Sealing device having high differential pressure opening capability

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9580992-B2
Application number	US-201414199288-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2014
Priority date	Mar 6, 2014
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A sealing device is used in a flow control apparatus, the sealing device including a static seal and a protective seal or fluid restriction. The protective seal is formed between two members formed from resilient materials being substantially resistant to wear or failure when exposed to large pressure differentials and associated jetting action. The static seal is formed using a sealing element that includes a material that is at least partially deformable, such as an elastomer or the like. The protective seal is engaged prior to engaging or disengaging the static seal in order to prevent damage to the deformable material of the static seal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sealing device for separating fluid volumes, comprising:
a housing having one or more openings therein;
a flow control element having one or more sealing elements arranged on the flow control element and movable with the flow control element, the flow control element being arranged within the housing with the one or more sealing elements arranged to contact the housing, the flow control element being configured to move relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position to selectively block fluid communication in the closed position between a first fluid volume exterior of the housing and a second fluid volume interior of the housing, and to selectively permit fluid communication in the open position between the first fluid volume and the second fluid volume via the one or more openings, the one or more sealing elements in contact with a first area of the housing in the closed position, the one or more sealing elements in contact with a second area of the housing in the open position, and the one or more openings in the housing disposed longitudinally between the first and second areas of the housing; and
a protective member arranged to engage the flow control element, the protective member restricting fluid communication between the first fluid volume and the second fluid volume when the protective member is engaged with the flow control element;
wherein, when the flow control element is moved between the closed position and the open position, the one or more sealing elements of the flow control element traverse the one or more openings in the housing and the protective member protects the one or more sealing elements from a differential pressure between the first volume and the second volume.

2. The sealing device of claim 1 , the flow control element having one or more ports therein.

3. The sealing device of claim 2 , wherein the protective member is arranged to obstruct the one or more ports when the protective member is engaged with the flow control element, the protective member is movable relative to the flow control element to selectively reveal the one or more ports, and the protective member is movable with the flow control element when the flow control element moves between the closed position and the open position.

4. The sealing device of claim 1 , the protective member further comprising a contact surface and the flow control element further comprising a seat, the contact surface arranged to contact the seat when the protective member is engaged with the flow control element.

5. The sealing device of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member arranged to bias the flow control element towards the protective member, and further comprising a positioning device operatively connected to the biasing member and configured to regulate movement of the flow control element, the positioning device comprising a guide track having a continuous path, extending at least partially circumferentially about the positioning device, and one or more guide pins arranged to follow in the continuous path of the guide track as the guide track and one or more guide pins translate longitudinally and rotate relative to one another.

6. The sealing device of claim 1 , wherein the protective member and the one or more sealing elements at least partially define an intermediate volume when the protective member is engaged with the flow control element, the intermediate volume being less than or equal to about 3 cubic inches.

7. The sealing device of claim 1 , the protective member being comprised of a metal, a ceramic, or a polymer.

8. The sealing device of claim 1 , wherein the position of the protective member or the position of the flow control element is hydraulically or mechanically controllable.

9. A flow control apparatus, comprising:
a housing having one or more openings therein;
a flow control element having a sealing element arranged thereon and movable with the flow control element, the flow control element being arranged within the housing and configured to move relative to the housing between a closed position, isolating a first fluid volume exterior of the housing from a second fluid volume interior of the housing, and an open position, permitting fluid communication between the first fluid volume and the second fluid volume, the sealing element arranged to contact a first area of the housing when the flow control element is in the closed position, the sealing element arranged to contact a second area of the housing when the flow control element is in the open position, and the one or more openings in the housing disposed longitudinally between the first and second areas of the housing; and,
a protective member arranged to engage the flow control element, the protective member restricting fluid communication between the first fluid volume and the second fluid volume when the protective member is engaged with the flow control element;
wherein, when the flow control element is moved between the closed position and the open position, the sealing element of the flow control element traverses the one or more openings in the housing and the protective member protects the sealing element from a differential pressure between the first volume and the second volume.

10. The flow control apparatus of claim 9 , the protective member further comprising a contact surface and the flow control element further comprising a seating surface, the contact surface arranged to contact the seating surface when the protective member is engaged with the flow control element.

11. The flow control apparatus of claim 9 , the flow control element having one or more ports therein.

12. The flow control apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the protective member is arranged to obstruct the one or more ports when the protective member is engaged with the flow control element, the protective member is movable relative to the flow control element to selectively reveal the one or more ports, and the protective member is movable with the flow control element when the flow control element moves between the closed position and the open position.

13. The flow control apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a positioning device configured to regulate the movement of the flow control element, the positioning device comprising a guide track having a continuous path, extending at least partially circumferentially about the positioning device, and one or more guide pins arranged to follow in the continuous path of the guide track as the guide track and one or more guide pins translate longitudinally and rotate relative to one another.

14. The flow control apparatus of claim 9 , the protective member and the flow control element being comprised of substantially non-deformable materials.

15. The flow control apparatus of claim 9 , wherein actuation of the protective member or the flow control element is hydraulically or mechanically controllable.

16. A method using the sealing device of claim 1 for controlling fluid communication between the first fluid volume and the second fluid volume, the method comprising:
forcibly engaging the flow control element with the protective member in opposition to a force exerted by a biasing member, thereby restricting fluid communication between the first fluid volume and the second fluid volume;
moving the flow control element and the protective member with respect to the housing, the one or more sealing elements of the flow control element traversing the one or more openings of the housing;
and
disengaging the protective member from the flow control element.

Assignees

• Stolboushkin Eugene
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Stolboushkin Eugene

Classifications

• E21B2200/06

  Sleeve valves · CPC title

• E21B23/006

  "J-slot" systems, i.e. lug and slot indexing mechanisms · CPC title

• F16J15/181

  for plastic packings · CPC title

• F16J15/164 Primary

  the sealing action depending on movements; pressure difference, temperature or presence of leaking fluid · CPC title

• E21B34/102

  with means for locking the closing element in open or closed position (E21B34/105 and E21B34/108 take precedence) · CPC title