초록 ▼

A flapper valve assembly includes a frangible valve closure member which is supported by an elastomeric hinge. The frangible valve closure member is a tempered glass plate, and the hinge is a block of elastomer material which is secured to the glass plate by a molecular bond. In one embodiment, the

A flapper valve assembly includes a frangible valve closure member which is supported by an elastomeric hinge. The frangible valve closure member is a tempered glass plate, and the hinge is a block of elastomer material which is secured to the glass plate by a molecular bond. In one embodiment, the hinge includes an integrally formed elastomeric jacket which partially encapsulates the glass sealing element and is bonded thereto. In one arrangement, a fluid seal is provided by a resilient, elastomeric seal which is received within a valve pocket, and which is engaged directly by the glass plate. In another arrangement, an annular valve seat is formed in a valve housing sub, with the fluid seal being provided by the elastomeric jacket which is fitted about the glass closure plate.

대표청구항 ▼

A flapper valve assembly comprising, in combination: valve seat body means having a flow passage therethrough; a tubular valve housing sub coupled to said valve seat body means, said valve housing sub having a flow passage communicating with the flow passage of said valve seat body means and having

A flapper valve assembly comprising, in combination: valve seat body means having a flow passage therethrough; a tubular valve housing sub coupled to said valve seat body means, said valve housing sub having a flow passage communicating with the flow passage of said valve seat body means and having a valve chamber opening into said flow passage; a frangible valve closure plate rotatable from a valve open position in which said closure plate is disposed within said valve chamber to a valve closed position in which said closure plate extends transversely across said flow passage for preventing flow through flow passage when said closure plate is engaged against said valve seat body means in the valve closed position; a hinge of elastomeric material secured to said closure plate and coupling said closure plate to said valve seat body means; said elastomeric hinge having an anchor portion mounted on said valve seat body means, a shoulder portion attached to said valve closure plate, and a flexible shank portion connecting said shoulder plate to said anchor portion; and, said closure plate having a sidewall and said hinge including an elastomeric band secured around said sidewall. A gravel packing apparatus for treating a formation surrounding a perforated zone of a subterranean well casing comprising, in combination: a packer including a mandrel, anchoring and sealing means for securing said packer on said well casing and sealing therebetween; a tubular liner assembly attached to and depending from the packer mandrel and communicating with an outer tubular string, said outer tubular string being sealingly engaged with the packer mandrel, said liner assembly including a lower perforated portion through which fluid can flow from the annulus between the well casing and into the interior of the liner assembly and an upper ported portion through which fluid can flow between the well casing and the interior of the upper liner assembly, cross-over means disposed within said packer and liner assembly and coupled in communication with an inner tubular member extending through the outer tubular string to the top of the well, said cross-over means being adapted to prevent flow of fluid between the lower perforated portion and the annulus between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular string, and to selectively form separate fluid passages between the inner tubular member and the upper ported portion, a flapper valve assembly interposed in said liner in series fluid communication between said screen and said packer, said flapper valve assembly including a valve seat assembly having a bore therethrough, a valve chamber disposed about and opening into said bore, and a frangible valve closure plate rotatable about pivot means carried by said valve seat assembly within said valve chamber for preventing flow through said bore when said closure plate is engaged against said valve seat assembly, and a hinge of elastomeric material secured to said closure plate and coupling said closure plate to said pivot means, said elastomeric hinge including an anchor portion mounted on said valve seat assembly, a shoulder portion attached to said valve closure plate, and a flexible shank portion connecting said shoulder portion to said anchor portion, said shank portion including first and second side surfaces and a V notch partially intersecting said shank portion through the first side surface thereof, and having a plurality of slice perforations partially intersecting said shank portion at spaced locations through the second side surface thereof.