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, 2017
Filed:
Jan. 14, 2013
Applicant:
M-i L.l.c., Houston, TX (US);
Inventor:
Christopher D. Nicholson, Florence, KY (US);
Assignee:
M-I L.L.C., Houston, TX (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F16K 31/18 (2006.01); F16K 31/20 (2006.01); E21B 34/16 (2006.01); E21B 21/06 (2006.01); F16K 1/22 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
F16K 31/20 (2013.01); E21B 21/067 (2013.01); E21B 34/16 (2013.01); F16K 1/22 (2013.01); F16K 31/18 (2013.01); Y10T 137/0324 (2015.04); Y10T 137/7439 (2015.04); Y10T 137/7481 (2015.04);
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling a flow of a fluid, such as a drilling fluid or drilling mud, is disclosed. The apparatus may include: a valve member; and a float member mechanically coupled to the valve member and configured to operate on the valve member when fully submerged in a fluid. The coupled float member is configured to increase flow through the valve member as a density of the fluid decreases and to restrict flow through the valve member as the density of the fluid increases.