Flapper closure mechanism

• US 6,877,564 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Layton, Ben C., Rosenblatt, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stephenson, Daniel P
• Application Number:
  US10/260,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20040060704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 166/332.8, 166/321, 166/325, 166/316, 137/515, 137/515.5, 137/515.7, 137/527, 137/535, 137/536, 137/527.4, 251/298, 251/337, 251/336
• US Class Current: 166/332.8
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/05 Flapper valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/033 spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/54 with pinion and rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7898 Pivoted valves

Abstract

A closure mechanism for a flapper features a pinion on the ear extending from the flapper that is used to mount it for pivotal movement. A spring-loaded rack meshes with the pinion or pinions on the flapper so that when the flow tube swings the flapper open, rotation of the pinion teeth advances the teeth on the rack against the force of a spring. When the flow tube is retracted, the spring pushes the teeth on the rack in the opposite direction causing a rotational movement of the flapper toward closure in contact with a conforming seat.

Claims

1. A safety valve assembly, comprising:

a housing having a bore therethrough;

a flapper pivotally mounted in said housing for movement between an open and a closed position;

a movable flow tube to contact said flapper to urge it toward its open position; and

a closure system mounted outside said bore in said housing and not directly hydraulically operated to urge said flapper to its closed position, said closure system, without being pinned to said flapper, converting said pivotal movement of said flapper toward its open position to a linear movement of said closure system for the purpose of creating a potential energy force for subsequent movement of said flapper by said closure system to its closed position.

2. The safety valve assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said linear movement compresses at least one spring.

3. The safety valve assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said linear movement moves a piston against a compressible fluid.

4. The safety valve assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said closure system comprises a rack engaged to a pinion turned by movement of said flapper.

5. The safety valve assembly of claim 4, wherein:

the contact between said rack and pinion is by virtue of engaged teeth.

6. The safety valve assembly of claim 4, wherein:

the contact between said rack and pinion is frictional.

7. The safety valve assembly of claim 4, wherein:

said potential energy is created from movement of said rack against a spring.

8. The safety valve assembly of claim 7, wherein:

said spring comprises a coiled spring.

9. The safety valve assembly of claim 7, wherein:

said spring comprises at least one Belleville washer.

10. The safety valve assembly of claim 7, wherein:

said spring comprises a reservoir of compressible fluid.

11. The safety valve assembly of claim 10, wherein:

said rack displaces a piston into said reservoir to compress said fluid.

12. The safety valve assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said flapper comprises a hinge with a pivot pin extending through said hinge from said body, said hinge extending beyond said pin;

said closure system comprising a biasing member connected to said portion of said hinge extending beyond said pin.

13. The safety valve assembly of claim 12, wherein:

said biasing member comprises a coiled spring.

14. The safety valve assembly of claim 12, wherein:

said biasing member comprises at least one Belleville washer.

15. The safety valve assembly of claim 12, wherein:

said biasing member comprises a reservoir of compressible fluid.

16. The safety valve assembly of claim 15, wherein:

said extending portion of said hinge displaces a piston into said reservoir to compress said fluid.

17. The safety valve assembly of claim 12, wherein:

said biasing member is connected to said hinge by a linkage.