The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 12, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 14, 1998
Jeffrey J Lembcke, Houston, TX (US);
Kurt A Hickey, Humble, TX (US);
Baker Hughes Incorporated, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
The invention relates to valves usable downhole and controlled from the surface hydraulically via control lines or by other techniques. The valve has a minimum flow passage which is preferably oriented along its longitudinal axis and a lateral flow passage which opens upon movement of a valve member via applied control pressure from the surface. Alternatively, the valve comprises a tapered needle movable in a throat. When the valve member shifts, additional flow area is exposed to control the backpressure of a fluid by way of hydraulic pressure control from the surface via the control line. The hydraulic control can be with a single control line acting on a piston attached to the valve member with a return spring opposing such movement, or alternatively, can be carried out with a pair of control lines to actuate reverse movements of the valve member. A pressurized gas chamber can be used to act as the closing force opposing applied pressure from the control line for a return of the valve to its minimum flow or maximum throttle position. Alternatively, an acoustic, electric or other type of surface-directed signal can change the valve position.