Selector valve for use in completion operations

Abstract

A ball-type selector valve is rotatably supported in a housing, for rotation therein between an open position, aligning a flow passage in the ball valve with a bore of the housing, to direct the flow of fluid therethrough and a closed position, wherein the flow passage is misaligned with the housing bore, for blocking the flow of fluid therethrough. The ball is rotated by a rack and pinion system. The ball is rotated about the pinion to align and misalign the flow passage with the bore when the rack is moved axially with an upper portion of the housing to which it is connected.

The embodiments in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A selector valve for selectively directing a flow of fluid through a bore of a tool or blocking the flow therethrough comprising;
 a tubular housing having a bore therethrough;   a ball valve located in the housing bore and having an axial fluid passage therethrough; and   a rack and pinion system connected between the housing and the ball valve wherein
 when the rack is moved relative to the pinion in a first axial direction, the ball is rotated to align the fluid passage with the housing bore in an open position; and 
 when the rack is moved relative to the pinion in a second axial direction, the ball is rotated to misalign the fluid passage with the housing bore in a closed position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The selector valve of  claim 1  wherein the housing is a two-part telescoping housing comprising:
 an axially moveable upper portion operatively connected to the rack for moving the rack between the first and second axial positions; and 
 a lower stationary portion for rotatably supporting the pinion. 
 
     
     
         3 . The selector valve of  claim 2  wherein
 the rack is mounted to the upper portion of the housing and is axially movably therewith; and 
 the pinion is rotatably supported in the lower housing and connected to the ball valve for rotation of the ball valve therewith. 
 
     
     
         4 . The selector valve of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a tubular sleeve supported in an upper portion of the housing bore; 
 seals supported in a distal end of the sleeve; and 
 a spring housed between the upper portion of the housing and the sleeve for biasing the sleeve and seals against the ball valve when the upper housing is moved axially away from the ball valve. 
 
     
     
         5 . The selector valve of  claim 3  further comprising:
 upper and lower spaced apart shoulders on the housing's lower portion; and 
 an upper shoulder, formed on the housing's upper portion and spaced uphole from a distal end thereof, 
 wherein when the upper housing is moved away from the ball valve, the upper shoulder on the lower portion of the housing engages the upper shoulder on the upper portion of the housing for delimiting movement thereof; and 
 when the upper housing is moved toward from the ball valve, the lower shoulder on the lower portion of the housing engages the distal end of the upper portion of the housing for delimiting movement thereof. 
 
     
     
         6 . The selector valve of  claim 5  wherein moving the upper housing toward the ball valve is the first axial direction and moving the upper housing away from the ball valve is the second axial direction. 
     
     
         7 . The selector valve of  claim 5  wherein rotation of the ball valve between the open position and the closed position is delimited to about 90 degrees.