Patents Assigned to Camco, Incorporated
  • Patent number: 4408092
    Abstract: An electrical power feedthrough connection for supporting and sealing a well electrical cable. A sealing insulator which is longitudinally split includes one or more cavities. An elongated connector is positioned in each cavity connecting the ends of two lines of the electrical cable with potting compound positioned in the cavity for sealing about the connector. A sealing grommet at each end of the insulator aligns the lines of the electrical cable with the cavities of the insulator. A cable gripping retainer is positioned adjacent each grommet remote from the insulator. A housing surrounds the insulator, grommet and retainers and includes first and second telescoping parts with threaded means for telescoping the first and second parts together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventors: William D. Eatwell, James K. Garner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4373587
    Abstract: In a well safety valve for controlling the fluid flow through a well conduit in which the valve has a housing and a flow tube controlling a valve element, the improvement in means for opening and closing the valve. A gas chamber is positioned in the housing with a fluid passageway positioned between the gas chamber and a port for receiving fluid pressure from the well surface for increasing the pressure of the gas in the chamber. One or more pistons are movably positioned in the passageway between the gas chamber and the port with the pistons restricting but allowing fluid flow through the passageway. The pistons are connected to the flow tube whereby when pressure on the port side of the pistons is reduced compressed gas in the gas chamber will act on the fluid in the gas chamber side of the piston to move the pistons in a direction to close the valve. A check valve may be in parallel with the pistons for quickly pressuring the gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Ronald E. Pringle
  • Patent number: 4368911
    Abstract: A tool for setting or pulling a subsurface tool from a conduit having a pressure charge gas piston and cylinder which are releasably locked together. The piston and cylinder is actuated by setting slips on the tool and unlocking the piston and cylinder. First and second shoulders are actuated by the piston and cylinder to set or pull the well tool. The piston and cylinder includes a movable member initially limiting the communication of the gas with the piston. Drag blocks are connected to the slips for preventing expansion of the slips on downward movement of the tool, and a connection between the tool body and one of the piston and cylinder will set the slips on upward movement of the body and release the piston and cylinder. The tool is particularly useful in setting and pulling a safety valve from a flowline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1983
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Ronald E. Pringle
  • Patent number: 4362214
    Abstract: A tubing retrievable differential pressure operated well safety valve which closes at a predetermined rate of flow which may be changed from the well surface. A housing is adapted to be threadedly connected to well tubing. A spring forces a flow tube and choke bean downwardly to normally hold the valve open, but when the producing rate increases to a preset value the bean and flow tube moves upwardly overcoming the spring allowing the valve to close. A releasable connection is provided between the choke bean and the flow tube for connecting the choke bean to and releasing the choke bean from the flow tube by longitudinal movement of the bean relative to the flow tube. The connection may include a collet interconnecting the beam and the flow tube in which the collet includes an enlargement for engaging a recess in the bean. The flow tube includes a backup shoulder for locking the enlargement in the recess and also includes an opening for allowing the collet to become released from the bean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Arthur J. Morris
  • Patent number: 4336841
    Abstract: A tubing anchor for anchoring a well tubing in an outer conduit which includes slips and upper and lower cones. A threaded connection is connected to at least one of the cones for moving the cones towards and away from each other for setting and releasing the slips. First and second clutches are selectively actuated by longitudinal movement of a mandrel for either setting or releasing the slips. The anchor may also be released by an emergency straight pull on the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: James K. Garner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4273194
    Abstract: A tubular housing having an inner tubular member forms an inner passageway inside of the inner member and an outer passageway between the inner member and the housing. The housing has valve openings leading from the outer passageway to the exterior of the housing and a tubular valve closure member telescopically moves on the interior of the housing. First means move the valve closure member in an upper direction for closing the openings and at least one actuating piston is telescopically movable within and has its longitudinal axis in the wall of the housing and engages the valve closure member. The piston is in communication with a hydraulic passageway adapted to extend to the well surface for actuating the closure member in a direction to open the valve openings. The closure member is positioned whereby upward flow through the outer passageway acts on the closure member to close the valve opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1981
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Paul W. Black
  • Patent number: 4263968
    Abstract: A well packer adapted to be set in a conduit disposed in a well bore having initially retracted packing seal means and initially retracted slip means which are set by opposing acting hydraulically actuated pistons. A single one-way clutch is connected between the pistons allowing simultaneous movement of the pistons for setting and holding the packer centrally in the conduit. A releasable sub includes an abutment member initially positioned against the top of the packing seal means with a housing telescopically surrounding and initially holding the abutment in position. An outer member is releasably connected to the housing and to a packer expander sleeve and various coacting shoulders are provided between the components whereby vertical movement upwardly of the packer housing will release the set packer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: James K. Garner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4254829
    Abstract: In a well lock and a locking nipple for use in a tubing in a well in which the locking nipple includes first and second recesses and a stop shoulder and the well lock includes a locking housing carrying first and second locking dogs, seal means on the exterior of the housing for sealing with the nipple, a resiliently outwardly urged locator having a shoulder for engaging the stop shoulder, a mandrel telescopically positioned in the housing, a locking shoulder on the mandrel locking the first locking dogs in the first recess and means on the mandrel engaging the second locking means for preventing unlocking of the first locking dogs if pressure is applied to the seal to move the housing upwardly, the improvement in which the distance between the bottom of the first recess and the locking shoulder is greater than the distance between the bottom of the first locking dogs and the locator shoulder whereby the first locking dogs lock the device against upwardly and downwardly forces and the locator is retracted out
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1981
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Fred E. Watkins
  • Patent number: 4252197
    Abstract: In a well safety valve for controlling the fluid flow through a well conduit in which the valve has a housing and a tubular member controlling a valve element the improvement in means for opening and closing the valve. At least one piston is telescopically movable within and has its longitudinal axis within the wall of the housing and outside of the tubular member and engages the tubular member. The first side of the piston is in communication with a hydraulic passageway adapted to extend to the well surface for opening the valve. The second side of the piston extends into a closed gas chamber tending to move the valve to the closed position. The piston has a small cross-sectional area for reducing the pressure effect in the gas chamber of the gas caused by movement of the second side of the piston whereby the differential between the opening and closing forces are reduced thereby allowing the valve to be used at greater depths in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Ronald E. Pringle
  • Patent number: 4248308
    Abstract: In a well valve such as a safety valve or gas lift valve for controlling the fluid flow through a well tubing having a valve closure member with means for moving the valve member in a direction to open the valve and spring means acting against the opening force for moving the valve to a closed position, the improvement of an external adjustment for adjusting the spring closing force. A shoulder member is longitudinally movable in the housing but non-rotatably movable relative to the housing and abuts the spring. Adjusting means is rotatably connected, but is longitudinally fixed, relative to the housing and is exposed to the exterior of the housing for allowing external rotation of the adjusting means. Coacting threads between the shoulder means and the adjusting means moves the shoulder toward and away from the spring by externally rotating the adjusting means thereby varying the closing force of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Ronald E. Pringle
  • Patent number: 4239082
    Abstract: The combination of a mandrel and multiple flow control valves for use in a well tubing in which the mandrel includes a sidepocket and a locking shoulder aligned with the pocket. A plurality of vertically connected flow control valves, such as gas lift valves, each having an inlet and an outlet are adapted to be positioned in the pocket by a single latch connected to the valves for engaging the locking shoulder. The pocket has a vertical length sufficient for receiving the valves, a plurality of vertically spaced openings extending between the interior of the pocket and the outside of the mandrel, one of the openings being positioned adjacent each of the inlets of the valves when the valves are installed, and a plurality of passageways extending between the interior of the pocket and the interior of the mandrel with one of the passageways being positioned to communicate with each of the outlets of said valves when the valves are installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1980
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Ben D. Terral
  • Patent number: 4215748
    Abstract: A lockout for use with a fluid injection valve which injects fluids in a tubing string of a well. The lockout, when actuated, holds the injection valve open for allowing passage of well tools therethrough; but when deactuated, allows the injection valve to operate normally. In combination with a spring-loaded, normally closed injection valve, which is opened by pressure actuating a flow tube in response to injection flow, of a lockout having a second flow tube coaxially aligned with the first flow tube for engagement therewith, piston means connected to the second flow tube and adapted to be actuated by fluid pressure from the well surface for moving the second flow tube against the first flow tube for holding the injection valve open, and a biasing spring acting against the second flow tube for moving the second flow tube away from the first flow tube whereby the injection valve may operate normally and independently of the lockout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1980
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventors: Clare A. Pace, Ronald E. Pringle
  • Patent number: 4201265
    Abstract: In a sidepocket mandrel for use in a well tubing in which the valve pocket is positioned inside of the mandrel body beside an opening with a deflector guide connected to the pocket and having a pair of rails for allowing the entrance of flow control devices into the pocket but preventing the entrance of open bore tools into the guide path and a locking lug secured to the deflector guide, the improvement of providing the longitudinal outer edges of each of the rails adjacent the open bore with a deformable lip protruding outwardly from the rail in which the lips are bent outwardly towards and against the inside of the body for preventing wirelines of well tools from catching between the inside of the body and the rails. The lips may be formed in the rails by either longitudinal recesses positioned along the edges on either the inside or outside of the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventors: James M. Thomason, Francis D. Logan
  • Patent number: 4197909
    Abstract: A protector for preventing tools from becoming engaged between an internally-mounted deflector guide and the inside of the body of a side-pocket mandrel. The protector includes a protrusion connected to the body adjacent to and above the deflector guide which extends into the interior of the body for blocking the space between the deflector guide and the body thereby preventing well tools from becoming stuck. The protrusion may include one or more arcuate members plug welded into the body. In addition, the protrusion may be made intergal with or connected to the upper end of the deflector guide. Preferably, at least the outer and upper edges of the protrusion are beveled outwardly towards the inside of the mandrel body for eliminating engaging shoulders. In other form, the protrusion may be formed of indentations made in the wall of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1980
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Ben D. Terral
  • Patent number: 4161984
    Abstract: A well locking device and method of operation including a well lock and a landing nipple for locking well equipment in the production string of oil and/or gas wells. The well lock includes two sets of locking dogs, one of which locks the well lock in the landing nipple and holds against loads either from above or below the lock. The second set of locking dogs prevents the release of the well lock from the nipple when a pressure differential exists across the lock. A locking nipple includes first and second recesses and a stop shoulder and the coacting well lock includes a housing carrying first and second locking dogs in which the vertical spacing of the first and second locking dogs is less than the vertical distance between the tops of the first and second recesses. A seal is positioned on the exterior of the well lock housing and adapted to seal in the locking nipple, and locating means are provided on the housing for engaging the stop shoulder of the nipple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1979
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Fred E. Watkins
  • Patent number: 4161960
    Abstract: A well safety valve adapted to be positioned in a well tubing and close on either a predetermined high tubing pressure or a predetermined low tubing pressure. The valve closure member in the valve body moves between an open and closed position in response to longitudinal movement of a tubular member. The tubular member has an open bore for alignment with the bore of the well tubing to provide straight through flow through the safety valve. In addition, the tubular member has a plurality of telescoping sections and releasable and resettable locking means normally securing the plurality of sections together. A predetermined high tubing pressure or a predetermined low tubing pressure acting on the tubular member causes the valve to close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1979
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Fred E. Watkins
  • Patent number: 4161219
    Abstract: In a well safety valve for controlling the fluid flow through a well conduit in which the valve has a housing and a valve element movable in the housing between an open and closed position for controlling the flow through a passageway in the housing and means for biasing the valve element to a closed position, the improvement in piston means for moving the valve element into an open position. A piston is telescopically mounted in the housing, is controlled by fluid from the well surface, and is offset from the passageway. The piston has a small cross-sectional area for reducing the effect of hydrostatic forces acting on the piston whereby the valve may be used at greater depths in the well. The piston has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the valve passageway for ease of manufacture and less expense. Preferably the piston is positioned within the wall of the housing, and may be a solid cylinder or may be tubular one outside diameter with a second lower section of a greater outside diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1979
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Ronald E. Pringle
  • Patent number: 4160484
    Abstract: A well safety valve for controlling the fluid flow through a well tubing in which the valve is biased closed. When fluid control pressure is supplied from the well surface, the valve is opened, but the valve closes when the control pressure exceeds a predetermined value. The tubular member controlling the actuation of the valve member includes a first upper and a second lower telescoping section with releasable locking means normally securing the telescoping sections together. A stop shoulder is positioned in the path of movement of the second section in the opening direction for actuating the release of the locking means when the control fluid force exceeds said predetermined value, and the second telescoping section is moved in a closing direction for closing the valve member when the locking means is released. The locking means may be either a shear pin or a resettable lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1979
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Fred E. Watkins
  • Patent number: 4159643
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for measuring bottom hole pressure in the tubing of a well by installing an isolation assembly in the tubing by a locking and sealing device in which the assembly includes first and second ports in communication between the interior of the assembly and the interior of the tubing. A sensor prong is releasably installed in the isolation assembly and includes a pressure measuring instrument releasably connected thereto. After the well is flowed through the first port, the first port is closed by actuation of the prong, and pressure measurements are taken through the second port by the pressure measuring instrument. After completion of the measurement, the measuring instrument may be released from the prong and retrieved. The prong is thereafter retrieved. The first port, which is larger than a second port, is initially releasably held open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1979
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Fred E. Watkins
  • Patent number: 4158959
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the physical properties of material in which the sensing means is a tubular sensing member having a longitudial slot extending from one end to the other end. A support connected to the tubular member approximately midway between the ends of the tubular member and diametrically opposed to the slot. Electrical coil means extend longitudinally through the inside of and around the outside perimeter of the tubular member one or more times. An electrical driving circuit is connected to the coil means for vibrating the sensing member and an electrical sensing circuit is connected to the coil means for measuring the vibration of the sensing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1979
    Assignee: Camco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Raymond D. Blair