Abstract: A block valve (10) for selectively establishing and selectively blocking communication between a pressurized fluid supply (30), a fluid actuated device (DHSV) and a reservoir (35). The valve comprises a valve body (41, 42) with an inlet (81), an outlet (82) and a bleed port (83) and first and second piston-type plunger elements (61, 71) slidably mounted in piston chambers (51, 52) formed in the bore (43, 45) of the valve body. The second plunger element (71) is slidably mounted on the first plunger element (61) in sleeved relation therewith. Both plunger elements (61, 71) are continuously urged by springs (66, 75), respectively, to a first operating position wherein communication between the ports (81, 82, 83) is blocked by seal means (94, 95, 96) and blocking means (64) mounted on the plunger elements.

Abstract: A pilot valve adapted for connection between a double acting fluid actuator (12) of the piston-type and a hydraulic fluid supply (21). The pilot valve comprises an elongate body (30) with an axial bore (32, 33) therethrough and a piston chamber (38) at one end of the valve body. A valve plunger (49) affixed to the piston (50) in the piston chamber (38) is mounted in the axial bore for movement between first and second operating positions in response to the selective application of pneumatic pressure to the piston (50). The valve (20) is provided with valve ports (56, 60) for accommodating connections with a hydraulic fluid reservoir (21), and a piston-type actuator (12), respectively, whereby in the first operative position of the valve plunger (49), the valve (20) is conditioned for the transmission of hydraulic fluid to a first side of the actuator piston (17) and the removal to the sump (22) of hydraulic fluid from the other second side of the actuator piston (17) through valve ports (81, 75).

Abstract: A manually set relay valve (38) for controlling fluid flow to and from a valve actuator (14). A slide valve (60) is manually pulled outwardly to the set or open position and held therein by pilot pressure applied to a piston chamber (46) through a passage (110) in the slide valve (60). When the slide valve (60) is tripped to the closed position due to an interruption of pilot pressure, a cross port (112) of the fluid passage (110) vents the piston chamber (46) to maintain the relay (38) closed until manually reset.

Abstract: A safety valve (14) adapted to be inserted within a flowline (10) comprises an elongate valve body (16) having central bore (24) with a fluid inlet (40) and a fluid outlet (42) in fluid communication with the bore (24). A slidable valve element (50) having a fluid passage (62) therein is mounted within the bore (24) and is slidable between the seated and unseated positions. A stop member (108) is mounted on the valve body (16) for relative movement between extended and retracted positions and has a stem which extends within the bore (24) along the longitudinal axis of the valve body (16). During normal operation valve element (50) is in a seated position and stop member (108) is in a retracted position, and thus, fluid flows from the fluid inlet (40) to the fluid outlet (42).

Abstract: A pilot line-operated control valve (32) for an actuator (14) that operates a gate valve (12) in the main flowline (10). A slide valve (70) having a piston (76) on its inner end is mounted in a longitudinal bore (46) of the elongate valve body (40) for movement between an open position in which fluid is directed to actuator (14), and a closed position in which fluid is prevented from flowing to actuator (14). A fluid isolated pilot blocking portion (98) of slide valve (70) is oriented such that once slide valve (70) moves to the closed position, pilot blocking portion (98) abuts pilot port (56) so as to block pilot line fluid pressure from acting on slide valve (70) under any operating conditions, including even a resumption of fluid pressure in the pilot line (30), when slide valve (70) is in the closed position. The so-called push-type control valve (32) is reset by manually pushing slide valve (70) inwardly.

Abstract: A relay valve for controlling fluid flow to and from a valve actuator included in a safety system for a flowline such as a production line of an oil or gas well. The relay includes a slide valve (60) which is manually pushed inwardly to the open or set position and held therein by pilot fluid which is also applied to the valve actuator. A visual indicator mounted on a knob (102) of the slide valve is operated by fluid applied to a passage (96) formed in the slide valve. A vent port (82) prevents pilot pressure from moving the slide valve from the closed position to the open position. A modified relay valve (150) has separate inlet ports (198 and 200) for receiving pilot fluid and actuator fluid and a vent port (206) which is in direct fluid communication with the pilot port in the closed position of the slide valve.

Abstract: A relay valve for controlling fluid flow to and from a valve actuator included in a safety system for a flowline such as a production line of an oil or gas well. The relay includes a slide valve (60) which is manually pushed inwardly to the open or set position and held therein by pilot fluid which is also applied to the valve actuator. A visual indicator mounted on a knob (102) of the slide valve is operated by fluid applied to a passage (96) formed in the slide valve. A vent port (82) prevents pilot pressure from moving the slide valve from the closed position to the open position. A modified relay valve (150) has separate inlet ports (198 and 200) for receiving pilot fluid and actuator fluid and a vent port (206) which is in direct fluid communication with the pilot port in the closed position of the slide valve.

Abstract: A manually reset control valve (28) to control the flow of fluid to a fluid actuator (22) in a safety system for closing a valve in a main flowline (10) upon the reaching of predetermined high and low pressures in the main flowline. The control valve includes an elongate housing having a supply port (26) and a bleed port (124) for the actuator, and a sensing port (34) for monitoring the fluid pressure in the main flowline. The valving in the bore of the housing includes a pressure sensing valve mechanism (42) and a control fluid valve mechanism (44). Pressure sensing valve mechanism (42) includes a high pressure spring (94) responsive to a predetermined high pressure in the flowline to actuate the valving and a low pressure spring (58) responsive to a predetermined low fluid pressure in the flowline to actuate the valving for bleeding the actuator.

Abstract: A manually set relay valve for controlling fluid flow to and from a valve actuator. A slide valve (60) is manually pulled outwardly to the set or open position and held therein by pilot pressure applied to a piston chamber (46) through a passage (104) in the slide valve. When the slide valve is tripped to the closed position due to an interruption of pilot pressure, a cross port (106) of the fluid passage vents the piston chamber to maintain the relay closed until manually reset.

Abstract: An improved pilot valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a pressure medium responsive to predetermined variations in a pressurized system. The pilot valve mechanism is constructed in such manner that a plurality of pilot valves may be connected in an assembly and may be operative to shut down operation of a flow system responsive to sensing of pressures that are above or below a predetermined range of operating pressure.Each of the valves may include a shuttle valve mechanism capable of interrupting fluid communication between the inlet and outlet of the pilot valve mechanism or between the outlet and vent thereof, depending upon the position of a shuttle valve actuating piston that is proportionally movable responsive to variations in the pressure that is sensed by the pilot valve mechanism. Movement of the shuttle valve actuating piston and the shuttle valve are controlled by an urging means that may be adjustably preset for a particular high or low pressure.

Abstract: An electro-pneumatic or electro-hydraulic safety system for shutting in a well or the like in the event of unusual pressure conditions in the production line of the well. The safety system includes a pressure transducer (30) which senses the flowline pressure and provides a corresponding electrical signal to a digital controller (34). When the signal applied to the controller is outside of a preset range defined between low and high settings of the controller, a control circuit deenergizes a solenoid valve which bleeds fluid from a fluid actuator in order to close a surface safety valve (10). Once the safety valve has closed, the controller is latched out of service and must be manually reset before the safety valve can be opened. For protection of a subsurface safety valve (155), the safety system provides a time delay between opening of the subsurface valve and opening of the surface valve and also between closing of the surface valve and closing of the subsurface valve.

Abstract: A valve device consisting of a valve body with a bore slidably receiving a valving plunger (30, 34) and having openings (64, 68) spaced along the bore wall for carrying high pressure controlling or controlled fluid. Interposed between the openings is soft seal means, such as O-rings (48, 54), embedded in suitable recessing in the bore wall. The valve plunger has an internal passage (76) with longitudinally spaced ports or ducts (78, 80) opening through the plunger wall and movable with the plunger, selectively, between positions on the same side of the seal means and on opposite sides thereof for connecting the body openings. The plunger transverse ducts (78, 80) are not of appreciably greater cross-sectional dimensions, longitudinally of the plunger, than said soft seal means (48, 54) and is closely confined on all sides, when exposed to a plunger port, by adjacent body and plunger wall structure so that distortion and extrusion of the seal, under high pressure in the plunger passage, is prevented.

Abstract: A control valve for a fluid actuator has a slide valve member mounted within a housing or body with an external knob on one end and a piston on the other end. The body has a central bore with an enlarged bore portion forming a valve chamber in which the piston is mounted for reciprocation. The chamber adjacent one piston face forms a fluid storage chamber and the chamber adjacent the other piston face forms a fluid pressure chamber to receive pressurized fluid. A one-way check valve is positioned between the two chambers and permits fluid pressure in the fluid storage chamber to be equalized with the fluid pressure in the pressure chamber. Upon a subsequent exhaust of fluid from the fluid pressure chamber, the piston will move quickly to a seated position under the fluid pressure in the storage chamber without any separate urging means, such as a spring, being necessary.

Abstract: A control valve for a fluid actuator has a slide valve mounted within a housing with an external gripping knob on one end and a piston on the other end. A spring engages the piston and continuously urges the slide valve and knob to an outer position. The knob is gripped and the slide valve is pushed inwardly for resetting the piston after the control valve has been actuated or fired to exhaust the fluid from the fluid actuator. Fluid from associated high and low pressure pilot valves holds the slide valve and piston in an inner position against the bias of the spring during normal operation of the fluid system.

Abstract: A control valve structure and combined visual indicator for controlling fluid and visually indicating the operating condition of a portion of a fluid system. The control valve has a slide valve mounted in a housing and biased toward a retracted position with one end portion thereof extending from the housing. The extended end portion of the slide valve has a knob adapted to be manually gripped for moving of the slide valve outwardly for setting same. A visual indicator is mounted on the knob. A port in the housing communicates with the slide valve to permit the application of fluid pressure to the slide valve to move same outwardly. The visual indicator has a visually observable indicator member movable between two positions for indicating the presence of either of two associated conditions in a system containing the control valve.

Abstract: A control valve structure and combined visual indicator for controlling fluid and visually indicating the operating condition of a portion of a fluid system. The control valve has a slide valve mounted in a housing and biased toward a retracted position with one end portion thereof extending from the housing. The extended end portion of the slide valve has a knob adapted to be manually gripped for moving of the slide valve outwardly for setting same. A visual indicator is mounted on the knob. A port in the housing communicates with the slide valve to permit the application of fluid pressure to the slide valve to move same outwardly. The visual indicator has a visually observable indicator member movable between two positions for indicating the presence of either of two associated conditions in a system containing the control valve.

Abstract: A combination high-low pilot valve includes an elongate slide valve in a central bore of the pilot valve biased by a low pressure spring toward an open end of the bore which is in fluid communication with a primary fluid system. A secondary valve member in the bore controls the opening and closing of a high pressure bleed port and is positioned between the elongate slide valve and a high pressure spring in concentric relation to the low pressure spring. The high pressure spring biases the secondary valve member continuously toward the slide valve. The slide valve is spaced longitudinally from the secondary valve member in normal operating position and upon a continued movement after the high pressure is reached contacts the secondary valve member and moves the secondary valve member to a bleed position.

Abstract: A fluid exhaust valve for connection between a fluid actuator and a fluid supply for the quick bleeding of fluid from the fluid actuator. The exhaust valve has a piston valve member mounted for movement in a valve chamber between open and closed positions relative to an exhaust port in fluid communication with the valve chamber. An internal passageway through the piston valve member has a separate check ball valve therein to permit the flow of fluid from the fluid supply to the fluid actuator when the ball valve is open and to prevent a reverse flow from the actuator to the inlet passage when the ball valve is closed while permitting the piston valve member to be fully exposed to the fluid pressure of the actuator.

Abstract: A velocity flow control valve employed in a branch line between a main flow line and pressure responsive pilot valves in a safety system for closing a valve across the main flow line. The flow control valve has interfitting male and female body portions with the male body portion having a spring loaded ball urged upstream to an unseated position and is seated upon a pressure differential to block flow to the pilot valves from the main flow line upon a downstream drop in pressure. A ball bleed valve is positioned on the female body portion upstream of the spring loaded ball and may be opened to reduce fluid pressure between the spring loaded ball and the main flow line when desired.

Abstract: A relay valve for controlling fluid flow to and from a valve actuator included in a safety system for a flowline such as a production line of an oil or gas well. The relay includes a slide valve (60) which is manually pushed inwardly to the open or set position and held therein by pilot fluid which is also applied to the valve actuator. A visual indicator mounted on a knob (102) of the slide valve is operated by fluid applied to a passage (96) formed in the slide valve. A vent port (82) prevents pilot pressure from moving the slide valve from the closed position to the open position. A modified relay valve (150) has separate inlet ports (198 and 200) for receiving pilot fluid and actuator fluid and a vent port (206) which is in direct fluid communication with the pilot port in the closed position of the slide valve.