Drill string sub with self closing cable port valve
First Claim
1. A drill string sub adapted to be interposed in a drill string, comprising:
- an elongated tubular member having a side wall and including a central longitudinal bore forming a passage through said sub;
a port formed in said side wall for running a flexible cable from the exterior of said sub through said port into said passage;
a housing having a channel therethrough for receiving said cable, said housing being adapted to be attached to said tubular member at said port in a manner so that said cable may be inserted through said channel into said passage; and
a valve assembly attached to the housing and capable of automatically and substantially closing said channel when said cable is removed therefrom, thereby substantially preventing fluid communication between said passage and the exterior of said sub through said channel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A side-entry sub for use in conjunction with wireline cable. The sub has a cable entry port provided with a self-closing valve for sealing the port upon withdrawal of the cable. In one embodiment, the self-closing valve is characterized by a housing member supporting a closure disc which is integrally molded with a resiliently deflectable support member having an elastic memory which biases the valve in the closed position. In an alternate embodiment, the self-closing valve comprises a ball valve, biased in the closed position by magnetic or spring means, and having a passageway through which the cable may pass. When the cable is inserted through the passageway, the ball valve is held in the valve open position. When the cable is removed from the passageway, the ball valve automatically closes.
48 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A drill string sub adapted to be interposed in a drill string, comprising:
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an elongated tubular member having a side wall and including a central longitudinal bore forming a passage through said sub; a port formed in said side wall for running a flexible cable from the exterior of said sub through said port into said passage; a housing having a channel therethrough for receiving said cable, said housing being adapted to be attached to said tubular member at said port in a manner so that said cable may be inserted through said channel into said passage; and a valve assembly attached to the housing and capable of automatically and substantially closing said channel when said cable is removed therefrom, thereby substantially preventing fluid communication between said passage and the exterior of said sub through said channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A drill string sub adapted to be interposed in a drill string, including:
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an elongated tubular member having a side wall and including a central longitudinal bore forming a passage through said sub, said side wall having a port formed therein for running a cable from the exterior of said sub through said port into said passage; a flapper valve which is engageable with said cable; a housing attached to said tubular member and said flapper valve, for supporting said flapper valve, said housing including a longitudinal bore defining a channel in said port for insertion of said cable therethrough, said channel having a counterbored portion forming a stuffing box for receiving a cable packing, said housing having a threaded portion adapted to be threadedly engaged with a cooperating threaded portion formed on said sub for removably supporting said housing on said sub, said flapper valve being yieldably biased to automatically and substantially close said channel upon withdrawal of said cable from said channel, thereby substantially preventing fluid communication between said passage and the exterior of said sub through said channel. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A valve assembly suitable for use in a side-entry sub, said sub having a central longitudinal bore forming a central passage through said sub and having a side wall with a port therethrough for insertion of a cable through said sub from the exterior thereof to said central passage, said valve assembly comprising:
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a housing having a channel therethrough for receiving said cable and including means for mounting said housing on said sub in a manner so that said cable may be inserted through said channel into said central passage; and a flapper valve disposed within said housing and biased to close said channel in said housing to prevent passage of a fluid between said central passage and the exterior of said sub, said flapper valve being held in an open position with respect to said channel in said housing by the presence of said cable in said channel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A drill string sub comprising:
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a hollow tubular member having a side wall and ends capable of being connected to a drill string so that the longitudinal axis of said tubular member is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said drill string and said tubular member forms a substantially continuous assembly with said drill string, which said tubular member includes a port extending through said side wall so that the longitudinal axis of said port intersects the longitudinal axis of said tubular member at an acute angle; an insert member having a hollow passageway for passing a cable therethrough between the exterior and the interior of said tubular member, said insert member being attached to said tubular member at said port so that the longitudinal axis of said passageway is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said port; sealing means for preventing fluid flow between the interior of said tubular member and the exterior of said tubular member at the connection of said insert member with said tubular member when a cable extends through said passageway; and means for automatically and substantially closing off said passageway when a cable is removed therefrom thereby substantially preventing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of said tubular member through said port. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification