Abstract: A method and apparatus for permanently locking a shiftable valve member in a well conduit in an open position is provided by permitting a spring metal band to expand from a contracted, run-in position to a radially enlarged locking position holding the shiftable valve member in an open position. Positioning lugs are additionally provided which are operable by upward movement of a mandrel to determine whether an actuating sleeve for the shiftable valve member is properly located in its position corresponding to the closed position of the valve so that it will not interfere with the operation of the expanding lock open band member. The tool can be used with a flow tube actuated flapper valve or with other conventional valves.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an actuating mechanism for a rotatable ball valve unit wherein several axially extending pistons and cylinder units or bellows elements are mounted in the wall of the outer housing of the ball valve in angularly spaced relationship. Two diametrically opposed piston or bellows elements actuate the mechanism for axially shifting and then rotating the ball valve, while the remaining piston or bellows elements effect a displacement of the flow tube to maintain a seal carried by the flow tube in sealing engagement with the ball after its rotational movement has been accomplished. The desired delay of movement of the flow tube is accomplished through either varying the size of the bellows element or the spring constants of the springs opposing the actuating movement of the pistons, bellows elements or a combination of these.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an actuating mechanism for a rotatable ball valve unit wherein several axially extending pistons and cylinder units or bellows elements are mounted in the wall of the outer housing of the ball valve in angularly spaced relationship. Two diametrically opposed piston or bellows elements actuate the mechanism for axially shifting and then rotating the ball valve, while the remaining piston or bellows elements effect a displacement of the flow tube to maintain a seal carried by the flow tube in sealing engagement with the ball after its rotational movement has been accomplished. The desired delay of movement of the flow tube is accomplished through either varying the size of the bellows element or the spring constants of the springs opposing the actuating movement of the pistons, bellows elements or a combination of these.

Abstract: An improved blowout preventer having a body with a vertical bore and opposed aligned guideways extending out from the bore, a pair of studs secured to the body, one at each side of each guideway and extending into the bonnets closing the guideways, a cylinder in each bonnet, a piston in each cylinder, a rod extending from each piston and connecting to a ram in its guideway, pressure responsive means connecting between the body and each bonnet for urging the bonnets toward and away from the body, nuts rotatable and captured in the bonnets and threaded onto the studs to retain the bonnets in position on the body and means for supplying hydraulic pressure to the cylinders to move the rams and to the pressure responsive means to move the bonnets. In one form of the invention, the studs coact as a part of the pressure responsive means for urging the bonnets toward the body and are hydarulically tensioned thereby.