Abstract: A lift-turn valve actuator is provided for tapered plug valve and slip assemblies that accomplishes vertical movement of the plug and retraction of the slips from sealing engagement with the valve body prior to rotation of the plug member 90.degree. to its open position. The valve actuator assembly includes inner fitting inner and outer sleeve members each having cam slots formed therein with the cam follower of a valve actuating stem being engaged with both cam slots. Rotation of the outer sleeve member with respect to the static inner sleeve imparts initial vertical movement to the actuator stem, valve stem and valve plug for slip retraction as an initial component of movement followed by simultaneous rotational and upward movement of the plug member until the plug member has rotated 90.degree. to its open position.

Abstract: A self-cleaning and self-lubricating fluid flowmeter comprising a tubular body forming an internal flow passage with a bearing support hub immovably positioned therein and forming a bearing receptacle. A rotor shaft extends into the bearing receptacle and supports a turbine rotor, the rotor shaft being supported by bearings located within the bearing receptacle. An increased pressure region is defined between the upstream and downstream ends of the bearing support hub, a slightly decreased pressure region is developed within the flow passage immediately downstream of the bearing support hub and is communicated into a cleaning and lubricating flow path extending from the slightly decreased pressure region upstream through the bearings, reversing and extending downstream to its terminal position at a greatly decreased pressure region further downstream of the bearing support hub.

Abstract: The rotary control valve comprises a casing having a pair of axially-opposed ports. A valve chamber is rotatably mounted in the casing. A stem adjustably rotates the valve chamber for controlling the flow through the ports. The valve chamber has a pair of axially-opposed, off-center orifices, each being contiguous to and movable into and out of partial and full registration with its associated port. An off-center tube is disposed inside chamber and extends between the orifices. A pressure-reducing medium in the valve chamber. The medium includes a plurality of stacked, axially-spaced discs, each having a pattern of axial holes for dividing the flow thereacross.

Abstract: A compact bidirectional meter prover mechanism incorporates a straight calibration barrel having spaced detectors sensing passage of a fluid induced displacer piston. A four-way control valve is connected by flow conduits to the conduit containing the flow meter and is connected by a conduit system to respective extremities of the calibration barrel. Launch valves are interposed between the control valve and the calibration barrel and are selectively positioned to permit metering flow through the calibration barrel only after the control valve has been positioned for directional flow of fluid through the conduit system and the calibration barrel. Thus, the necessity for piston prerun is eliminated and minimum cycle time is permitted. The length of the calibration barrel is also minimized by elimination of piston prerun.

Abstract: A gate valve mechanism is provided which is especially designed for use as a hot tap valve. The valve incorporates a fabricated valve body having internal seat rings with circular elastomer sealing elements disposed within circular sealed grooves formed therein. A slab gate member is movable between the seat members between open and closed positions and is positionable radially outwardly of the seal grooves to permit replacement of the elastomer seal members. The valve body structure is of minimal thickness to permit access to the seal members through the flow ports of the valve in order to permit seal replacement. The valve also incorporates an internal rotatable threaded drive stem which receives a drive nut interconnected with the gate to thus permit opening and closing movement of the gate member by simply rotating the valve stem.

Abstract: A gas lift mandrel is provided for installation in a string of production tubing extending into a well casing for gas energized production of petroleum products. The mandrel incorporates a tubular body having offset extremities for connection to tubing sections and defining a well aperture in its side wall. An inner tubular sleeve is located within the tubular body and defines an elongated opening within which is received a valve receptacle and valve guard in coextensive relation. The valve receptacle incorporates an external weld boss which is located within the weld aperture of the body and connected to the body by welding. The inner sleeve varies in thickness from a maximum thickness on the side of the aperture to a minimum thickness on the side opposite the weld aperture.

Abstract: An orifice fitting seal assembly is provided for use in an orifice fitting having a body structure defining a flow passage and opposed spaced sealing surfaces surrounding the flow passage. The improvement comprises a pair of internal seal rings of symmetrical configuration which cooperate to define a plate receptacle within which an apertured orifice plate is positioned. Each of the internal seal rings defines peripheral locking flanges that are disposed in spaced relation when the rings are in assembly. An external locking ring surrounds the assembled internal seal rings and establishes locking engagement therewith to retain the internal seal rings and the orifice plate in assembly. A pair of inner O-ring type sealing elements are retained within internal sealed grooves defined by each of the internal seal rings and the orifice plate.

Abstract: A valve actuating mechanism for valves particularly of the plug valve type wherein a plug member is movable between operative positions by both linear and rotary movement. The valve actuating mechanism incorporates means for imparting linear movement to a valve stem and separate means for accomplishing 90.degree. rotary movement to the valve stem during such linear movement. Rotary movement of the valve stem is accomplished by pivotal linkage means that is interconnected both with the valve stem and valve body structure by means of omni-directional pivots.

Abstract: A mechanized orifice fitting mechanism is provided having a body structure forming an internal chamber and an access opening that is closed by means of a quick disconnect closure. Internally of the body is provided a cam actuated orifice plate ejector and sealing plate which is movable to control positioning of a removable orifice plate in relation to a flow passage extending through the body. Mechanically energized sealing elements are adapted to seal either the orifice plate or the ejector plate and thus permit depressurization of the body to permit insertion and removal of the orifice plate without depressurizing the flow line to which the mechanized orifice fitting is connected.

Abstract: A valve actuator mechanism for a lift-turn type valve having a valve element that is operated by first linear unseating movement, rotational repositioning movement and linear reseating movement. First and second actuator stems are supported by an actuator housing for both linear and rotational movement.

Abstract: An intermittent well controller is disclosed. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the controller, in conjunction with sensors indicative of well conditions, controls the delivery of lifting gas to the well. The controller is intended to be installed at a remote location where the equipment is normally provided with no commercially available electrical power and is battery operated. The battery operated controller is normally switched off nearly all the time. Moreover, the controller incorporates a battery sensitive indicator which signals an alarm in the event that terminal voltage of the battery cells drops below a specified level to provide a warning for service personnel on their next trip to the well that the batteries should be replaced. Further, the device utilizes a computer with a memory not subject to erasure when the equipment is switched off. The device is cycled on for a short interval of time, typically just a few microseconds. The duty cycle is thereby far less than 1%.

Abstract: A high temperature valve stem packing incorporates a plurality of graphite seal rings composed of spirally coiled graphite tape and metal packing adapter rings being interposed between respective ones of the graphite seal rings. The metal packing adapter rings are of such configuration as to cause structural deformation of the end surface portions of the graphite rings to thereby induce the graphite seal rings to maintain the sealing capability thereof in response to wear during use and in response to fluid pressure applied thereto. In one form of the invention, the packing adapter rings are of solid construction and in another embodiment, the adapter rings are composed of pairs of interfitting rings which cooperate to define packing rings that are capable of yielding in spring-like manner as mechanical force or pressure induced force is transmitted to the packing assembly.

Abstract: A compression spring capsule is provided for tubular valve actuating members and incorporates a plurality of helical compression springs arranged in circular relation. Opposed generally cylindrical spring retainers each being receivable in a cylindrical receptacle form opposed receptacles receiving opposed ends of the springs. Spring guide rods are disposed within each of the helical springs with the ends thereof received within the opposed receptacles of the spring retainers.

Abstract: A rotary lift-turn type plug valve mechanism includes a valve body and bonnet structure defining a tapered valve chamber that receives a tapered plug member which is operated by linear and rotary components of movement to achieve valve operation. Externally adjustable plug positioning means is provided by the valve mechanism to enable the position of the plug element to be adjusted relative to the inlet and outlet flow passages defined by the valve body. Plug dampening means is also provided for applying a dampening force to the plug element to prevent slamming of the plug upon reaching the end of a rotational component of movement. A valve actuator is also provided that operatively engages the valve stem of the plug and is capable of imparting both linear and rotary components of movement to the valve stem for unseating, rotating and reseating the valve element within the valve chamber.

Abstract: Valve seat rings are provided having sediment guard recesses formed in the back face portions thereof, which recesses are in the form of annular grooves having restricted annular openings and defining an internal stop shoulder. A sediment guard is movably positioned within the receptacle and includes an annular sediment blocking portion that protrudes through the restricted groove for sediment blocking engagement with a radial surface defining a portion of the seat recess. The sediment guard also defines a stop portion that is engageable with the stop shoulder to prevent separation of the sediment guard from its receptacle. The sediment guard is urged toward the radial surface of the seat recess by compression springs located within the receptacle.

Abstract: A safety valve for the production tubing of wells and/or fluid flow lines includes a valve element having both linear and rotary components of movement within a valve body and is actuated by a lost-motion rack and pinion gear actuating mechanism. The clam-shell pinion gear is moved linearly within the valve body by a hydraulic sleeve piston actuator for inducing valve movement responsive to hydraulic control of the sleeve piston. The sleeve piston is also responsive to upstream pressure for pressure actuation of the valve to its closed position. The valve element is also mechanically movable to its closed position. To facilitate opening movement of the valve, after an initial part of the opening movement of the sleeve piston assembly has occurred, pressure upstream of the valve element is communicated with the downstream side of the valve element, thus balancing pressure across the valve element and dissipating any pressure induced resultant forces that oppose valve opening movement.

Abstract: An actuatable safety valve for the production tubing of wells and/or fluid flowlines includes a valve element having both linear and rotary components of movement within a valve body and is actuated by a lost-motion rack and pinion gear actuating mechanism. The clam-shell pinion gear is moved linearly within the valve body by a hydraulic sleeve piston actuator for causing control valve movement responsive to hydraulic control of the sleeve piston. The sleeve piston is also responsive to upstream pressure for pressure actuation of the valve to its closed position. The valve element is also mechanically movable to its closed position.

Abstract: An actuator mechanism for lift-turn type valves such as tapered plug valves and cam energized plug and slip assemblies includes an actuator housing structure that is adapted to be connected to a valve body. An actuator element that is adapted for interconnection with the operating stem of a valve element includes a cam energized mechanism which is capable of imparting both linear and rotary movement to the valve stem for sequentially unseating the valve element, rotating it 90.degree. to a selected position and moving it linearly in the opposite direction for reseating. During unseating and reseating linear movement, interengaging guide structure prevents undesired rotation of the actuator element and valve stem. An adjustment mechanism is provided to ensure optimum positioning of the actuator element relative to the valve stem. Energy transfer means is provided to ensure adequate transmission of forces during seating and unseating movement.

Abstract: A rotary lift-turn type plug valve mechanism includes a valve body and bonnet structure defining a tapered valve chamber that receives a tapered plug member which is operated by linear and rotary components of movement to achieve valve operation. Externally adjustable plug positioning means is provided by the valve mechanism to enable the position of the plug element to be adjusted relative to the inlet and outlet flow passages defined by the valve body. Plug dampening means is also provided for applying a dampening force to the plug element to prevent slamming of the plug upon reaching the end of a rotational component of movement. A valve actuator is also provided that operatively engages the valve stem of the plug and is capable of imparting both linear and rotary components of movement to the valve stem for unseating, rotating and reseating the valve element within the valve chamber.

Abstract: An orifice fitting mechanism for pipeline flow measurement systems includes a fabricated body structure that is so fabricated that internal and external body plate connection welds may be effectively utilized in order that the body structure will have sufficient structural integrity to withstand the forces of high pressure service. Internal and external welding of the body plates is enhanced through the provision of internal hub rings that define portions of the internal through conduit structure of the body and also define a properly oriented transverse opening that effectively receives an orifice plate carrier assembly in sealed relation therein. The hub rings also provide for close positioning of pressure tap passages as desired for accurate flow measurement. A replaceable valve support mechanism is employed allowing the slide valve system of the orifice fitting to be field replaceable without requiring replacement of either of the upper or lower body sections.