公开(公告)号：US10508513B2

公开(公告)日：2019-12-17

申请号：US15486221

申请日：2017-04-12

Applicant: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Inventor： Mircea Badescu ,  Stewart Sherrit ,  Xiaoqi Bao ,  Yoseph Bar-Cohen ,  Jeffery L. Hall

IPC: E21B34/14 ,  F16K1/12

Abstract: A valve that allows control of each of one or more flow paths using one actuator is presented. Rotary motion of a motor is transformed into linear motion using a roller screw mechanism. The travel of the roller screw nut is predefined between front and back hard stops that prevent the roller screw from rotating when the stops are reached. A poppet is attached to the nut using a flexible connection. The nut drives a sleeve with inclined surfaces that moves relative to a locking flexure. When the sleeve is driven, it deforms flanges of the locking flexure causing a cantilever end finger of the flexure to move radially and prevent the poppet from being pushed back. If the sleeve is moved farther, a groove on the sleeve engages notches on the fingers creating a detent that prevents the spring to push the sleeve back.

公开(公告)号：US09945207B2

公开(公告)日：2018-04-17

申请号：US14174575

申请日：2014-02-06

Applicant: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Inventor： Xiaoqi Bao ,  Mircea Badescu ,  Stewart Sherrit ,  Jeffery L. Hall ,  Yoseph Bar-Cohen

IPC: E21B34/10

CPC classification number: E21B34/10 ,  Y10T137/0368 ,  Y10T137/7738

Abstract: A flow control valve for use in oil well bore holes. 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 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.