the upper end of the bore 22 of the sleeve 2| and normally rests upon the annular shoulder 23 formed at the upper end of the reduced portion 22' of the bore of said sleeve. The piston has a depending stem 21 which extends downwardly through the reduced portion 22' and has its lower end terminating in alinement with the valve seat 24, as is clearly shown in Figure 2. The piston is normally held on the shoulder 23 by a coiled spring 23 which is confined between the upper end of the piston and the underside of a flanged cap 29 which is threadedinto the upper end of the bore 22 of the sleeve 2|. A plug 30 is threaded into the upper end of the bore I5 of the housing I4 and has its underside engaging the cap 29 at the top of the sleeve 2|, whereby said sleeve is firmly held within the bore I5. If desired, a suitable packing gasket 3| may be interposed between the plug 30 and the cap 29.

From the above, it will be seen that a communication is established between the bore 22 of the sleeve 2| and the annular space between the well tubing I I and the casing III, by means of the bore I'I of the member I6 and the angular ports I8 formed in the lower end of the body. Therefore, when the ball 25 is unseated, fluid may ilow from the well casing through the port I8, bore II and into the bore 22 of the sleeve. For establishing a communication between the bore 22 of the sleeve and the interior of the well tubing II, the sleeve 2| is provided with a radial port 32 which is located intermediate the reduced portion 22' of said bore (Figures 2 and 5). The port 32 has its outer end communicating with a radial opening 33 provided in the inner side of the valve housing I4 and collar I3. The opening 33 is open to the interior of the collar I3 and, therefore, to the interior of the well tubing, and thus, it will be seen that a communication is established through this opening and the port 32 between the well tubing II and the bore 22 of the sleeve. As has been pointed out, there is a communication between the bore and the interior of the well casing III, and therefore, it follows that with the above arrangement a communication between the interior of the well tubing and the interior of the well casing is had. A vertical passage 34-connects the opening 33 with the upper end of the bore 22 of the sleeve 2|, whereby the top of the piston 26 is subjected to the pressure of the fluid or liquid within the well tubing. It is noted that the lower end of the passage 34 terminates above the radial ports 32 in the sleeve and communicates with the upper end of the opening 33, as clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

In operation, a plurality of the flow valves I2 are connected in the well tubing II at spaced points throughout the vertical length of the tubing string. Therefore, as the tubing is lowered into the well casing I0, the valves are 10W- velocity of gas ered therewith. At this time there is no gas, or other lifting fluid within the well casing and, therefore, the ball valve 25 is resting on the seat 2II of the member I6, and the piston 26 is resting on the shoulder 23 being held so by the coiled spring 2l. As the tubing II becomes filled with the well liquid, such liquid will rise above the valve housing I4 and the pressure of the fluid will be exerted against the upper end of the ball 25 through the opening 33. port 32 and bore 22 of the sleeve 2|. At the same time the fluid will pass upwardly through the vertical passage 34 and will enter the bore 22 of the sleeve 2| to exert its pressure against the top of the piston 26 and aid said spring 28 in holding the piston in its lowermost position. At this time the pressure is equalized on both sides of the piston 26 and the ball 25 is acting as a check valve to prevent the well liquid within the tubing II from flowing into the well casing.

The gas, or other lifting uid, is then introduced into the annular space between the well casing III and the tubing II and this gas pressure will act through the port I8 and bore I'I of the member I5 against the underside of the ball 25 of the uppermost valve. When the gas pressure has been built up suiciently to overcome the pressure of the fluid exerted against the upper end of the ball, said ball will be unseated and moved upwardly to the position shown in Figure 3. At this time the ball can move only to this position because it will strike the lower end of the stem 21 of the piston 26 which is being held in its lowermost position by the coiled spring 26 and the pressure of the liquid within the well tubing. Therefore, the ball will be raised from the seat 20 to an intermediate position between the valve seat 20 and the upper valve seat 24, whereby the gas from the well casing may flow through the bore 22 of the sleeve 2|, port 32 and opening 33 into the well tubing. The gas pressure, being greater than the pressure of the liquid within the well tubing can raise the ball 25 from its seat 20, but is insuicient to raise the piston 26 because the spring tension is added to the pressure of the well liquid within the tubing in holding said piston in its lowermost posit-lon. Therefore, the ball is held in an intermediate position between the valve seat by the stem and the gas or other lifting medium, ilows around said ball and enters the well tubing.

Upon the initial admittance of the gas into the well tubing it will be obvious that said gas is acting against the fluid column in the well tubing above the valve and, therefore, the movement of the gas through the bore of the sleeve, through the port 32 and opening 33 is comparatively slow. However, as the column of fluid within the tubing becomes aerated the gas flowing through the bore 22 of the sleeve will increase its velocity. Also as the fluid column begins to move the pressure upon the piston 26 becomes gradually lessened. As the velocity of the gas increases and continues to increase, a back pressure is built up in the bore 22 of the sleeve 2| because of the restricted opening or port 32 in the wall of said sleeve. 'I'his back pressure will continue to build up because the will continue to increase as the fluid moves upwardly through the well tubing and when this pressure reaches a predetermined point it will overcome the tension of the coil spring 26 and raise the piston. 26 within the upper end of the bore 22 of the sleeve. When the piston 28 is moved upwardly by this gas pressure in the bore 22, the stem 2'l'dependlng from the lower end of the piston` will be raised accordingly, whereby the ball 25 will be permitted to engage the upper annular vseat 2| to close the bore 22. The upward movement of the ball 25 will, of course, be occasioned by the pressure of the lifting fluid within the well casing. The position of the valve at this time is clearly shown in Figure 4. As soon as the ball 25 engages the seat 24, it is obvious that the iluid from the well easing cannot enter the well tubing through this valve any longer. The valve is held in this position by the pressure of the fluid in the casing, and since this fluid cannot enter the tubing through the valve in its shut-oi! position, said iiuid pressure will act upon the valve next therebelow to operate it in the same manner.

, The valve will remain in its closed position so long as the uid pressure within the casing l is greater than the pressure of the well liquid within the tubing plus the tension of the coiled spring 28. Thus, until such time as the well liquid again builds up in the well tubing Il to a point where its pressure exerted against the top of the piston 26 and the top of the ball 25, plus the tension of the spring 28 which is sumcient to overcome the pressure of the lifting fluid within the well casing, the valve will remain closed or in the position shown in Figure 4. With this arrangement, the tension-of the coiled spring is addedv to the pressure of the well liquid within the tubing to act against the pressure of the lifting fluid within the well casing. Obviously, by varying the tension of the coil spring 28 it is possible to accurately adjust the device so that a predetermined column of fluid will build up in the well tubing before the valve is opened.

This assures the proper amount of liquid being in the Well tubing above the valve before said valve is open, and at the same time assures a sumcient pressure of lifting fluid in the well casing before the valve is opened. Therefore, a conservation of the lifting fluid is accomplished.

When the well liquid in the tubing has reached the point where its pressure, plus the pressure of the spring 28, is sufllcient to overcome the pressure of the lifting uid in the casing, the piston 26 will be moved downwardly to move the ball 25 from the upper seat 2l. As soon as this occurs the gas or other lifting fluid is permitted to enter the bore 22 of the sleeve 2|, pass around the ball 25 and into the well tubing, as has been explained. The gas continues to enter the well tubing until its velocity has reached the point suflicient to build up a back pressure beneath the piston 26, at which time said piston is raisedA to again permit the ball 25 to engage the seat 24. Therefore, during the operation of the valve, the ball 25 is alternately moved to engage and disengage the seat 24. It is noted that during the actual operation the ball 25 never engages the lowermost seat 20. The only time that the ball engages this seat is when there is no fluid pressure within the well casing at Iwhich time gravity permits the ball to engage this lower seat so as to act as a check to prevent any liquid within the well tubing from flowing into the well casing.

It is noted that there are few working parts to the device and it is very simple in construction. By removing the plug 30 from the upper end of the bore I5 of the valve housing I 4, it is possible to remove the entire assembly. If it is only desired to remove the spring 28 to either replace the same or substitute a new one therefor, it is only necessary after removing the plug, to remove the anged cap 2l and insert a new spring. The provision of the ball 25 assures a tight seal when said ballL is seated and prevents any leakage of pressure thereby.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:v

1. A flow valve including. a housing adapted to to be connected in the well tubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with the interior of said tubing and also communicating withthe interior of the well casing, whereby communication between the tubing and casing is established through said bore, a valve in the bore for controlling the now therethrough and actuated by the differential in pressures within the tubing and casing, movable means movable independently of the valve having one side subjected to the pressure within the tubing and its opposite side subjected to the pressure in the casing for holding the valve in an open position until the pressure within the casing has reached a predetermined point, and resilient means engaging the movable means on the side which is subjected to the pressure in the tubing, whereby the tension of said means is added to such tubing pressure in operating the movable means.

2. A flow valve including, a collar adapted to be connected in a tubing string, a housing having a bore carried by the collar, said bore communicating with the exterior of the housing and also communicating with the interior of the collar, a valve in the bore for controlling the ow therethrough and actuated by the differential in pressure between the interior of the collar and the exterior of the housing, movable means within the bore having both sides exposed to the pressure within the collar when the valve is closed and having one side exposed to the pressure within the interior of the collar and its opposite side exposed to the pressure exteriorly of the housing when the valve is open, whereby when the valve is open said movable means is actuated by the differential pressure for holding the valve open until the exterior pressure reaches a predetermined point, and resilient means acting on said movable means for aiding the pressure within the collar to resist movement of said means by the exterior pressure.

3. A iiow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the well tubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with the interior of said tubing and also communieating with the interior of the well casing, wherebyvcommunication between the tubing and casing is established through said bore, a double valve seat within the bore, a valve adapted to engage said seats and actuated by the differential in pressure between the casing and the tubing, said valve engaging one seat and acting as a check when the pressure within the tubing is greater than the pressure in the casing, and movable means within the bore and also actuated by the pressure differential for holding the Valve between lts seats to permit flow of fluid from the casing to the tubing at a predetermined pressure differential and for permitting the valve to engage the other seat to close when the pressurein the casing reaches a predetermined point.

4. A flow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the well tubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with the interior of said tubing and also communieating with the interior of the well casing, whereby communication between the tubing and casing is established through said bore. a double valve seat within the bore, a valve adapted to engage said seats and actuated by the diierential in pressure between the casing and the tubing, said valve engaging one seat and acting as a check when the pressure within the tubing is greaterthan the pressure in the casing, and a movable piston within the bore and having one end subjected to the pressure in the tubing and its other end subjected to the pressure in the casing for engaging the valve to hold the same in a position between the valve seats to permit ilow from the casing to the tubing when the pressure dii'- ferential is at a predetermined point, said piston being actuated when the pressure in the casing reaches a predetermined point to permit the valve to engage the other seat to close the bore.

5. A ilow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the well tubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with the interior of said tubing and also communicating with the interior of the well casing, whereby communication'between the tubing and casing is established through said bore, a double valve seat within the bore, a valve adapted to engage said seats and actuated by the diierential in pressure between the casing and the tubing, said valve engaging one seat land acting as a check when the pressure within the tubing is greater than the pressure in the casing, and a movable piston within the bore and having one end subjected to the pressure in the tubing and its other end subjected to the pressure in the casing, a stem on the piston for engaging the valve to hold the same between its seats at a predetermined pressure differential, and resilient means exerting its pressure against the end of the piston subjected to the tubing pressure, whereby said means aids such pressure in the tubing in resisting movement of the piston by the pressure in the casing so that a predetermined pressure in the casing is necessary to move the piston to permit the valve to engage its other seat and close the opening.

6. A flow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the well tubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with the interior of the well casing, whereby communication between the tubing and casing is established through the bore, a valve element within said bore for controlling the flow therethrough and actuated by the diierential of the pressures within the casing and tubing, and a piston slidable in the bore and having means carried thereby for positively holding the valve element in an open position until the pressure in the bore reaches a predetermined point, said piston having the pressures thereacross equalized when the valve element is in a closed position and having opposite sides exposed to the pressures in the casing and tubing when the valve is open, whereby said piston is actuated by said pressure diilerential when the valve element is in its open position.

7. A flow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the well tubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with the interior of the Well casing, whereby communication between the tubing and casing is established through the bore, a valve element within said bore for controlling the ow iiuid therethe through and actuated by the differential of the pressures within the casing and tubing, and a piston within the bore above the valve element movable independently of the valve element having one side exposed to the tubing pressure and its opposite side exposed to the casing pressure, whereby said piston is actuated by the difierential in said pressures for positively holding the valve element in an open position until the pressure of the uid reaches a predetermined point.

8. A flow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the well tubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with the interior of the well casing, whereby communication between the tubing and casing is established through the bore, a valve element within said boi'e for controlling the ow iluid therethrough and actuated by the differential of the pressures within the casing and tubing, a piston within the bore above the valve element having both sides exposed to the tubing pressure when the valve element is open and having one side exposed to the tubing pressure and its opposite side exposed to thecasing pressure when the valve element is open, whereby said piston is actuated by the differential in said pressures for positively holding the valve element in an open position until the pressure of the uid reaches a predetermined point, and resilient means engaging the piston on the side subjected to the pressure in the tubing, whereby the force oi said means is added to the tubing pressure in operating the piston. I

9. A flow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the well tubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating 'with the interior of the well casing, whereby communication between the tubing and casing is established through the bore, a valve element within said bore for controlling the flow therethrough and actuated by the differential of the pressures within the casing and tubing, a piston slidable in the bore above the valve element movable independently of said element and actuated by the diil'erential in said casing and tubing pressures, and a depending stem on said piston adapted to engage the element for holding the same in an open position until the pressure inl casing has reached a predetermined point. 10. A ow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the well tubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with the interior of the well casing, whereby communication between the tubing and casing is established throughthe bore, a valve element within said bore for controlling the ilow therethrough and actuated by the diierential of the pressures within the casing and tubing, and a piston within the bore having pressure thereacross equalized when the valve isin a closed position and having opposite sides exposed to the tubing and casing pressures respectively when the valve is open, whereby when said valve element is in its open position, the piston is actuated by the differential in said pressure in the tubing and casing, said piston coacting with the valve element to control the inlet of a iiuid to the tubing in accordance with the pressure in said tubing.

ROY B. BRYANT.