Abstract: An automatic shutoff valve for breakaway wet barrel fire hydrant is disclosed. In general, one aspect disclosed features an apparatus comprising: a valve housing comprising a valve body, a flange, and a valve seat; a valve pedal configured to engage the valve seat and prevent fluid flow through the valve seat in a closed position, and to permit fluid flow through the valve seat in an open position; a lockout tab disposed within the valve body, wherein the lockout tab maintains the valve pedal in the open position; a lockout bar disposed distally from the valve body; and an activation rod mechanically coupled to the lockout bar and configured to keep the valve pedal engaged with the lockout tab.

Abstract: Downhole assemblies and methods for isolating a wellbore. A downhole tool can include a body having a bore or flowpath formed therethrough, and one or more sealing members disposed therein. The one or more sealing members can include an annular base and a curved surface having an upper face and a lower face, wherein one or more first radii define the upper face, and one or more second radii define the lower face, and wherein, at any point on the curved surface, the first radius is greater than the second radius. The sealing members can be disposed within the bore of the tool using one or more annular sealing devices disposed about the one or more sealing members.

Abstract: A rupture assembly that may be employed in the oilfield industry facilitates the deployment of a tubing string in a well. The rupture assembly may be installed at the bottom of the tubing string for the purpose of trapping air in a lateral section of the tubing, between the rupture assembly and an upper sealing assembly. As a result, the buoyant force in the lateral section reduces the drag encountered while running the tubing through the casing, thereby significantly reducing rig time, or permitting operations where none were possible previously. Once at landing depth, surface pressure may be added to burst and remove the seal and rupture assemblies.

Abstract: A clutch employed in a tool string includes an annular housing and an annular sleeve arranged and moveable within the housing. The sleeve is configured to move into engagement with the housing to inhibit relative rotation and axial translation between the housing and the sleeve.

Abstract: A fire hydrant break off valve includes an offset pivot and a lateral trigger captured between a fire hydrant and fire hydrant break off riser. When a collision breaks the break off bolts holding the fire hydrant to the hydrant break off riser, the lateral trigger is released and the valve rotates to a closed position. Force of water attempting to escape rotates the valve around the offset pivot. The edge of the valve is tapered and after rotating, the valve is pushed against a matching seat to close the valve. The match of the tapered valve against the tapered seat stops or nearly stops all flow of water from the broken hydrant.

Abstract: A device is described for combined fluid replacement and pressure testing in pipes with inaccessible end points. The device is characterized in that it is a two-piece circulation valve structure comprising: a first valve unit (4) comprising a seal element (1) which closes and opens depending on the dynamic fluid pressure through the valve, and a second valve unit (6) arranged to permanently close off the fluid flow when the pressure testing terminates. The first valve unit (4) comprises an elastic sealing ring (1) arranged to close against a seat in the valve unit in step with an increase in the fluid flow velocity through the valve, while the second valve unit is a casing (6) which is arranged inside the valve an closes when a pressure differential arises between a chamber (7) and the inside of the valve (4).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to pressure relief devices and to corresponding pressure relief assemblies that have improved vacuum resistance, improved fragmentation resistance, and/or improved burst control while maintaining low mass. The pressure relief device includes a substantially flat flange section and a domed section. The domed section may include a transitional line that defines a change in the shape of the domed section. The pressure relief device may also include a bracket for securing or aligning a domed section to a flange section. The pressure relief device may further include a stress distribution feature that is disposed transversely to a line of weakness in the domed section. The pressure relief assembly may include a fastener having a wire that is configured to break and release the pressure relief device when subject to a predetermined tensile load.

Abstract: A flow control valve including, a tubular housing having a valve port, a piston disposed in the tubular housing having an orifice, the piston being slidable in the tubular housing to align the orifice with the valve port, a combustion portion at least partially defined by the tubular housing and the piston, and a propellant disposed in the combustion portion and method.

Abstract: An electrically controlled actuating element is arranged on a machine by a flange connection consisting of a mounting flange (4) and a machine flange (2), and is controlled by an electric control subsystem (6). Embedded in the mounting flange (4) in a predetermined geometric pattern is a plurality of electric switches (7.1-7.8, 8.1-8.8). Each switch is arranged in an electric circuit that connects to the control subsystem. In the machine flange (2), closing elements are arranged in some marking points of the geometric pattern in a geometric arrangement that is characteristic of the respective machine and associated to it. In an existing flange connection, the switches located in the respective marking points can be actuated by the closing elements. The control subsystem (6) of each consumer is provided with a memory (11), which stores the geometric arrangement of the closing elements that is characteristic of and associated to the machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanism for preventing damage to the actuator of a hydraulic choke valve in the event of excessive backpressure on the outlet of the choke. The backpressure relief device is applicable to a choke valve which meters flow from a high pressure annular region around the axially reciprocable choke throttling member into a low pressure exit channel coaxial with the throttling member. In particular, a shearable means is used to connect the reciprocable control shank of the actuator to the throttling valve member of the choke valve. In the event of excessive pressure on the exit channel of the choke valve, the shearable means will shear, thereby fully opening the valve and permitting the excessive pressure to escape. The shearable means is readily replaced so that the valve easily can be put back into operating condition.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for fitting mechanical parts to minimize prevent free play are described. An apparatus having a piston is designed so as to restrain the piston before actuation, and so as to allow the piston to gain momentum before striking an object. The described apparatus are applicable to devices involving shearable elements. An embodiment of the invention relates to a pyrotechnically activated valve incorporating such features to minimize free play in conjunction with such features so as to restrain the piston and also allow the piston to gain momentum.

Abstract: A tensile load is applied to a sensor element that will carry the tensile load in the absence of a substance and will fail to carry the tensile load in the presence of the substance. The sensor element is disposed in a flow of fluid, and a flow control member is actuated to shut off the flow of fluid when the sensor element fails to carry the tensile load. In a preferred implementation, a hydrocarbon sensing valve includes a polystyrene sensor element suspending the flow control member above a valve seat. The sensor element is disposed in a cavity in the top of the flow control member, and a channel member directs fluid from the inlet port to the cavity. The sensor element is pinned to the channel member, and the flow control member is pinned to the sensor element.

Abstract: An extendable/retractable link apparatus 10 defines a fluid passage therethrough and may be connected between two relatively moveable components, e.g. an aircraft ejector seat and the adjacent fixed airframe, so that, when there is relative movement within pre-set limits, there is no significant displacement of fluid and no significant pressure force generated. The apparatus comprises a body 12 defining a fluid inlet/outlet port 16 and slidably receiving a piston 18 having a central bore which defines a fluid inlet/outlet port 24. The fluid passage is defined between said inlet and outlet ports 16 and 24. Relative movement of the piston 18 and the body 12 does not cause significant displacement of the fluid into or out of the fluid passage.