US2510356A

US2510356A - Flow bean

Info

Publication number: US2510356A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard A Werts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-05-15
Filing date: 1945-05-15
Publication date: 1950-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1967-06-06

Description

Batented June 6, 1950 omi-En s'iA'rEs PATENT, oFPlca Richard A. vlvLegNneacn,

f Y 1 Y This invention relates to means for cutting down, or beaning back, or substantially regulating the flow of uids from oil wells and deals more particularly with ow control devices known as flow beans. An object or my invention is to provide a ow bean which is simple, sturdy, eilicient and which is selective to vary the desired conditions ot ilow.

My invention deals with flow beans such as are commonly connected to either side of the cross of the "Christmas tree of a well producins under high pressure conditions as distinguished from bottom hole iiow beans. Especially in oil wellsI the tluid passing upwardly in the well tubing or 'casing into the Christmas tree and out through the ilow beans to storage, irequently carries a high proportion of sand and other abrasive particles. Conventional flow beans are designed on the needle valve principle in which a needle isadjustably positioned in a Venturi tube to vary the ow through the bean. The abrasive wearing action of the sand in the iluid and of the uid itself which is under high pressure, deleteriously aects both the needle and the tube of conventional flow beans resulting in frequent repairs and replacement of the aiected parts and a consequent expense and reduction in the production of the well. Another conventional now bean is the positive choke type which, in addition to being non-adjustable, also loses efnciency because of wear due to abrasion.

Another object of my invention is to combine the best features of adjustable iiow beans and positive choke flow beans and to provide a ow bean with a positive, yet selective, restriction to the ilow of iiuids therethrough, according to production or proration requirements under varying conditions of well pressure.

Another object of my invention is to provide a ilow bean oi novel construction and designed to resist abrasive wear to a high degree.

Another object .of my invention is to provide a ilow bean in which `the`iluid passing therethrough enters the body of the bean at a relaa ilow bean of the positive restriction type embodying means for selectively positioning one of 11 Claims. (CL 251-86) various sizes of restricting orices in the line of flow of the flow bean.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a flow bean having means for completely shutting o the ilow therethrough and which can be fully opened to flow for various purposes and for the particular purpose of blowing-out and ridding the iiow bean body of sand and other accumulations.

yThe various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flow bean embodying a preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof, partly broken;

Fig. 3` is a cross sectional view of selective means for regulating the flow of :fluid through the ilow bean, the view being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. y I

In the embodiment of the invention which I have illustrated, the ilow line from the well and particularly the cross of a Christmas tree, is shown as a tube or pipe I0. The pipe I0 is connected to the ilow bean housing II, in the chamber I2 of which I have shown selector means I3 for controlling or regulating the flow of uid from the pipe I0 through the chamber I2 and out through a pipe I4 connected to the housing II at a right angle to the pipe I0. I have shown the flow bean as further comprising a valve and seat I5 associated with the selector means I3 and located to control flow from the chamber I2 through the outlet pipe I4, manual means I6 for operating the selector means I3, and visual means I1 for indicating the selected position of said selector means I3.

The housing Il which I provide, may comprise a tubular body 20 in which the chamber I2 is formed as a substantially cylindrical openended recess having an end wall I9 and a plate 2| serving as a closure for the chamber I2. I secure the body 20 and plate 2| together by means of studs 22 on a circular flange 23 of the body and nuts'24 in the ends of said studs which project through aligned holes 25 in the plate 2l. I show the body 2U as a suitable casting having a radial boss 26 internally ,threaded at 21 for connection with the pipe I0, and an axial boss 28 internally threaded at 21 for connection with the pipe I0, and an axialv boss 28 internally threaded at 29 for connection with the pipe I4.

I prefer to weld the end of the

.bosses

28 and 28 as at 30 to the respective pipes I0 and I4 to obtain a leak-proof uid pressure receptive assembly having an inlet passage 3|, an outlet flow passage 32 at right angles thereto, and a connecting chamber l2, said passage 3| comprising the longitudinal bore of the pipe I and the passage 32 comprising the longitudinal bore of the pipe I4 and an aligned opening 32l in the body wall I9. I show'the plate 2| as also comprising a casting and I provide said plate with a central outer boss 33 which extends in a direction opposite to the pipe I4. I provide the plate 2| with a central hole 34 for passage therethrough ofl a longitudinally disposed shaft 35 connecting the selector means I3 within the chamber I2 and the manual means I8 outside the housing II. Leakage between the plate 2| and the shaft 35 is prevented by a stuffing box 36 which I show as packing 31 around the shaft 35 and a gland 38 threadedly engaged with an internal packing seat 39 in the boss 33. I prefer to provide a sealing gasket 40 between the outer face of the ange 23 of the body 2II and the related face of the plate 2| whereby both said gasket 40 and the shaft packing 31 effectively seal the chamber I2 against leakage. The arrangement of the parts which I have described. provides for a relative longitudinal offset between the center of the pipe I4 and the axis of the shaft 35. Accordingly. the body casting 20 has the boss 28 arranged substantially centrally thereof, and the ange 23 eccentrically in a direction away from the body boss 26.

The selector means I3 and the valve and seat means I are associated both physically and functionally. I provide a valve seat ring 4I in the body opening 32'l and show said seat as threadedly connected at 42. Said seat 4| comprises a flanged ring having an axial passage 43 aligned with the passages 32 and 32EL and having direct communication through an angled valve seat 44 with the chamber I2. I show a valve disc 45 having a beveled circular face 46 engaged with the seat 44 and having disc centering fins 41 guided in the passage 43 of the valve seat ring 4I. I further provide the disc 45 with a central axial hole 41a which, while relatively large, is smaller in area than the area of the inlet passage 3I. I connect the disc 46 to a reduced end 48 of the shaft 35 which passes through an eccentric hole 49 in said disc and secure said disc on the shaft by a nut 50.

The selector means I3 which I provide comprises an orifice plate 5I having a central polygonal axial hole 5| for a similarly shaped portion 52 of the shaft 35. The plate 6| is mounted contiguously with the disc 45 and has a number of

orifices

53, 54, 55, 56 and 51, graduated in size from the largest orice 53 to the smallest orifice 51, which are arranged for selective alignment with the axial hole 41 of the valve seat ring 45. The largest orifice 53 may be of any desired size, but at most no larger than the hole 41, I have shown said largest orifice somewhat smaller than th'e hole 41S. A shutoff part 58 on the plate 5I is provided between the

orices

53 and 51. From the foregoing it can be seen that the orifice plate 5| will rotate bodily with the shaft 35 and that said shaft, by means of the pin and hole bearing 48 and 49, is journaled in the disc 45 which is seated inthe ring 4I. Because said ring 4| and the disc 45 are eccentric with respect to the plate 5| and the shaft 35, there is no tendency to cause said disc 45 to rotate when the- 4 shaft 35 is rotated. Accordingly, the plate 5I ro tates with relation to the disc 45 and by such rotation the orices 53 to 51. inclusive, can be selectively positioned in alignment with the disc hole 41.

The manual means I6 is shown as comprising a handwheel 60 secured to the shaft 35. By means of said handwheel, the desired aligned selection of the hole 41* with the holes 53 to 51 can be obtained. Said handwheel 60 also serves as means whereby an endwise pull can be exerted on the shaft 35 for the purpose of longitudinally separating the faces 44 and 48 of the ring 4I and the disc 45, respectively. I provide means for maintaining engagement of the

faces

44 and 46 and for this purpose I providea coil spring 6| around the shaft 35 and arranged between abutments aiforded by the plate 5| and the plate 2|. In order to prevent complete disassociation of the disc fins 41 and the passage 43, I provide a suitable shoulder 62 on the shaft 35 which cooperates with the plate 2| to limit the endwise movement of the shaft to at all times retain engagement of said disc flns 41 and said passage 43.

The visual means I1 maybe variously made. I have shown an index pointer 53 carried by the shaft 35 between the gland 38 and the handwheel and mounted to rotate with said shaft and a plurality of suitable radially arranged index marks 64 or the like, on the outer flat face of the plate 2| associated with the index pointer 63 for visual indication of the selected alignment between the hole 41* and the orifices 53 to 51.

Since pressure varies during the life of a well and from well to well, the flow bean which I have provided will meet changing conditions with the greatest ease. The ow through the bean can be kept athits greatest emciency by suitable and quick alignment of one of the orifices 53 to 51 with the hole 41* so that varying uid supply from the inlet ow passage 3| can be regulated to obtain a uniform or any desired flow in the outlet passage 32. Further, when the uid enters the chamber I2 from the inlet passage 3| it seeks exit through the ow aligned orifice in the plate 5|. A slightly turbulent and sluggish flow in the chamber I2 is created, reducing the abra.- sive effect of the sands and other particles upon the surfaces of the orice plate 5| and the aligned orifice. Longer useful life of this part is, therefore, assured. The orifice plate functions as a positive restriction which has the additional property of being selective as to size. Long operation may cause the chamber I2 to fill up and become sand clogged. This condition can be quickly remedied by a pull on the handwheel 60 to open the passage 41* directly to the chamber I2. The ilow from the inlet passage 3| to the outlet passage 32 now being substantially unrestricted, the uidwill wash through the chamber I2 at an unhindered flow rate and clear the same of sand accumulations. Release of the handle 60 restores the flow bean to desired and normal operation. Shutoif of the ow bean' is quickly obtained by aligning the orifice plate part 58 with the outlet passage and, since the disc 45 and the plate 5| and the seat ring 4I are arranged in pressure-closed relation, certain shutoff is obtained.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specic details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear 8 to those skilled in the art and fail within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

-1. A flow controlling device of the character described including. a housing having' inlet and outlet passages, aseathin the-housingwithan opening concentric with and passing flow to the outlet passagef a disc resting on the seat and having a flow opening concentric with the opening in the seatl and communicating therewith, an oriilce plate seatedon thefdisc and rotatable about an axis laterally spaced from that of the outlet passage and having aplurality of ilow controlling orifices to be positioned'one at a time in register lwith the flow opening of the disc, operating means for rotating the plate from the exterior of the housing, and means coupling the disc and plate for removal from the housing as a unit.

2. A flow controlling device cf the character described including, a housing having inlet and arcuate series of flow controlling apertures concentric with the axis of the disc, the apertures being concentricallyregistrable, one at a time with the flow opening, and means operable to rotate the plate from the exterior of the housing.

3. A flow controlling device" of the character described including, a housing having inlet and outlet passages, an annular seat in the housing concentric with the outlet passage, a disc concentric with'and resting on the seat and having a flow opening therethrough, an orifice plate with a curved series of flow controlling apertures, and means pivotally connecting the plate 4and disc on an axis concentric with the series of apertures and eccentric to the axis of the disc for rotation of the plate to register the apertures with the opening one at a time.

4. A flow controlling device of the character described including, a' housing having inlet and outlet passages, an annular seat in the housing concentric with the outlet passage, a disc concentric with and resting on the seat and having a ilow opening therethrough, an orice plate with a curved series of ilow controlling apertures, and means pivotally connecting the plate and disc on an axis concentric with the series of apertures and eccentric to the axis of the disc for rotation of the plate to register the apertures with the opening one at a time including, a shaft projecting into the housing and having driving engagement with the plate and rotatably supporting the disc adjacent the plate.

5. A flow controlling device of the character described including, a housing having inlet and outlet passages, an annular seat in the housing concentric with the outlet passage, a disc concentric with and resting on the seat and having a flow opening therethrough, means guiding the disc concentric with the seat, an orifice plate with a curved series of flow controlling apertures, and means pivotally connecting the plate and disc on an axis concentric with the series of apertures and eccentric to the axis of the disc for rotation of the plate to register the apertures with the opening one at a time.

6. A flow controlling device of the character described including, a housing having inlet and eccentric to the outlet passage, a member seated in the housing with an opening communicating with the outlet passage, and a plate mounted concentric on the inner end portion of the shaft to be rotated thereby on an axis eccentricl to the opening, the inner end portion of the shaft being in the housing with an opening communicating with the outlet passage, a plate mounted concentric on the inner end portion oi the shaft to be rotated thereby on an axis eccentric to the opening, the inner end portion of the shaft being rotatably engaged with the said member with said member forming the sole support for the said portion of the shaft, and means retaining the said member on said portion of the shaft to be in coupled engagement with the plate.

8. A flow controlling device of the character described including, a housing having'inlet and outlet passages, an annular seat ring threaded into the housing concentric with the outlet pas; sage, a disc concentric with and resting on the seat and having a flow opening therethrough, an orice plate with a curved series of flow controlling apertures, and means pivotally connecting the plate and disc on an axis concentric with the series of apertures and eccentric vto the axis of the disc for rotation of the plate to register the apertures with the opening one at a time.

9. A ilow controlling device of the character described including, a housing having inlet and outlet passages, an annular seat ring threaded into the housing concentric with the outlet passage, a disc concentric with and resting on the seat and having a flow opening therethrough, means guiding the disc concentric with the seat, an orice plate with a curved series of ow controlling apertures, and means pivotally connecting the plate and disc on an axis concentric with the series of' apertures and eccentric to the axis of the disc for rotation of the plate to register tne apertures with the opening one at a time.

1U. A flow controlling device of the character described including, a housing having inlet and outlet passages and an access opening provided with a removable closure, a member seated in the housing and normally stationary therein and having an opening communicating with the outlet passage, a multiple apertured plate in the housing seated on said member and shiitable relative thereto to control flow to the outlet passage, and a single means operating the plate within the housing and coupling the plate and said member as a unit for free relative rotation and for simultaneous removal lfrom they housing through the access opening.

11. A ilow controlling device of the character described including, a housing having inlet and outlet passages and an access opening provided with a removable closure, a seat ring threaded in the housing concentric with' the outlet passage, a disc seated on the ring and having an opening communicating with the outlet passage, means guiding the disc centrally of the ring, a. shaft entering the housing through the closure eccentric to the outlet passage and having its inner end rotatably engaged with the disc, means retaining the disc on the shaft, vand a plate carried by the shaft to rotate therewith and located to seat on the disc and'having a series of flow 7 9,610,859 controlling apertures concentric with the shaft Number and resistrable with the opening in the disc on 1.378.217 at l. time. 1,496,695 RICHARD A. WERTB. 1,694,694 5 1,751,591 REFERENCES CITED 1,911,044 The following references are of record ln tho 13361413 111e of this patent: 2,093,692 UNITED STATES PAm'rs n 2,115,241

Number Nams Date 562,049 'rirmann Juno 16, 1890 Number 1,106,002 Schlemmer Aus. 4, 1914 135.925

1,360,505 Doble N01. 30, 1920 Nuno Dato Cllord May 17, 1921 Relnhardt Mar. 11, 1924 Walker Deo. 11, 1929 McCloskey Mnr. 25, 1930 Thrasher Mu 23, 1933 'rnbb sept. 19, 1933 Daniels Sept. 21, 193'? Bollinger Apr. 28, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Austria. of 1938