Jeffery L Hall

US Patent:

20140224342, Aug 14, 2014

Filed:

Feb 6, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/174575

Inventors:

Xiaoqi Bao - San Gabriel CA, US
Mircea Badescu - La Canada Flintridge CA, US
Stewart Sherrit - La Crescenta, CA
Jeffery L. Hall - South Pasadena CA, US
Yoseph Bar-Cohen - Seal Beach CA, US

Assignee:

CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - PASADENA CA

International Classification:

E21B 34/06

US Classification:

137 10, 137469

Abstract:

A flow control valve for use in oil well bore holes is described. The flow control valve includes a plurality of flow paths connected in parallel. The flow control valve operates by successively opening different flow paths, starting with a flow path that requires a reduced force to operate its inlet valve. The flow rate through the flow control valve is conveniently controlled by opening and closing different ones of the plurality of flow paths individually or in combination. A flow path that allows fluid to flow at substantially the full flow rate of the valve is provided as one of the parallel paths. A simple mechanical design using poppet valves and at least one cam is described. The flow control valve provides advantages including digital control of the flow rate, low operating power requirements and abrasion resistance in the presence of particulates in the fluid.

US Patent:

20140110612, Apr 24, 2014

Filed:

Oct 24, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/062303

Inventors:

Xiaoqi Bao - San Gabriel CA, US
Stewart Sherrit - La Crescenta CA, US
Mircea Badescu - La Canada Flintridge CA, US
Yoseph Bar-Cohen - Seal Beach CA, US
Jeffery L. Hall - South Pasadena CA, US

Assignee:

CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

F16K 31/12

US Classification:

251 28

Abstract:

A hydraulic vale controller that uses an existing pressure differential as some or all of the power source for valve operation. In a high pressure environment, such as downhole in an oil or gas well, the pressure differential between the inside of a pipe and the outside of the pipe may be adequately large to drive a linear slide valve. The valve is operated hydraulically by a piston in a bore. When a higher pressure is applied to one end of the bore and a lower pressure to the other end, the piston moves in response to the pressure differential and drive a valve attached to it. If the pressure differential is too small to drive the piston at a sufficiently high speed, a pump is provided to generate a larger pressure differential to be applied. The apparatus is conveniently constructed using multiport valves, which can be rotary valves.