Controller apparatus, system and/or method for controlling pressures in a fluid control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10352468-B2
Application number	US-201415035154-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2014
Priority date	Nov 6, 2013
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A fluid control system has a body with the inlet passage in fluid communication with a discharge passage. The position of a choke piston in the body controls flow of the fluid from the inlet passage to the discharge passage. A controller connected to the body has an actuator connected to a linkage that is connected to the choke piston. The controller positions the choke piston in the body using the actuator and the linkage to control the flow of a fluid from the inlet passage to the outlet passage.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid control system comprising:
a body having an inlet passage and a discharge passage having an axial bore;
a choke piston in the body, wherein the choke piston moves in the body to control a flow of a fluid from the inlet passage to the discharge passage;
a controller connected to the body and mounted to a top side of the body, wherein the controller has an actuator; and
a linkage connecting the actuator to the choke piston, wherein the controller is configured to position the choke piston in the body using the actuator and the linkage comprises
a pivot arm, having a pivot point, connected to the controller such that the pivot point is provided along a length of the linkage between a first end of the linkage that is connected to the actuator and a second end of the linkage that is connected to the choke piston, wherein the linkage is pivotable or rotatable about the pivot point of the pivot arm so as to move the choke piston in the body, and further wherein the pivot arm of the linkage comprises a first portion connecting the body and the controller and a second portion that is provided between the first portion of the pivot arm and the pivot point of the pivot arm and positioned at an angle relative to the first portion of the pivot arm.

2. The fluid control system of claim 1 wherein the controller regulates a force applied to the choke piston.

3. The fluid control system of claim 1 further comprising:
a rod coupling the linkage to the choke piston wherein the rod moves the choke piston in the body.

4. The fluid control system of claim 1 wherein the controller has a motor driving the actuator.

5. The fluid control system of claim 1 further comprising:
a choke seat in the axial bore wherein the choke piston mates with the choke seat to form a seal.

6. The fluid control system of claim 1 further comprising:
a rod connecting the actuator to the linkage.

7. A fluid control system comprising:
a body having an inlet passage and a discharge passage having an axial bore;
a choke piston in the body, wherein the choke piston moves in the body to control a flow of a fluid from the inlet passage to the discharge passage;
a controller connected to the body and mounted to a top side of the body, wherein the controller has an actuator;
a linkage connecting the actuator to the choke piston, wherein the controller is configured to position the choke piston in the body using the actuator and the linkage comprises
a pivot arm, having a pivot point, connected to the controller such that the linkage is pivotable or rotatable about the pivot point of the pivot arm; and
a rotating plate connected between the controller and the top side of the body such that an end of the pivot arm is located above the rotating plate and the top side of the body and is provided between the rotating plate and a bottom side of the controller,
wherein the pivot arm of the linkage comprises a first portion provided between the top side of the body and the controller and a second portion that is provided between the first portion of the pivot arm and the pivot point of the pivot arm and positioned at an angle relative to the first portion of the pivot arm.

8. A fluid control system comprising:
a body having an inlet passage and a discharge passage having an axial bore;
a choke piston in the body, wherein the choke piston moves in the body to control a flow of a fluid from the inlet passage to the discharge passage;
a controller connected to the body and mounted to a top side of the body, wherein the controller has an actuator;
a linkage connecting the actuator to the choke piston, wherein the controller is configured to position the choke piston in the body using the actuator and the linkage comprises
a pivot arm, having a pivot point, connected to the controller such that the linkage is pivotable or rotatable about the pivot point of the pivot arm; and
a thrust tube in the actuator connected to an end of the linkage and movable from a first position to a second position by the actuator such that moving the thrust tube between the first and second positions pivots the linkage about the pivot point of the pivot arm,
wherein the pivot arm of the linkage comprises a first portion connecting the body and the controller and a second portion that is provided between the first portion of the pivot arm and the pivot point of the pivot arm and positioned at an angle relative to the first portion of the pivot arm.

Assignees

• Smith International

Inventors

• Easter Samuel Philip
• Burkhard Alan Wayne

Classifications

• E21B21/08 Primary

  Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure (valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10) · CPC title

• E21B21/106

  Valve arrangements outside the borehole, e.g. kelly valves (valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019) · CPC title

• E21B21/10

  Valve arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems · CPC title

• E21B41/00

  Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00 · CPC title

• F16K31/047 Primary

  characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means (F16K31/043 takes precedence) · CPC title