| US 7,537,062 B2 | ||
| Flapper valve and actuator | ||
| William James Hughes, Bixby, Okla. (US); and Richard W. Adams, Houston, Tex. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Sunstone Corporation, Oklahoma City, Okla. (US) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 14, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/464,389. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0035353 A1, Feb. 14, 2008 | ||
| Int. Cl. E21B 34/06 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 166—386 [166/332.8; 251/298] | 18 Claims |
| 1. An apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a flapper pivotally engaged to the housing; and
an actuator slidingly engaged in the housing and adapted to make initial contact with the flapper at a seat end;
a closed position of the flapper at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the housing adapted to prevent fluid from a lower
bore from entering an upper bore; and
a first end and a second end of the actuator, the second end terminating in a contact surface adapted to press against the
seat end of the flapper when the flapper is in the closed position so that a pressure differential between the upper bore
and the lower bore is reduced;
wherein the seat end is an area surrounding a point on a bottom surface of the flapper, that is furthest from a location of
pivotal engagement of the flapper and the housing, but not in contact with an inner wall of the housing.
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