Remotely operable top drive system safety valve having dual valve elements

• US 7,461,698 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael R. Klipstein
• Original Assignee: Michael R. Klipstein
• Inventors: Klipstein, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gay; Jennifer H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stephenson; Daniel P
• Application Number:
  US11/186,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20070039758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 175/113, 175/218, 166/332.3, 166/330, 166/85.4, 251/58, 251/231, 251/249, 251/279, 251/340
• US Class Current: 166/332.4
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/106 Valve arrangements outside the borehole, e.g. kelly valves valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019

Abstract

Disclosed is a remotely operable top drive safety valve assembly having first and second valve elements. An actuator sleeve moves longitudinally on the main body of the top drive safety valve assembly under the influence of an operating arm. When operating the first valve element, a lock plate is preferably installed over the second valve element stem, and an arm is externally fixed to the stem of the first valve element and is disposed in a cutout in the wall of the actuator sleeve. Movement of the actuator sleeve up and down moves the arm, and thereby moves the first valve element between open and closed positions. When operating the second valve element, the arm on the upper valve element stem is removed, a lock plate is preferably installed over the first valve element stem, an arm is installed on the second valve element stem, and a linkage assembly is installed which operationally engages the second valve element stem arm with the actuator sleeve. Longitudinal movement of the actuator sleeve moves the second valve element between open and closed positions via the linkage assembly.

Claims

1. A remotely operable safety valve assembly for use with top drive drilling systems, comprising:

a) an elongated main body having a longitudinal bore therethrough;

b) a first valve element disposed in said main body;

c) a second valve element disposed in said main body;

d) an actuator sleeve disposed around said main body and longitudinally slidable thereon in response to a remotely operable actuating arm; and

e) means for operatively engaging said actuator sleeve with either said first valve element in a first operating mode or alternatively said second valve element in a second operating mode, wherein;

i) in said first operating mode, said means for operatively engaging said actuator sleeve with said first valve element comprises an external arm attached to said first valve element, said arm engaging a profile in a wall of said actuator sleeve; and

ii) in said second operating mode, said external arm is removed, and said means for operatively engaging said actuator sleeve with said second valve element comprises an external arm attached to said second valve element and a linkage connecting said actuator sleeve to said external arm.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second valve elements comprise ball valve elements.

3. A remotely operable safety valve assembly, particularly adapted for use with top drive drilling systems, comprising:

a) an elongated main body having a longitudinal bore therethrough;

b) first and second valve elements disposed in said main body, wherein said first and second valve elements comprises ball valve elements;

c) an actuator sleeve disposed around said main body and longitudinally movable thereon, in response to remotely generated controls; and

d) means for selectively and operatively engaging said actuator sleeve with either said first valve element or alternatively said second valve element,

wherein said means for selectively and operatively engaging said actuator sleeve with said first valve element comprises an external arm connected to a stem of said first valve element, and wherein said external arm is disposed within a cutout in a wall of said actuator sleeve which is shared so that longitudinal movement of said actuator sleeve moves said external arm and consequently said first valve element between open and closed positions, and

wherein said means for selectively and operatively engaging said actuator sleeve with said second valve element comprises an external arm connected to a stem of said second valve element, and wherein said external arm is connected to said actuator sleeve by a linkage assembly so that longitudinal movement of said actuator sleeve moves said second valve element between open and closed positions.