Abstract: A pressure actuated, rodless pump for pumping fluid preferably from a well through a tubing string comprises a chamber and a check valved movable piston which define a pump cavity, the chamber having a check valved outlet to the tubing string on the cavity side of the piston and a fluid inlet on the other side of the piston. The piston is connected to a spring assembly by a pull rod. The spring assembly includes a cylinder having an elastomeric bladder separating a gas filled chamber from an upper fluid chamber which is separated from a lower fluid chamber by a wall having a fluid passageway formed therein. The lower fluid chamber encloses a stationary piston and both the lower and upper fluid chambers are in fluid communication with the tubing string through a charge valve.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for pumping fluid from a subterranean well through a tubing string. A pressure actuated subsurface pump and a surface unit are in fluid communication with opposite ends of the tubing string. The surface unit cyclically applies pressure to the fluid in the tubing string to actuate the subsurface pump and cause a radial expansion of the tubing such that potential energy is stored in the tubing string. Each time the surface unit removes the applied pressure, the stored potential energy is released to the surface unit which converts the potential energy into kinetic energy for use in the next pumping cycle.

Abstract: A control fluid valve assembly is provided which is respondable to a pressure monitored fluid. The assembly preferably comprises first and second valve seats within a housing. A spool element is shuttleable within the housing near the valve seat by either manual or mechanical manipulation to first and second positions and is responsive to pressure variation within the monitored fluid to shuttle it to a second position. Balls are contained in first and second valve head groups and are carryable by the spool element, the balls being selectively sealingly engagable onto and wipable off of the valve seat means to control fluid flow of the control fluid within the assembly in response to the pressure monitored fluid. A plurality of seals are defined between the housing and the spool means to prevent fluid communication therebetween and to define flow passageways across the spool.

Abstract: A heat sensitive locking device is preferably provided for a fluid actuator of the type which is moved in a direction to one position through the application of fluid pressure and remains in such position unless temperature conditions surrounding the device reach a level indicating that the actuator should be shifted to another position. The locking device comprises a core attachable to an exposed end of, for example, the piston shaft, and an annular collar surrounding such core and attached to the cylinder. A plurality of annular segmental shaped locking members are disposed between the core and collar and pivotally mounted so as to be movable to a locking position or to an unlocked position, each relative to the core. The annular locking elements are held in their locking position by being wrapped by a resilient spring wire, the ends of which are anchored to the locking members by means including a minimal size fusible link.

Abstract: A fail safe mechanism is provided for locking an actuating piston rod of a fluid operated actuator in a selected axial position in the event of a failure, or significant decrease in, the fluid pressure applied to the actuator. Preferably, a secondary cylinder is provided within the actuator cylinder and is in fluid communication therewith. A piston in the secondary cylinder is biased toward a locking position by a spring and is shiftable toward a released position by the existence of a predetermined amount of fluid pressure in the main cylinder. An annularly extending locking mechanism is provided in surrounding relationship to the actuating piston rod and is radially movable into engagement with a locking shoulder on such piston rod when the rod is shifted to one of its selected axial positions by the application of fluid pressure to the cylinder.

Abstract: An actuator is provided for converting linear to rotary motion to manipulate a valve. Preferably, the actuator has a rotor which is rotatable about an axis and is operably associatable with the valve member. A pair of motors, preferably actuated by pressure fluid, each includes a reciprocal push rod assembly. Flexible means are coupled between the push rod assemblies of the motors and spaced apart points on the rotor such that when one of the motors is actuated, the respective one of the push rod assemblies is moved linearly in a direction to transmit torque to the rotor, thus causing the rotor to rotate about its axis in one direction and manipulate the valve member to one of open and closed positions, and when the other of the motors is actuated, the other of the push rod assemblies is moved linearly in an opposing direction to transmit torque to the rotor whereby the rotor is rotated about its axis in an opposite direction to manipulate the valve to the other of open and closed positions.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for connection along a conduit for free flowing transmission of fluids in a first direction and for selective control of fluid flow in a second direction. The apparatus provides means whereby fluid flow in the second direction in excess of a predeterminable rate of the fluid flow permits a fixed volume displacement of fluid within the conduit without limitation upon the predeterminable rate of fluid flow. The apparatus also defines second means whereby fluid flow in the second direction and within the predeterminable rate of fluid flow permits an unrestricted volume displacement of the fluid through the conduit.

Abstract: A valve actuator and a pilot assembly which may be utilized either alone or with the actuator is responsive to control fluid pressure for moving an operative means of a valve between open and closed positions. The actuator has a housing defining a cylindrical bore therethrough and a shaft is carried in the housing which is engageable with the operative means. A piston is carried by one of the shaft and the housing and is sealingly slidable along the other of the shaft and the housing and is longitudinally movable within the cylindrical bore.The pilot assembly comprises a cylindrical housing having pilot means within the housing, the pilot means having valve seat means thereon. Normally free traveling spherical members are provided immediate the pilot means and define valve head means selectively sealingly engageable on the pilot means to open and close the pilot means to control fluid flow therethrough.

Abstract: An interface assembly is provided for operation with the spool valve elements comprising means which are extendable to the spool and a piston head element within the housing and carried around the extension means for travel along the extension means in response to pressure variation. Spherical means are securable on the piston head together with means for urging the spherical means toward the spool extension means. First and second camways are defined on the extension means for travel of the spherical means which are secured on the piston. A shoulder on the extension means defines the intersection between the first and second camways and resists travel of the piston-housed spherical means along one of the camways when the piston is shifted in a first direction.

Abstract: Valve means associatable with free traveling spherical means are sealing engageable onto and wipable off of companion seats to selectively control flow. A spool permits selective movement of the head means to the seat means and selective engagement of the head and seat means upon shuttling.An interface assembly comprises means which are extendible to the spool and a piston head element within the housing and carried around an extension for travel along the extension in response to pressure variation. The piston head is shiftable in a first direction in response to fluid variation for travel along the extension for transfer of the spherical means within the piston from one camway to another camway without movement of the spool within the housing.

Abstract: A control fluid valve assembly is provided which is respondable to a pressure monitored fluid. The assembly preferably comprises first and second valve seats within a housing. A spool element is shuttleable within the housing near the valve seat by either manual or mechanical manipulation to first and second positions and is responsive to pressure variation within the monitored fluid to shuttle it to a second position. Balls are contained in first and second valve head groups and are carryable by the spool element, the balls being selectively sealingly engagable onto and wipable off of the valve seat means to control fluid flow of the control fluid within the assembly in response to the pressure monitored fluid. A plurality of seals are defined between the housing and the spool means to prevent fluid communication therebetween and to define flow passageways across the spool.

Abstract: A valve actuator and a pilot assembly responsive to control fluid pressure for moving an operative means of a valve. The actuator has a housing defining a cylindrical bore therethrough and a shaft is carried in the housing which is engagable with the operative means. A piston is carried by one of the shaft and the housing and is sealingly slidable along the other of the shaft and the housing and is longitudinally movable within the cylindrical bore. A plurality of piston chambers are companionly associated with the piston and is responsive to control of source fluid pressure within a pilot assembly to manipulate the piston.The pilot assembly comprises pilot means within the housing, having valve seat means thereon. Normally free traveling spherical members define valve head means selectively sealingly engagable on the pilot means to open and close the pilot means. A pilot spool permits selective movement of the spherical members to the immediate vicinity of the valve seat means of the pilot means.

Abstract: An actuator is provided which is respondable to control fluid pressure for moving an operative means of a valve between open and closed positions. The actuator comprises a housing defining a cylindrical bore therewithin. In one form, a shaft is carried in the housing and is engagable with the operative means. Means define first and second effective piston areas and are carried by one of the shaft and the housing and are sealingly slidable along the other of the shaft and the housing, being longitudinally movable within the cylindrical bore. The apparatus has first and second fluid chambers companionly associated with the means defining the first and second effective piston areas within the bore for yielding a differential force across the means defining the first and second effective piston areas upon increase of fluid control pressure within the actuator.

Abstract: An improvement in a lubricator apparatus for use in installation of drilling, completion, workover tools, or parts thereof for subsequent use in a subterranean well and for control of fluids through said well, the lubricator having therein a valve assembly comprising a longitudinally shiftable carriage, a ported valve head rotatable on said valve seat means between closed and opened positions by said carriage to control flow of fluids through said well and through said lubricator apparatus. Improvement comprises a differential sleeve longitudinally movable immediate the valve assembly and is sealingly engageable upon the exterior of the ported valve head when the valve assembly is in closed position.

Abstract: An equalizing valve is incorporated in a subsurface shutoff valve for wells and has a number of balls loosely confined in an annular groove in the tubular valve body and adapted to seat in by-pass ports in the shutoff valve actuator piston sleeve to prevent flow through such by-pass ports from ports in valve body which communicate with the groove. Actuation of the piston sleeve to open the shutoff valve causes a shoulder forming the groove to wipe the seated balls from the by-pass ports to equalize fluid across the shutoff valve before it is opened. The shutoff valve is of the ball type or of another type. The shutoff valve of the ball type, when closed, subjects its support bars to a force deforming them to allow the shutoff valve ball to move into seating engagement with a seating sleeve to prevent extrusion of an elastmer seal.

Abstract: A valve and lubricator apparatus are provided for installation of tools on wire line and the like for use in an oil or gas well while controlling fluids therethrough. The apparatus has valve means having a passageway therethrough for control of fluids through the apparatus. First fluid activatable means are provided for first shifting of the valve means to closed position. Second fluid activatable means also are provided for second shifting of the valve means to the open position. Means for locking the valve in closed position are provided to prevent shifting of the valve to open position by operation of the first fluid means. The second fluid means are operational to unlock the valve means from the closed and locked positions and to shift the valve to open position. The first and second fluid means and the locking means are repeatably and sequentially operational.