Flow control valve and method

• US 7,527,070 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Del Campo, Christopher S., Harrigan, Edward, Brennan, William E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dwivedi; Vikansha S
• Application Number:
  US11/931,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20080053212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 417/437, 137/493.9, 137/493, 137/270
• US Class Current: 137/493.9
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/081 with down-hole means for trapping a fluid sample E21B49/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/00 Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps by using positive or negative pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped F04F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/08 the motors being actuated by fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/10 Valves; Arrangement of valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/12 with streamlined valve member around which the fluid flows when the valve is opened
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5196 Unit orientable in a single location between plural positions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7771 Bi-directional flow valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/778 Axes of ports co-axial

Abstract

A method for controlling fluid flow through a passageway includes slidably disposing a piston having a conduit that reduces the flow area through the passageway in the passageway and selectively closing the conduit of the piston by moving at least one of the piston and a plug.

Claims

1. A method for controlling fluid flow through a passageway, comprising:

slidably disposing a piston in the passageway, the piston having a conduit that reduces the flow area through the passageway;

selectively closing the conduit of the piston using a plug having one or more annular seals, the selective closing being achieved by movement of the piston to a stop position where the plug sealingly engages a portion of the piston conduit, wherein the plug is biased to a first position when the piston conduit is moved to the stop position, and wherein the plug is moveable to a second position that opens the piston conduit under fluid pressure in the passageway that overcomes the bias; and

pumping fluid though the passageway using a two-stroke piston pump when the piston conduit is opened;

wherein selectively closing the piston conduit and pumping fluid through the passageway is configured such that fluid is not pumped through the passageway when the piston conduit is closed, including by;

closing the piston conduit at or near the time that the pump completes one stroke of its two-stroke cycle; and

opening the piston conduit at or near the time that the pump completes the other stroke of its two-stroke cycle.

2. A method for controlling fluid flow through a passageway, comprising:

slidably disposing a piston in the passageway, the piston having a conduit that reduces the flow area through the passageway;

selectively closing the conduit of the piston using a plug having one or more annular seals, the selective closing being achieved by movement of at least one of the piston and the plug, wherein the piston conduit is closed by movement of the piston to a stop position where the plug sealingly engages a portion of the piston conduit, wherein the piston is biased to the stop position and the plug is constrained against movement, and wherein the piston is moveable from the stop position under a force that overcomes the bias, whereby the piston conduit is opened;

pumping fluid though the passageway using a two-stroke piston pump when the piston conduit is opened;

wherein selectively closing the piston conduit and pumping fluid through the passageway is configured such that fluid is not pumped through the passageway when the piston conduit is closed, including by;

closing the piston conduit at or near the time that the pump completes one stroke of its two-stroke cycle; and

opening the piston conduit at or near the time that the pump completes the other stroke of its two-stroke cycle.

3. A method for controlling fluid flow through a passageway of a valve, wherein the valve comprises a piston slidably disposed in the passageway between first and second openings of the valve, the piston includes a conduit portion that defines a bore therethrough for conducting fluid through a portion of the passageway, and the piston further includes an outer annular flanged portion defining a first chamber and a second chamber, the method comprising:

increasing the pressure of the first chamber above that of the second chamber, thereby inducing translatory movement of the piston within the passageway to one of two stop positions, wherein in one of the two stop positions the outer annular flanged portion of the piston abuts a portion of a side wall of one of the first and second chambers, such that one of two tubular stop members carried with the piston engages one end of a plug and moves the plug to a position where an annular seal carried in an annular recess of the plug engages an inner flange of the piston so as to close the piston bore and thus the valve; and

further increasing the pressure of the first chamber above that of the second chamber until sufficient force is developed to overcome the bias of a coil spring constraining movement of the plug to thereby move the annular seal carried by the plug out of engagement with the inner flange of the piston.