US3532164A - Tubing operated valve apparatus - Google Patents

Description

finite d States Patent lnventor Thomas L. Enrlght P. 0. Box 525, McLean, Texas [21] Appl. No. 791,252 [22] Filed Jan. 15, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 6,1970

I [54] TUBING OPERATED VALVE APPARATUS 3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 166/226, 103/221 [51] int. Cl. F2lb 33/00 [50] Field of Search 166/226, 131, 112; 103/221 56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 174,725 3/1876 Eby etal 103/221 1,194,952 8/1916 Bushong 103/221 1 mamas McKissick 1,404,874 l/1922 103/221 1,432,140 10/ 1922 Ulrich 103/221 1,607,481 1 H1926 Ross et'al 166/226 2,037,896 4/1936 Haines 166/226 Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink Attorney-H. Mathews Garland ABSTRACT: A valve for use in a well for communication between well tubing and the annulus around the tubing within the well including a tubing section connectable to the well tubing and having a side port, a valve associated with the side port for controlling flow through the port, a valve operating linkage including a cam and a cam track for moving the valve between open and closed positions responsive to rotation of the tubing from the surface and means for frictionally engaging the well wall so that when the tubing is rotated the cam track is held against rotation for shifting the valve between open and closed 1 position.

Patented Oct. 6, 1970 Sheet 1 INVENTQR. Thomas L. Enrlghf LW3JM UTORQIEY Patented Oct. 6, 1970 3,532,164

Sheet 3 of 2 A) 94 L O I III I I] I I /-/00 74 975 INVENIOR. Thomas L. Enrlghf ATTORNEY BY ymwmfi m TUBING OPERATED VALVE APPARATUS This invention relates to well apparatus and more particularly relates to a valve for communicating tubing in a well with a surrounding annular space.

Many wells in the earth producing fluids such as oil flow by a natural drive process in which native pressures in the earth structure displace the fluids into the wells and onto the surface until such pressures deplete to the level that the fluids are no longer recoverable without supplementing the natural drive forces. One way of recovering earth fluids from wells in which the natural reservoir energy is substantially depleted is by use of well pumps which function to lift the fluids from the level of the producing formation in the well to the surface. Often such pumping wells are powered by coupling a pump on the lower end of a string of well tubing with a surface power unit by means of a string of sucker rod. Several problems are involved in such apparatus for pumping wells. As the well fluids are lifted to the surface from lower zones of high temperature through sections of earth structure which are at lower temperatures below the melting point of some components of the well fluids, particularly paraffin, the paraffin solidifies along the well tubing, the sucker rod and other apparatus in the well within the flow path of the fluids. If a well is not periodically cleaned, the paraffin may eventually completely plug the well tubing and interfere in other ways with the functioning of the well pumping apparatus. Present pumping systems do not provide for annulus-tubing communication which will allow circulation of paraffin solvents through the tubing other than by dumping such solvents into the annulus and permitting them to be picked up by the pump and lifted back through the tubing to the surface. Further problems inherent in present apparatus using sucker rods for pumping wells are encountered in pulling the tubing and pumps for various service and repair functions. It has in the past been generally necessary that a pulling unit or other out-. side source of power be used to lift the rod string and unseat a standing valve below the pump to release tubing fluid.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide new and improved well apparatus and more particularly to provide a new and improved valve for use in a well.

It is an especially important object of the invention to pro vide a new and improved well tool which permits fluid communication between a string of well tubing in a well and the annular space in the well around the tubing.

It is another object ofthe invention to provide a ell tubing valve includable in a string of tubing supporting a well pump.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a well valve of the character described which is usable in a well pumping system including a sucker rod actuated pump.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tubing valve of the character described having a full bore opening throughout its length.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a well tubing valve which is movable between open and closed positions from the surface.

It is another object of the invention to provide a valve of the character described which can be located at any desired depth within a well for mechanical actuation between open and closed positions without fixed coupling means between the valve and the wall surface of the well.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a well valve of the character described which is movable between open and closed positions by cam means.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a well valve of the character described having means which frictionally en gages the well wall surface at the depth of the valve for holding one portion of the valve actuating mechanism against rotation while another portion of the valve is rotated from the surface ofthe earth to shift the valve between its open and closed positions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a well valve which permits fluid circulation between a tubing string and a surrounding annulus in a well without directing circulating fluids through a pump supported at the lower end of the tubing string.

It is another object of the invention to provide a well valve for use in a sucker rod pumping system which will permit steam cleaning of the interior of the tubing string and the sucker rods extending therethrough without removal of the tubing and rods from the well.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a well valve includable in a tubing string extending to a well pump which permits draining of the tubing string when pulling the tubing string and pump from the well bore without the use of a pulling machine to lift the rod string and unseat a standing valve.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a well valve of the character described which is includable in a tubing string pump combination immediately above the pump at the lower end of the string of tubing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tubing valve of the character described including a tubular body section connectable with a string of well tubing and having a side port for communication with the annulus around the tubing, a valve connected with the tubular body section for controlling the flow through the side port, cam means associated with the valve for moving the valve between open and closed positions, and means for frictionally engaging the side wall of a well bore operatively associated with the cam means for holding a portion of the cam means against rotation while the tubing string is rotated from the surface for opening and closing the valve.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from reading the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention and by reference to the accompanying drawings thereof. wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal view in section and elevation illustrating a preferred embodiment of a well valve constructed in accordance with the invention connected in a well pumping system; I

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal view in section illustrating details of the well valve shown in FIG. 1 with the valve at its closed position;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section showing the lower portion of the well valve with the valve at its open position;

FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along the line 88 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal view in elevation of the interior of the well wall engaging centralizer or cage of the valve removed from the remainder of the valve and opened to illustrate the valve actuating cam track.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings a valve 20 embodying the invention is connected in a sucker rod pumping system of a well W including a suitable pump 21 secured below'the valve and actuated by a sucker rod 22 which extends to the surface where it is connected with a suitable conventional pumping or power unit, not shown. The valve 20 and pump 21 are connected to and supported from a string of well tubing 23 rotatably supported at its upper end at the surface from a thrust bearing 24 included in a wellhead H at the surface secured on the upper end of a well casing C. The tubing string 23 is spaced within the casing C defining an annular space 25 which is selectively communicated with the interior of the tubing string by means of the valve 20 which is open and closed by rotation of the bearing supported tubing string at the surface. The well W as illustrated is cemented along its lower end portion at 30 above which its casing C is provided with a plurality of perforations 31 for fluid flow from surrounding earth structure into the annular space 25. The fluids in the annulus are picked up by the pump 21 and raised to the surface through the tubing string. Communication at the surface through the easing into the annulus 25 is provided through a conduit 32 connected into the wellhead H. In accordance with the invention the opening of the valve by rotation of the tubing string provides a continuous circulation flow path in the well including the annulus and the tubing string 23 whereby fluid flow may be effected from the surface into the tubing string 23 with fluid return through the annulus 25 or fluid may be introduced into the annulus with return through the tubing string, for carrying out the several well-servicing functions to which the apparatus is adapted.

The well tool 20 is particularly well suited to connection into the tubing string at any desired location along its length, though generally in a pumping well as illustrated, it is preferred that it be at maximum depth adjacent to the well pump so that various well cleaning and related processes permitted with it in a well system may be used to treat a maximum length of well tubing. The tool 20 includes a tubular body member having substantially the same internal and external diameters as the adjacent section of the tubing string 23 to provide a full bore flow passage throughout the length of the tool consistent with the bore of the tubing string. Upper and lower coupling members 41 and 42, respectively, are threaded on the opposite ends of the body 40 for connection of the tool to the tubing string, as best illustrated in FIG. 2. The body 40 has a side port 43 which provides communication from the well annulus 25 around the tool into the longitudinal flow passage or bore 44 extending throughout the length of the body. Flow through the port 43 is controlled by the ball valve assembly 45 secured to the side of the body 40 and operated by the rotation of the tubing string 23 from the surface.

The valve assembly 45 has a tubular body secured as by welding at 51 to the side of the body 40 and is provided with a port 52 which is aligned with the port 43 to permit fluid flow between the interiors of the tool body 40 and the valve body 50. A valve seat 53 secured in the lower end of the valve body 45 is provided with a bore 54 and an annular seat surface 55 on which a ball valve is adapted to rest for closing the bore 54 through the valve seat leading into the valve body 50. The ball valve 60 is secured on a valve stem 61 extending through the bore 54 and connected at its lower end to a longitudinally movable operator bar 62. The ball valve is biased toward a closed position against the seat 55 by a coil spring 63 disposed within the valve body 50 around a short guide rod 64 secured through a threaded cap 65 closing the upper end of the valve body 50 and confining the spring 63 within the valve body against the ball valve.

The valve operator bar 62 is slideably disposed through a guide channel secured along the body member 40 by a bracket 71 suitably welded to both the guide channel and body member. The guide channel is axially aligned with the valve body 50 to properly guide the ball valve 60, its stem 6], and the operator bar 62 along a longitudinal axis for moving the ball valve between its open and closed positions relative to the seat member 53. The lower end of the guide bar 62 is bifurcated to receive a cam roller or follower 72 secured on a shaft 73 connected at opposite ends to the spaced lower end members of the operator bar. The cam roller 72 is biased against and rolls along a top cam surface 74 on a spiral cam track 75 mounted within a spring cage assembly rotatably disposed on the body member 40 for frictionally engaging the internal surface of the well casing C for holding the cam track at a fixed position relative to the cam roller 72 which rolls along the track for operation of the ball valve 60.

The spring cage 80 includes a hinged upper split collar 81 and a hinged lower split collar 82 connected together by longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced springs 83 which bend or bow outwardly for frictionally engaging the internal wall surface of the casing C. Each of the springs is connected with its collar portion by a plurality of brads 84. The upper hinged collar 81 comprises mating half-sections 81a and 8111, FIG. 9, which are pivotally connected together at adjacent ends by a hinge pin 85 while the opposite free ends of the collar sections are connected together by a pin when the sections are closed in mating relationship around the tool body 40 as shown in FIG. 2. Upper arcuate inwardly extending flange sections 90a and 90b are formed on the upper collar half-sections 81a and 81b respectively, to form a continuous annular flange on the upper end of the collar when it is closed and secured around the tool body. The upper end flange on the upper collar is engageable with a half circular flange segment 91 secured on the connecting member 41 forming a stop to limit upward movement of the cage 80 on the body member 40.

The lower split collar 82 of the cage 80 is formed of halfsections 820 and 82b hinged together at adjacent ends by a pin 91 and connected when folded in mating relationship around the tubular member 40 by another pin 92. The lower collar has inwardly extending arcuate lower end flange portions 93a and 93b which cooperate to provide an annular flange around the lower end of the collar when the collar is at its closed position around the body member 40. Inner annular portions of the flange sections 930 and 93b are received between a pair of spaced flanges 93 and 94 on the body member 40 above its lower threaded end portion for limiting the spring cage 80 against vertical movement either upwardly or downwardly on the member 40. The upper flange 93 may be suitably welded on the member 40 while the lower flange 94 may be either welded on the member 40, or may be secured with the connector 42, or may be permitted to fit loosely on the upper end of the connector.

Lugs 95 and are secured on the bottom faces of the lower collar flange portions 930 and 93b, respectively, located along end portions of the flange sections such that when the collar is closed around the body member 40, the lugs are circumferentially spaced approximately apart as seen in FIG. 3 and aligned relative to the cam track 75 to prevent the cam roller from running off the ends of the track. A stop bracket 101 is secured along the side face of the lower connector 42 longitudinally positioned on the connector to engag'the lugs 95 and 100 for limiting the relative rotation of the cage 80 and the body member 40 within the cage so that when the cage is assembled on the body member, the relative movement between the body member and thev cage is limited to substantially l80 so that the cam roller 72 does not run off the opposite ends of the cam track 75 as the valve 60 is moved between the open and closed positions.

The cam track 75 is secured as by welding along its outer peripheral edge surface 75a to the inner wall surface of the lower split collar section 820. The track is longitudinally positioned so that its upper cam surface 74 is engaged by the cam roller 72 for raising and lowering the ball valve 60. The degree of inclination of the spiral cam track and its length in circumferential degrees are designed to move the ball valve 60 between a fully closed position as illustrated in FIG. 2 and a fully open position as shown in FIG. 7 with substantially 180 movement of the body member 40 within the cage assembly 80. As previously noted, the relative locations and positions of the cam track 75, the cam roller 72, the lugs 95 and 100, and the stop bracket 10] limit the cam roller to the cam surface 74 so that the roller does not run off the lower end of the track at its lower position as in FIG. 2 or from the upper end of the track at its upper position as in FIG. 7. Ifthe cam roller ran off either end of the track, it could not be returned to the track without removal and reassembly of the cage assembly 80 on the body member 40.

The principal use of the well tool 20 is in a pumping well equipped as described and illustrated in FIG. 1 with the tool included in the tubing string immediately above the well pump 21. In equipping the well for pumping as illustrated, a suitable conventional well pump 21 is connected into the coupling 42 at the lower end of the well tool and the tool is made up on the lower end of the lower end section of the tubing string 23. In making up the tool in the tubing string it may be preferred, to facilitate the handling of the well tool, that its body 40 be connected with the pump and tubing string with the spring cage assembly 80 removed by withdrawing the lock pins 90 and 92 from their respective split collars so that the cage assembly opens as shown in FIG. 9 and is readily removed from the tool body. After the pump and lower section of the tubing string are firmly secured into the couplings 41 and 42 as shown in FIG. 2, the spring cage assembly is placed around the tool body 40 with its lower split collar sections 93a and 93b aligned between the flanges 93 and 94 and the cage is oriented on the tool body with the cam track 75 engaged with the cam follower 72 as shown in FIG. 2. The spring cage sections are then folded about the hinge pins 85 and 91 to the closed assembled position on the tool body and the lock pins 90 and 92 are inserted through the appropriate aligned sleeves of the upper and lower split collars locking the cage assembly at its closed position on the tool body. The full bore opening 44 through the body 40 of the well tool permits the sucker rod 22 from the pump 21 to extend through the well tool providing the same flow passage cross-sectional area as extends throughout the length of the well tubing for flow of fluids displaced by the pump to the surface.

The well tool 20 with the pump 21 attached is then progressively lowered into the casing C of the well W with sections of tubing and sucker rod being connected as the equipment is lowered until the pump is at the desired depth within the well below the liquid level in order to pick up and displace the well liquids to the surface. As the well too] 20 is inserted into the well, the spring cage assembly 80 may be oriented as desired on the tubular body 40 to position the ball valve 60 at a fully closed, a fully open, or an intermediate open position. If well conditions are such that an appreciable length of the tubing is positioned below the liquid level in the well, it may be preferred that the valve 60 of the well tool be open by allowing the tubing string to fill through the valve as it is lowered in the well to avoid floating of the tubing string. If it is so desired that the valve of the well tool be open, the cage 80 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 7 at which the ball valve 60 is raised to its fully open position.

The pump and well tool 20 are thus lowered into the well to the desired depth and the equipping of the well as shown in FIG. 1 is completed with the well head H being assembled to include the thrust bearing 24 for supporting the tubing string well tool and pump so that the tubing string may be rotated for opening and closing the valve of the well tool. As the well tool is inserted into the well casing and moved downwardly in the casing, the outer surfaces of the midportions of the springs 83 drag along the inner wall surface of the well casing C. So long as the tubing string and well tool are not rotated but rather are moved longitudinally only, the cage generally will remain oriented on the well tool body 40 as it was introduced into the well.

When equipping the well as in FIG. 1 is completed and the pumping of well liquids is desired, the tubing string 23 is rotated from the surface at least 180 to insure that the valve 60 of the tool 20 is closed. The well tubing is rotated by any sutitable means such as by use of a wrench on the wellhead fitting 24a. The tubing string is turned in a counterclockwise direction so that as the frictional engagement of the springs 83 with inner wall surface of the casing tends to hold the spring cage 80 against rotation, the tubing string and the tool body 40 rotate within and relative to the spring cage. The upper coupling 41, the body 40, the lower coupling 42, and the valve 45 secured to the body 40 rotate relative to and within the cage and the cam track 75. The cam follower 72 rolls downwardly along the cam track surface 74, unless, of course, the spring cage of the tool is already oriented on the tubular body such that the cam follower is at the lower end of the cam track in which case the entire well tool including the cage rotates in the well casing with the springs 83 dragging along the wall surface of the casing. The friction between the springs and the casing wall may be sufficient to indicate if the valve is closed or partially closed so that it will not be necessary to turn the tubing string a full 180 to insure closure of the valve. counterclockwise rotation of the tubing string and the body 40 when the cam follower 72 is at the lower end of the cam track postitions the stop bracket 101 on the lower coupling 42 in engagement with the lug on the lower flange section 93a limiting further movement of the tubular body 40 relative to the cage at the closed position of the valve 60. With the valve 60 closed, the pump 21 actuated by the sucker rod string 22 displaces liquids in the well to the surface in the usual way.

When communication is desired between the interior of the tubing string above the well pump 21 and the annulus 25 around the tubing string within the casing C, the valve 45 of the well tool 20 is opened by rotation of the tubing string 23 at the surface. The tubing string is turned clockwise while the springs 83 engaging the well wall hold the cage 80 against rotation so that the cam follower 72 rolls upwardly along the surface 74 of the cam track raising the ball valve 60 to its open position. The upward movement of the cam follower raises the valve rod 62 lifting the stem 61 and the ball valve off the seat 55 until the cam follower reaches the upper end of the cam track at which position, as shown in FIG. 7, the ball valve 60 is at its full open position relative to its seat. Slightly less than 180 rotation of the tubing string is required to fully open the valve. The stop bracket 10] moves from the position in FIG. 3 to engage the other lug as seen in FIG. 8 at which position the cam follower is at its high point on the cam track 75 as represented in FIG. 7 and the ball valve 60 is fully open. As previously indicated, any over-rotation of the tubing string simply turns the spring cage, causing the springs 83 to drag along the casing wall.

The valve of the well tool 20 is opened to communicate the annular space 25 with the interior of the tubing string for carrying out a number of well procedures including, particularly, those methods directed to the cleaning of the tubing string. For example, during the pumping of a well there is a tendency for various types of residue to collect within the tubing string between the pump and the surface. This is particularly true in the case of paraffms and similar constituents of well fluids which are liquid at the depth at which they are produced but which tend to solidify as they pass through cooler regions of a well on the way to the surface. Such materials may often be removed from the inner walls of the tubing string, from the sucker rod, and from other related structural surfaces of the well equipment by circulating solvents such as hot water, steam, or chemicals. Conventionally equipped wells do not permit such circulation freely between a well tubing string and the annular space within the casing around the string. However, in the instant case, with a well equipped with tool 20 and when its ball valve 60 is at the open position represented in FIG. 7, fluids may be freely circulated through the annular space 25 and the flow passage space within the tubing string around the sucker rod in either direction desired for the purpose of removing residue from the structure surfaces and flushing the residue out of the well. For example, with the valve of the well tool open, a solvent may be introduced at the surface into the tubing string 23 and permitted to flow downwardly through the tubing string into the well tool 20 above the pump 21. The solvent fluid fllows outwardly through the aligned ports 43 and 52 and downwardly around the ball valve 62 and along its stem through the passage 54in the ball valve seat into the annular space 25 around the well tool. The solvent and any dissolvedresidue carried with it into the annulus is returned to the surface and exits from the well through the line 32 connected into the well head. Similarly, steam or any other desired fluid material may be circulated through the tubing string and the annulus for the purpose of treating and/or cleaning the well apparatus.

When the treating or cleaning procedure is completed, the valve 60 of the well tool 20 is closed by rotating the tubing string 23 in a counterclockwise direction so that the cam follower 72 moves along the carn surface 74 to the lower end of the inclined cam track lowering the ball valve 60 to its closed position as shown in FIG. 2. At this position all communication is terminated between the annulus 25 and the tubing string 23 and normal pumping may be resumed.

It will be evident that with the valve open treating fluids may be introduced into the annulus from which they flow through the valve of the well tool into the tubing string to return to the surface in the tubing string.

Another particularly desirable use of the well tool is for releasing liquid from the tubing string when the tubing string, pump, and well tool are being pulled from the well. The normally required pulling unit for lifting the rod string to release tubing fluid is not needed. When the well tool 20 is installed in a well and the tubing, sucker rod pump, and well tool are to be removed from the well, the tubing is rotated to open the valve 45 of the well tool so that as the tubing string and sucker rod string are lifted the liquid within the tubing string drains into the casing of the well with the tubing being pulled in a substan tially dry condition. Thus, this reduces the amount of power required in lifting the tubing together with providing cleaner conditions at the surface where the sections of the tubing and sucker rod must be disconnected as they are being pulled from the well.

The primary function of the thrust bearing 24 in the wellhead H is to allow the small amount of rotation required by the tubing string for opening and closing the well tool valve. Slightly less than 180 oftubing string rotation is required and quite obviously this will not occur any substantial number of times in most well procedures using the tool. Thus, the wellhead does not have to be equipped for the extent of movement that is normally encountered in most moving parts. lt will, therefore, be recognized that less expensive and complex bearing systems may be used in place of the ball bearing 24. For example, a plastic or plastic-coated thrust ring may be interposed between the upper and lower races of the bearing illustrated in lieu of the ball bearings to provide the necessary movement and support for the tubing string. Other forms of thrust bearing type support may be used in the wellhead so long as sufficient freedom of movement is provided the tubing string to allow at least 180 rotation of the string when required for operation of the well tool valve.

It will be evident from the foregoing that a new and improved well tool including a valve for communication between a well tubing and a casing annulus has been described and illustrated. It will be evident that the tool is particularly useful in a well pumping system which includes a sucker rod actuated well pump supported at the lower end of a string of casing for communicating the supporting tubing string with the casing annulus above the pump so that the various cleaning procedures may be practiced in the well and the well tubing may be pulled in a dry condition by allowing draining of the tubing above the pump as the tubing is lifted from the well. It will be seen that the valve of the well tool is open and closed mechanically from the surface and does not require disturbing or removing the pump or any of its related equipment for cleaning the tubing string. It will be also seen that the well tool includes a tubular body connectable between the tubing string and the pump, a valve supported on the body and movable between open and closed positions for controlling fluid flow through a port in the body, and a valve actuating mechanism including means for frictionally engaging a well wall whereby rotation of the tool body relative to the wall engaging means operates the valve between its open and closed positions.

While the invention has been described in the light ofthe particular embodiments disclosed, it is recognized that variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is intended that the invention shall be limited only within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A well tool for selectively communicating a tubing string connected thereto with the annular space in a well around said tubing string, said well tool being operable from the surface end of the well for opening and closing a valve of said well too] comprising: a body connectable at one end thereof with a string of well tubing adapted to be supported in a well and connectable at the other end with a well pump adapted to be controlled from the surface of said well for pumping fluids from said well through said well tubing string, said body member having a bore opening therethrough for communicating between said tubing string and said well pump whereby well tools may be inserted through and withdrawn through said body, said body also being provided with a port for communicating said bore through said member with the space around said body: a valve secured to said body over said port therethrough for controlling fluid flow through said port between said bore of said body and said space around said body, said valve including a valve housing secured over said port into said body member and being closed at one end and having a valve seat around a bore leading from said valve housing at the other end thereof, a valve disposed in said valve housing for movement relative to said seat for controlling flow through said housing, a spring in said valve housing biasing said valve toward a closed position against said seat, a stern connected with said valve extending through said bore from said valve housing, means providing a guide around said stem, a cam follower supported on said stem; a spring cage secured around said body and adapted to roatate relative thereto including longitudinally extending outwardly bowed spring members for frictionally engaging the inner wall surface of a well for holding said spring cage against rotation while said body is rotated within said spring cage; a cam track secured in a spiral relationship within said spring cage around said tubular body providing a cam surface engaged by said cam follower on said valve stem whereby rotation of said body within said spring cage effects movement of said valve between open and closed positions; lug and stop bracket means connected with said spring cage and said body for limit ing the relative rotation of said body and said spring cage whereby said cam follower remains engaged with said cam surface on said cam track when the relative positions of said spring cage and said tubular body member are changed.

2. A well tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring cage comprises upper and lower spaced split collars secured together by a plurality of said longitudinally extending spring members circumferentially spaced about said collars.

3. A well tool as defined in claim 2 in combination with a well pump supported from said well tool, a tubing string connected with said well tool and supporting said well tool and said pump, and support means at the surface end of a well in which said tubing string pump and well tool are disposed to permit rotation of said tubing string at the surface end of said well whereby said spring cage is held against rotation in said well by engagement of the springs thereof with the inner wall surface of said well and said body of said well tool is rotated relative to said spring cage for opening and closing said valve to selectively communicate said tubing string with the annular space in said well around said tubing string and said well too].

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