Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
s~
AUTOMAT:rC FILLING ~LoA~rING E~UIPMENT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved automatic self-
~illing mechanism for floating equipment used in well
cementing operations. A number of different types of checX
valves are used in floating equipment employ~d in the
cementing of casing in oil and gas wells. It is normally
desired to maintain the check valves open in the floating
equipment installed in the ca ing string being run into the
well bore so that the casing can automatically fill with well
fluids in the well bore from the bottom of the casing string.
This results in a saving of time in comparison to manually
filling the casing string from the surface as it is being run
into the well bore.
One type of currently available self-filling floating
equipment design uses some type of sacrificial mechanical part
for maintaining the check valve in an initially open position,
such as shear plates, shear pins, extrusion rings, tension
collars or the like. Examples of such self-filling floating
equipment are shown in United States Patent Nos. 2802482,
33~5370, 3419040, and 3776250.
Another type o~ s~lf-~illlng ~loating equipment de~ign
uses and indexiny mechanism to maintain the check valve in an
initially open position. An example o~ such an indexing type
mechanism is shown in United States Patent Nos. 3957114 and
4067358.
In a different type of floating equipment design as shown
in United States Patent No. 4,712,619 it is desirable to have
an automatic self-filling mechanism. One manner to accomplish
the automatic self-filling feature is to include elastomeric
strap having lugs thereon to the bottom of the valve member to
use the lugs on the strap to initially hold the valve member
open.
BRIEF STATEMENT_OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved automatic
self-filling mechanism for floating equipment used in well
cementing operations. The automatic self-filling mechanism
for floating equipment of the present invention comprises the
use of an arm and ear adapter arrangement associated with the
valve poppet of the floating equipment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the prior art
floating equipment insert having a strap and lug automatic
sel~-filling feature.
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a Eirst embodiment of
the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a cros~3-sectional view o~ a second embodiment
of the present :lnventlon.
The features of the present invention will be more ~ully
understood when taken in conjunction with the detailed
description of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Fig. 1, the prior art insert assembly 10 is
shown for floating equipment as described in United States
Patent No. 4712619. Also shown with the insert assembly 10 is
2 ~ 7 ~
a prior art automatic self-filling attachment 12 for khe
insert assembly lo.
The self-filling attachment 12 comprises an elaskomeric
strap having a pair of standoff lugs 14 formed on the ends
thereof. The attachment 12 is secured to the bottom of the
poppet valve 16 of the insert assembly 10 by means of adhesive
bonding.
Af~er secu~ing the attachment 12 to the poppet valve 16,
the poppet valve 16 is opened, the lugs 14 inserted between
the valve 16 and valve seat 18, and the valve 16 is released
so that the lugs 14 are trapped between the valve 16 and valve
seat 18. In this manner, when a piece of floating equipment
having the insert assembly 10 and attachment 12 thereon is
installed in a casing string run into a well bore, since the
poppet valve 16 is open, the casing string will automatically
fill with fluids from the well hore as it is run thereinto.
To remove the lugs 14 from bet~een the poppet valve 16 and
valve seat 18 large volumes of ~luid are pumped through the
insert assembly 10 to torce the poppet valve 16 open thereby
releasing the luys 1~ to fall downwardly.
Referring to Fig. 2, the automatic self-filling mechanism
20 of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown
installed on a piece of floating equipment 22.
The floating equipment 22 comprises a poppet valve
assembly 24, short casing section or collar 26, and a cement
filler material 28 which retains the poppet valve assembly 24
in the collar 26.,
~ ~7 ~
The poppet valve assembly 24 comprises a tubular valve
body 30, valve poppet 32, stem bolt 34, valve spring 36, and
valve spring retainer cap 38. The valve poppet 32 has an
elastomeric covering 40 thereon to seal against a portion of
the valve body 30. The valve support 32 is formed having a
plurality of lugs 42 on the bottom thereof.
The automatic self-filling mechanism shown in Fig. 2
comprises an adapter 44, plurality of valve poppet ears 46
secured to the bottom of the valve poppet 32, and a plurality
of auto-fill arms 48 secured to the adapter 44 at lugs 50
thereon by means of pins 52.
The valve poppet ears 46 may be integrally formed on the
valve poppet 32 or may be separately formed and secured to the
bottom of ~he valve poppet 32 by any suitable means, such as
adhesive bonding.
The adapter 44 is secured to the valve body 30 and cement
28 ts retain the adapter 44 in position on the body 30.
Each auto-fill arm 48 is formed having a hole 54 through
one end there.in and haviny a recess 56 in the other erld
thereof, in which, porti.on 58 of an ear ~6 may be receivecl
ther~in.
Referring to Fig. 3, the automatic self filling mechanism
120 of a second embodiment of the present invention is shown
installed on a piece of floating equipment 122.
The floating equipment 122 comprises a poppet valve
assembly 124, short casing section or collar 126, and a cement
filler material 128 which retains the poppet valve assembly
'
7, ¦.
124 in the collar 126.
The poppet valve assembly 124 comprises a kubular valve
body 130, valve poppet 132, stem bolt 134, valve spring 136,
and valve spring retainer cap 1380 The valve poppet 132 has
an elastomeric covering 140 thereon to 5eal against a portion
of the valve body 130. The valve support 132 is formed having
a plurality of lugs 142 on the bottom thereof.
The automatic self-filling mechanism shown in Fig. 3
comprises an elastomeric adapter 144, a plurality of valve
poppet ears 146 secured to the bottom of the valve poppet 132
and a plurality of auto-fill arms 148 secured to the adapter
144.
The adapter 144 is secured to the valve body 130 and
cement to retain the adapter 144 in position on the ~ody 130.
Each auto-fill arm 148 is formed having one end thereof
secured to the adapter 144 and having at least one recess 150
in the other end thereof, in which, a portion 152 of an ear
146 may be received kherein.
OPERATION OF THE INVENTION
Re~erring to Fig. 2, th~ automat.ic sel~-gilliny mechanism
20 is installecl in a piece o~ floatiny equipment 22, a float
collar. When the equipment 22 is installed in a string o~
casing (not shown), the valve poppet 32 will be held open by
the auto-fill arms 48 engaging the poppet ears 46 on the valve
poppet 32.
Since the valve poppet 32 is in the open position, as the
string of casing is run into the well, fluid may flow through
the piece of floating equipment 22 to fill the casiny. When
it is desired to close the valve poppet 32, fluid is pumped
downwardly through the poppet valve assembly 24 of the
floating equipment 22 at a rate sufficient to cause the valve
poppet 32 to be forced open until the auto-fill arms 48 no
longer engage the poppet ears 46 on the valve poppet 32. When
pumping of the fluid ceases, the valve poppet 32 will close
and seat on the valve body 30.
The operation of the automatic self-filling mechanism 120
shown in Fig. 3 is the same as that described with respect to
Fig. 2 and the automa-tic self-filling mechanism 20.
