Patents by Inventor Russell LaFargue

Russell LaFargue has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Frangible flapper valve with hydraulic impact sleeve and method of breaking
    Patent number: 7665528
    Abstract: A frangible flapper valve that may be closed to hydraulically isolate a portion of a wellbore tubular. The flapper valve is made of a frangible material adapted to shatter upon impact from an impact sleeve. The sleeve may be used to initially hold open the flapper valve. A latching mechanism may be used to retain the sleeve above its initial position allowing the flapper to close isolating a portion of the tubular. The latching mechanism may engage a piston to retain the sleeve at the second position. A shearable device adapted to shear under a predetermined pressure selectively connects the piston to the tubular. When the pressure within the tubular increases above the predetermined amount the shearable device releases the piston and pushes the sleeve into the closed flapper valve causing the flapper valve to shatter. A second latching mechanism may prevent further movement of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: BJ Services Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Ross, Russell LaFargue
  • Frangible flapper valve with hydraulic impact sleeve
    Publication number: 20090020290
    Abstract: A frangible flapper valve that may be closed to hydraulically isolate a portion of a wellbore tubular. The flapper valve is made of a frangible material adapted to shatter upon impact from an impact sleeve. The sleeve may be used to initially hold open the flapper valve. A latching mechanism may be used to retain the sleeve above its initial position allowing the flapper to close isolating a portion of the tubular. The latching mechanism may engage a piston to retain the sleeve at the second position. A shearable device adapted to shear under a predetermined pressure selectively connects the piston to the tubular. When the pressure within the tubular increases above the predetermined amount the shearable device releases the piston and pushes the sleeve into the closed flapper valve causing the flapper valve to shatter. A second latching mechanism may prevent further movement of the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: BJ Services Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Ross, Russell LaFargue