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`J. R. BAKER ETAL
`SLEEVE VALVE APPARATUS
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`Sept. 18, 1962
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`Filed Aug. 3, 1959
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`SLEEVE VALVE APPARATUS
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`United States Patent Gthce
`3,054,415
`Patented Sept. 18, 1962
`
`1
`
`3,054,415
`SLEEVE VALVE APPARATUS
`John R. Baker, Pasadena, and Julian D. Keithahn, Ana-
`heim, Calif., assignors to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Los
`Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California
`Filed Aug. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 831,103
`13 Claims.
`(Cl. 137—68)
`
`The present invention relates to valve apparatus, and
`more particularly to valve apparatus adapted to be incor-
`porated in a tubular string lowered in a well -bore, to
`determine the flow of fluid between the interior of the
`tubular string and the annular space in the well bore
`surrounding it.
`An object of the invention is to provide a valve appa-
`ratus adapted to be incorporated in a tubular string to
`be lowered in a well bore and having ports controlled
`by an internal valve sleeve, the sleeve being mechanically
`shifted with respect
`to the ports and having an unob-
`structed -bore therethrough after the shifting has been
`effected.
`
`Another object of the invention is to provide a valve
`apparatus adapted to be incorporated in a tubular string
`to be lowered in a well bore and having ports controlled
`by an internal sleeve valve having an initial minimum
`diameter substantially less than the internal diameter of
`the tubular string,
`the sleeve valve -being mechanically
`shifted -with respect to the ports and its minimum diam-
`eter automatically increasing after its shifting has been
`efi’ected, to provide an unobstructed bore through the
`tubular string and valve apparatus.
`A further object of the invention is to provide a valve
`apparatus of the character above indicated in combina-
`tion with a valve sleeve shifting device that is readily
`removable from the location of the valve apparatus after
`it has shifted the valve sleeve.
`This invention possesses many other advantages, and
`has other objects which may be made more clearly
`apparent from a consideration of several forms in which
`it may be embodied. Such forms are shown in the draw-
`ings accompanying and forming part of the present specifi-
`cation. These forms will now ‘be described in detail for
`the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the
`invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed
`description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since
`the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended
`claims.
`Referring to the drawings:
`FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through a well
`casing illustrating the apparatus in combination with a
`well packer (disclosed diagrammatically);
`"FIGS. 2 and 2a together constitute a combined side
`elevational View and longitudinal section through the valve
`portion of the apparatus and the valve actuating device,
`the valve -being disclosed in open position, FIG. 2:: con-
`stituting a lower continuation of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus
`disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 2a after the valve sleeve shift-
`ing device has performed its operation;
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line
`4-4 on FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section
`through a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2a;
`FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section, with ‘parts shown in
`side elevation, through the valve apparatus with a modi-
`fied form of valve sleeve shifting device;
`FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section through still another
`form of the invention, with the valve in closed position;
`‘FIG. 8 is a view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7,
`with the valve in open position;
`FIG. 9 is a View of the apparatus shown in "FIGS.
`7 and 8, with the valve again in a closed position.
`
`.
`
`'
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
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`30
`
`35
`
`2
`As illustrated in the drawings, and particularly in FIG.
`1, a valve apparatus A may -be used in conjunction with
`another apparatus B in the well bore, such as a well
`packer which may have been previously anchored in
`packed-off condition in a well -casing C. The valve appa-
`ratus is lowered in the well casing by means of a tubular
`string D, such as a string of tubing extending to the top
`of the hole, and has a suitable tubing E secured thereto
`and depending therefrom which is adapted to extend
`through the bore 10 of the well packer. The tubing has
`suitable side seals 11 thereon sealing against the wall
`of the well packer, the seals being located appropriately
`in the well packer by engagement of a head 12 on the
`tubing with the upper end 13 of the well packer.
`The valve apparatus A includes an outer tubular hous-
`ing member 14 which may be made in several sections.
`Thus, a lower section 15 may have a threaded pin 16
`for threadedly attaching the lower portion of the housing
`to the tubing E depending therefrom, this lower housing
`section being threadedly attached to an upper housing
`section 17 having an upper threaded box 18 for threadedly
`securing the housing to the tubing string D, -which ex-
`tends through the well casing C to the top of the well
`‘bore. The lower housing section 15 has a plurality of
`circumferentially spaced side door openings or ports 19
`therethrough, preferably of comparatively large area, to
`-provide communication between the interior of the valve
`housing 14 and the tubing string D and the tubing-casing
`annulus 20 surrounding the housing and the tubing string.
`The side ports 19 extend through the housing member
`14 in a region where it has an enlarged bore 21 of an
`internal diameter substantially greater than the internal
`diameter through the tubing string D that extends to the
`top of the hole. The upper housing section 18 also
`has an enlarged bore 22 of an internal diameter that is
`greater than the internal diameter through the tubing
`string D thereabove. However, the internal diameter of
`this enlarged -bore 22 is substantially less than the internal
`diameter of the bore 21 in the lower housing member.
`In the region 23 of the ports 19, the lower housing mem-
`‘ber 15 may have a still greater internal diameter for a
`purpose that will be described hereinbelow. However,
`the lower housing member 15 below the ports 19 has an
`internal diameter 21a equal to the internal diameter of
`the enlarged bore 21 substantially above the -ports, there
`also being a transverse stop shoulder 24 in the lower
`housing member below the ports 19, which extends in an
`inward direction.
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`70
`
`they can be
`the ports 19 are open, but
`Initially,
`closed upon downward movement of a valve sleeve 25
`disposed in the housing member 14. This valve sleeve
`has an imperforate lower portion 26 of an internal di-
`ameter that is preferably no less than the internal diameter
`through the tubing string D.
`It carries a lower seal
`structure 27, of any suitable type, which may be sup-
`ported by a split snap ring 23 fitting within a companion
`groove 29 in the lower portion of the valve sleeve. There
`is also an upper seal ring structure 30 mounted on the
`valve sleeve and held in place by a split snap ring 32
`engaging the lower portion of the structure and received
`within a peripheral groove 33 in the valve sleeve portion
`26. A suitable spacer sleeve 34 is mounted on the valve
`sleeve 26 between the upper and lower seals 30, 27 to
`insure their retention in appropriate longitudinal spaced
`relation on the valve sleeve.
`Initially, the valve sleeve 25 is retained in its upper
`position above the side ports 19 by a releasable holding
`device in the form of one or more shear screws 35 ex-
`tending through the upper housing member 17 and thread-
`ed into the valve sleeve 25 above its upper seal 30. The
`upper portion 36 of the valve sleeve 25 is formed as a
`latching and seating device. Thus, a plurality of cir-
`
`4
`
`4
`
`

`
`3
`cumferentially spaced longitudinal slots 35a are provided
`in the upper portion 36 of the valve sleeve, opening
`through the upper end of the latter to provide latch arms
`37 that tend to spring inherently outwardly.
`Initially, the
`upper portions of these arms are constituted as outwardly
`extending latch fingers 38 which engage the inner wall 22
`of the upper housing member '17 to project the latch
`fingers and arms inwardly so that they form a seat 39 of_ 7
`an internal diameter substantially less than the internal
`10
`diameter of the tubing string D.
`'
`A suitable device S can engage the upper latch fingers
`38 of the valve sleeve 25 and exert a downward force
`on the valve sleeve to disrupt the shear screws 35, after
`which the valve sleeve moves downwardly to a position
`across the ports '19, as limited tby engagement of the
`lower end of the sleeve with the stop shoulder 24. At
`this time the lower seal 27 will be in sealing engagement .
`with the lower seat 21a below the ports and the upper
`seal 30 will remain in sealing engagement with the inner
`wall 21 of the enlarged bore. The relieved, portion 23
`of.the lowerhousing section in the region of the side
`ports 19. will insure against the lower seal -27 engaging
`the housing member and sliding across the edges of the
`ports '19 in moving toward its position of engagement
`with the lower seat 21a, thereby precluding mechanical
`damage to the rubber or rubber.-like material of which
`the lower seal 27 is made.
`,
`'
`When the valve sleeve 25 has been shifted to its lower-
`most position in engagement with the stop shoulder 24,
`the upper and lower seals 30, 27 will be disposed in
`sealing engagement with the housing member on oppo-
`site sides of the ports or door openings 19, to close the
`latter. When in this position, the latch fingers 38 will
`move below the lower end or shoulder 59 of the upper
`’ housing section 17 and can expand inherently outwardly
`into the enlarged bore 21 -of the lowerphousing section
`_15, at which time the minimum diameter through the
`latch arms 37 and latch fingers 38 willbe no less than
`the internal diameter through the tubing string D, leaving
`the bore through thevalve apparatus A unobstructed; so
`that any devices that can pass; down through the tubing
`string D can pass through the entirevalve structure as
`well. When disposed in theenlarged bore 21, the latch
`fingers 38 are engageable with the downwardly facing
`shoulder 50 provided by the lowerend of the upper hous-
`ing section 17, which will positively prevent upward shift-
`ing of the valve_sleeve,25 to port,opening—position.,
`‘
`The device S for. shearing, the screws 35 and for
`shifting the valve,sleeve,25 downwardly in the housing,
`shown in'FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, includes a mandrel 52
`consistingof several sections. The mandrel may include
`an upper section 53 on which an upper spacer sleeve 54
`is mounted, this spacer sleeve engaging a mandre1,shoul-
`der 55 on which athimble 56 rests, there -beingan up-
`wardly facing swab. cup 57, of, rubber or rubber-like ma-
`terial, surrounding the sleeve 54 and having an upper lip
`poI1ion.58 adapted to sealingly. engage the wall of the
`tubular string D. An upper sub 59 is threaded on the
`upper end of the upper mandrel section 53- and bears
`against the spacer sleeve 54 to clamp a shoulder 64} on
`the latter against the swab cup 57 and hold the latter
`against and within the thimble 56, which bears upon th
`shoulder 55.
`_
`V
`A‘ similar swab cup construction is mounted upon an
`intermediate mandrel section 61, the upper end of which
`is threadedly secured to the lower portion of the upper
`mandrel section 53. A lower spacer sleeve 62 surrounds
`the intermediate mandrel section, its lower end bearing
`against a mandrel shoulder 63 and its upper end bearing,
`against the lower end of the upper mandrel section 53,
`which also engages a thimble 64 that receives the upper,
`portion of an inverted downwardly facing swab cup 65,
`of rubber or rubber-like material, mounted on the spacer
`sleeve 62, the latter having a shoulder 66 holding the
`swab cup against and within the thimble 64. This swab
`
`3,054,415
`
`15
`
`20
`
`4
`r
`cup 65 has a lower lip portion 67 adapted to slidably
`and sealingly engage the wall of the tubing D.
`The intermediate mandrel section 61nis threadedly at-
`tached to the upper end of a lower mandrel section 68
`on which a hollow body 69 is mounted. This hollow
`body is secured to the lower mandrel section 68 by a
`connector sleeve 79 threaded on the upperportion of
`the body and having an inwardly directed flange 71 en-
`gaging ta mandrel flange 72; The body 69 has a plurality
`of slots or openings 73 therethrough slidably receiving
`latch blocks or drag blocks 74 urged outwardly by helical
`compression spring 75 received within sockets 76 in the
`’ blocks. The upper outer corners 77 of these blocks are
`tapered or beveled so that the blocks will ride past corners
`and coupling spaces; whereas, thelower ends 78 of the
`blocks project outwardly beyond the body 69 and are
`adapted to engage the upper ends 39 of the latch fingers
`33, when such fingers have been expanded into the
`sleeve 25 downwardly in the housing,14 to port closing
`enlarged housing recess 21, following shifting of the valve
`position.
`In the use of the apparatus heretofore described, the
`packer B has previously been installed at the desired
`location in the wellcasing C.; The valve apparatus A
`is secured to the lower end of the tubing string D and
`will have the tubing E attachedto and depending there-
`'from, the sleeve valve’ 25 being in its upper port opening
`position,
`in which it is retained by the shear screw or
`screws 35. The tubular string D is lowered in the well
`casing and the lower tubing E receiveclfwithin the packer
`passage 10, as determined by engagement of the head
`12 withrthe upper end 13 of the packer, at which time
`the tubing seals 11 engage the wall’ of the well packer
`and preventleakage of fluiditherearound. Circulation
`may now be established down through the tubing string
`D, a lighter fluid being pumped down the tubular string
`and usually displacing a heavier fluid ahead of it, forcing
`the heavier fluid out through the open side ports 19 and
`then upwardly through the tubing-casing annulus 20 to
`‘the top of the well bore, until the heavier fluid has been
`fully displaced from the hole. The shiftingapparatus
`S may now be inserted in the tubular string D, ‘its swab
`cups or packing members 57, 65 sealingly engaging the
`wall of the tubing string. Such shifting apparatus is
`pumped down through the tubing string. Since its latch
`blocks 74 have a length substantially greater than the
`usual coupling spaces found, inntubing strings D, they
`will merely slide past such coupling 'spaces.. The shift-
`ing apparatus S is pumped down through the tubing string
`until its lower body 69 engages—,th_e.inwardly extending
`latch fingers 33., The imposition of_ sufficient pressure
`on the shifting, device will now effect a shearing ofthe
`screws 35 and a downward shiftingof the valve sleeve 25
`to_its port closing position shown in FIG. 3, at which
`time the valve fingers 38 will have snappedoutwardly
`into the enlarged bore 21, [so that there are no restric-
`tions through thevalve sleeve 25.
`It is to be noted
`that the latch blocks 74 will have. expanded outwardly
`into the enlarged bore 21 in "the. upper housing section
`15 and will rest uponthe upper ends of the latch arms
`or fingers 38 so as to preclude. downward pumping of
`the shifting device S through the .valve sleeve 25.’
`The side ports 19,of the valve device .are—now closed,
`and, if _desired, theshifting device S—may be retrieved.
`_One manner of effecting such retrieval is merely to flow
`the_we1l, the wellproduction passing upwardly into the
`tublng ‘Eand acting upon the downwardly. facing swab
`cup or packing element 65 to force the shifting device
`S upwardly through the tubing string D.. The beveled
`upper ends 77 of .the. latch or drag blocks 74 enable the
`latter to shift inwardly. against the forceof their springs
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`70
`
`75, the blocks then slidinggalong the wall of’ the tubing
`string D,- until the entire device S isremoved ‘at thetop
`of the well bore.
`’
`’
`—
`
`If the shifting device 5 is not retrieved by flowing the
`
`75
`
`57,
`
`5
`
`

`
`3,054,415
`
`5
`well in the manner just described, then a suitable over-
`shot (not shown) can be lowered on a wire line (not
`shown)
`through the tubing string D for coupling with
`a retrieving head 80 formed on the upper sub 59. The
`line is thereby connected to the shifting device S. Ac-
`cordingly, elevation of the line will bring the shifting
`device upwardly through the well tubing D to the top of
`the Well bore.
`In lieu of shifting the valve sleeve 25 to port closing
`position by means of the shifting device S illustrated in
`FIGS. 2 to 4,
`inclusive, it can be shifted hydraulically
`through use of a ball valve element 31, such as disclosed
`in FIG. 6. This ball valve element has a diameter that
`may closely approximate the inside diameter of the tub-
`ing string D, but which diameter will be substantially
`greater than the minimum diameter across the latch
`fingers 38 when they are disposed in the position illus-
`trated in FIGS. 2:: and 6. The ball 81 can be pumped
`down the tubing string D, or will be allowed to gravitate
`therethrough, and will come to rest on the upper ends
`39 of the latch fingers. Hydraulic pressure can then be
`imparted to the fluid in the tubing string D above the
`ball, such pressure acting downwardly on the ball and
`the valve sleeve 25 to shear the screws 35. The ball and
`valve sleeve then move downwardly in the housing 14
`until the valve sleeve 25 Shifts across the port 19 and
`comes to rest upon the stop shoulder 24.
`‘When this
`occurs,
`the fingers 38 will be disposed in the enlarged
`bore 21 of the housing, and will snap outwardly into
`such enlarged bore,
`the eifective minimum diameter
`through the latch fingers then being greater than the
`diameter of the ball, allowing the ball to pass complete-
`ly through the sleeve 25 and the housing 14, and con-
`tinue on down through the tubing E extending through
`the Well packer B, to drop into the well bore therebe-
`low. Usually the ball 81 will drop to the bottom of
`the well bore,
`in which position it will not
`interfere
`with the normal operation of the apparatus in the well
`bore, and the securing of production from the well bore.
`If, however, it is not desired to have the element 81 in
`the well at all, then the—other shifting device S can be
`used and retrieved from the well tubing D.
`In the form of invention illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and
`9, the apparatus is run in the well bore with the valve
`in the closed position.
`It can be shifted to the open
`position, such as shown in FIG. 8, whenever desired,
`and after the operation in the well bore has been com-
`pleted it can be reshifted to the closed position, such as
`shown in FIG. 9. Following such reshifting,
`the bore
`through the apparatus is unobstructed.
`The apparatus shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 includes
`an outer tubular housing 14a made of a plurality of
`sections.
`It
`includes an upper section 17:: having a
`threaded box 18 for threadedly securing the housing to
`the lower end of the tubular string D. This upper sec-
`tion has a lower pin 85 threadedly attached to the upper
`threaded box 86 of a lower or intermediate housing sec-
`tion 15:2, the lower end of -which has a threaded box 87
`threadedly attached to the upper pin end 88 of a bot-
`tom section 89, which has a lower pin 94)
`threadedly
`securing it to the upper end of the tubing E depending
`therebelow. The lower housing section 15;: has an inner,
`enlarged bore 21:2 which is substantially greater than the
`inner diameter of the tubing string D. The upper and
`bottom sections 17a, 89 also have enlarged bores 91,
`92 adjacent to the enlarged bore 21:: of the intermediate
`section 15a, which are also of greater diameter than the
`inside diameter of the tubular string D, but of a lesser
`diameter than the internal diameter of the intermediate
`housing section.
`The intermediate housing section 1511 has a plurality
`of side door openings or ports 19a which are initially
`closed by a sleeve valve structure 25:; having a plurality
`of side door openings or ports 93 adapted to be placed
`in alignment with the housing ports 19a and out of align-
`
`5
`meat therewith. The sleeve valve structure 25a includes
`an intermediate sleeve 94 through which the ports 93
`extend. Above the ports 93 is mounted an upper set of
`an upper seal 95 and a lower seal 96 spaced from each
`other by a spacer sleeve 97. The upper seal 95 engages
`a shoulder 98 provided by the lower end of an upper
`latching and feeding device 99 constituting part of the
`sleeve valve structure 25:1 and threadedly attached to the
`upper end of the sleeve 94. A set of longitudinally
`spaced upper and lower seals 10!}, 101 is also mounted
`on the sleeve 94 below the ports 93. The lower seal 101
`of this set rests upon a snap ring 102 mounted on the
`sleeve 94, its upper end engaging a spacer sleeve 103
`which, in turn, engages the lower end of the upper seal
`1410, held in place by an upper snap ring 104 mounted
`on the sleeve 94. The lower seal 96 of the upper set is
`held in place -by a snap ring 105 mounted on the sleeve
`94 above the ports 93.
`Initially, the housing ports 19:; are closed by the up-
`ward positioning of the sleeve valve structure 25a within
`the housing 14a, with the upper and lower seals 100, 101
`of the lower set disposed on opposite sides of the ports
`19a and in sealing engagement with the inner wall of the
`housing, such as shown in FIG. 7. The sleeve valve
`structure is held in this position by the upper latching
`and sealing device 99, which has a plurality of circum-
`ferentially spaced longitudinal slots 106 formed therein
`and opening through its upper end to form a plurality of
`latch arms 107 terminating in outwardly directed latch
`fingers 198. These arms tend inherently to spring out-
`wardly and will lie against the inner wall of the upper
`housing section 85 with the latch fingers 108 disposed
`within an upper recess 109 in the upper housing section.
`The latch fingers 108 have lower tapered surfaces 110
`inclined in a downward and inward direction and bearing
`against a companion cam shoulder 111 forming the
`lower end of the recess 169. When the fingers 108 are
`disposed in the groove 109, the effective diameter through
`the latch arms 107 and fingers 108 is no less, and prefer-
`ably greater, than the inside diameter through the tubular
`string D thereabove, so as to present no obstruction to the
`passage of devices into the sleeve valve structure 25a.
`As described hereinbelow, the upper inner portion 112
`of the latch fingers 108 or arms 107 constitutes a valve
`seat or stop shoulder.
`The sleeve valve structure 25a also includes a lower
`latching and seating device 113 which may be integral
`with, or otherwise suitably secured, to the sleeve portion
`94 of the structure 25a that carries the sets of seal rings
`95, 96 and 100, 101. As shown, the lower device 113
`is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced
`longitudinal slots 114 forming longitudinally extending
`arms 115 that inherently tend to spring outwardly, these
`arms terminating in latch fingers 116, which, when the
`parts are in the positions disclosed in FIG. 7, will engage
`the inner -wall 92 of the bottom housing section 89 to
`project inner valve seat or stop portions 117 of the fingers
`116 in an inward direction, and thereby provide a valve
`seat 117 having a lesser diameter than the inside diam-
`eter through the tubular string D. As described herein-
`below, when the sleeve Valve structure 25a is shifted
`downwardly the latch fingers 116 can snap outwardly into
`a lower recess 118 in the bottom housing section 89 with
`the tapered ends 119 -on the latch fingers engaging a com-
`panion tapered cam shoulder 120 on the bottom section
`defining the lower end of the recess 118. The direction
`of taper is in an inward and downward direction, so as to
`tend to cam the fingers 116 inwardly, as described herein-
`below, whereupon the entire sleeve valve structure 25a
`can shift downwardly to the position disclosed in FIG. 9,
`in which the latch fingers 116 snap into an enlarged
`bore 121 in the bottom housing section and come to rest
`against a lower transverse stop shoulder 122 in the bot-
`tom housing section, which will then locate the upper set
`
`6
`
`10
`
`15
`
`30
`
`40
`
`60
`
`70
`
`75
`
`6
`
`

`
`3,054,415
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`_
`.
`.
`_
`'?
`.
`of seal rings 95, 96 on opposite sides of the ports 194
`or in a valve closing position.
`'
`—
`‘
`T In the use of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and
`9, it is run in the well conduit with the sleeve valve struc-
`ture—25a in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 7, in
`which the_ lower set of seals 100, 101 is disposed on -
`opposite sides of the housing ports 19a to close the same.
`This set of seals is releasably held in this position by the
`disposition of the upper latch fingers 108 outwardly in
`the upper recess 109. At this time, the lower latch fingers
`116 are engaging the wall __92 of the upper portion of the
`bottom housing section 89, to dispose the valve seat 117
`in an -inward position.
`. When the apparatus has been lowered to the desired
`position in the well conduit, as after the head 12 (FIG. 1)
`on the tubing E engagesthe upper end 13 of the well
`packer, a lower valve element 123, such as a trip ball,
`can be pumped down the tubing string D, or allowed
`_ to gravitate therethrough. This ball has a greater diam-
`eter than the_ efiective inside diameter through the lower
`fingers 116 when in their contracted position shown in
`FIG. 7, and will come to rest on the lower valve seat 117.
`Pressure cannow be built up in the tubular string D
`and the sleeve valve structure 25a. to shift the latter down-
`wardly, the upper camvshoulder 111 camming the latch
`‘fingers 108 inwardly, and allowing the sleeve valve struc-
`ture 25:1 to slide downwardly within the housing 14:1
`until the lower fingers 116 come opposite the lower recess
`118, whereupon the fingers llfirsnap outwardly into such
`"recess. The extent of expansion of the fingers 116' on the
`lower arms 115 is such that
`the minimum diameter
`through the fingers 116 is then greater than the diameter
`of the lower trip ball 123, which then drops through the
`Vfingers 116 and through the mbing E and packer B
`therebelow.
`_
`' When the lower fingers 116 have snapped into, the lower
`recess 118, the lower and upper sets of seals 100, 101
`and 95, 96 are disposed on opposite sides of the side ports
`19a, such as disclosed in FIG. 8, with the sleeveports 93
`"in alignment therewith._ At this time, the upper arms 107
`and fingers 108 have been forced inwardly of the upper
`«-housing section 17a by the inner wall 91 of the latter, to
`decrease the eflective diameter of the valve seat 112 to
`a substantially lesser value than the inside diameter
`through the tubular string D. Circulation may now be
`established down through the tubing string D, the circu-
`lating fluid being pumped down the tubing string D and
`displacing the fluid in the string ahead of it, forcing this ’
`fluid out through the sleeve ports 93 and housing ports
`19:1, and then upwardly through the tubing-casing an-
`nulus 20 to the top of the well bore.
`'
`_
`After the well bore’ has been conditioned, the sleeve
`valve structure 254 is shifted further downwardly to a
`port closing position by dropping an upper valve, element
`or trip ball 125 down through the tubular string D, which,
`as is true, of the lower ball valve element 123', has a
`diameter that may closely approximate the inside diam-
`eter of the tubular string D. The diameterof theptrip
`ball 125,ihowever, is greater than the eflective‘ restricted
`diameter of the upper valve seat 112. The upper—ball,,
`if it is pumped down the tubing string or allowed to V
`gravitate therethrough, will come to rest on the upper
`endsof valve seat 112 of the upper latch fingers 108,
`allowing hydraulic pressure to be built up in the fluid in
`the tubular string D above the ball 125, which will act
`downwardly thereon and also on the sleeve valve struc-
`ture 25:1 to cause the lower cam shoulder 120 to cam the
`lower latch fingers 116 inwardly of the bottom housing
`section 89 and release the sleeve valve structure. The
`entire structure 25a is then forced downwardly by the
`hydraulic fluid until the lower fingers 116 come to rest
`uponthe stop shoulder 122,’ these fingers 116 and the ,
`arms 115 of which they form a part expandingoutwardly
`so as to leave the lower sleeve valve structure 113 un-
`obstructed. vWhen—the,fingers I116 engage the shoulder
`122 the upper and lower seals 95, 96 of the upper set
`7
`
`will be disposed on opposite, sides of the housing ports
`19a (FIG. 9) to close the same. At this time the fingers
`108 of the upper latch and sealing device 99 will be dis-
`posed within, the enlarged bore of the intermediate
`housing section 15a, such fingers and their arms 107 snap-
`ping outwardly into such enlarged bore,
`in which the
`minimum effective diameter through the upper latch and
`sealing device 99 is greater than the diameter of the
`upper ball 125. This upper ball can, therefore, be forced
`downwardly, or will gravitate, through the sleeve valve
`structure 2542, passing freely through the lower latch and
`seating device 113, which is now in the expanded position
`shown in FIG. 9, and continuing on down through the
`tubing string E to the bottom of the well bore, where it
`will not interfere with the normal operation of the appa-
`ratus in the well bore.
`it is to be noted that both the upper and lower fingers
`103, 116 have expanded outwardly to an effective diam-
`eter that is no less than the inside diameter through the
`tubular string D. Accordingly, the valve is in a closed
`condition and the bore through the sleeve valve structure
`25a is unobstructed, permitting free passage of other
`apparatus through the valve structure, as well‘ as un-
`restricted flow of fluid therethrough.
`,
`_
`The inventors claim:
`_
`1. In a valve apparatus: a tubular housing adapted
`to be connected to a tubular stringto be disposed in a
`well bore, said housing having a side port; a sleeve shift-
`able in said housing between positions opening and clos-
`ing said port, said sleeve having a first portion adapted
`to be disposed across said port’ to close the same and an
`outwardly expansible second "portion projecting inwardly
`across the passage through said first portion; means secur-
`ing said sleeve to said housing with said sleeve in one of
`said positions and with said second portion projecting in-
`wardly, whereby said inwardly projecting second portion
`‘is adapted to be engaged by a companion device to re-
`lease said securing means and shift said sleeve relative
`to said port from said one position to a position in which
`said second portion expands laterally outwardly from its
`position across said passage.
`-
`'
`2. In a valve apparatus: a tubular housing adapted to
`be connected to a tubular string to be disposed in a well
`bore, said housing having a side port; a sleeve shiftable
`in said housing from a position opening said port to a
`position closing said port, said sleeve having a first por-
`tion adapted to be disposed across said port to close the
`same and an outwardly expansible second portion pro-
`jecting inwardly across the passage through said first por-
`tion; means securing said sleeve to said housing with
`said sleeve in port opening position and with said second
`portion projecting inwardly, whereby said inwardly pro-
`jecting second portion is adapted to be engaged by a
`companion device t