WO2003072906A1

WO2003072906A1 - Actuator for closing a safety valve and safety assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2003072906A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/000464
Authority: WO
Inventors: François Millet; Clément MUSARD
Original assignee: Geoservices
Priority date: 2002-02-06
Filing date: 2002-02-06
Publication date: 2003-09-04
Also published as: AU2002234739A1; NO20034435D0; AR038396A1; BR0208803A; NO20034435L

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuator that is used to trigger the closing of a safety valve (9) which is mounted in a subsoil exploitation pipe (2) to be inserted in a hole in the subsoil. According to the invention, the actuator comprises means of triggering the closing of the safety valve (9) which are housed in the chamber (17) of a case (16), sealing means (39) being provided in the chamber (17) of the actuator case (16) in order to seal the chamber in relation to an opening (34) in said actuator case (16).

Description

Closing actuator creates a safety valve and safety assembly.

The invention relates to an actuator for triggering the closure of a safety valve mounted in a basement operating conduit. The invention also relates to a security assembly for a basement operating conduit. Such a basement operating duct must be introduced into a hole made in said basement.

One field of application of the invention relates to oil production wells and any eruptive well into which a conduit is introduced for withdrawing hydrocarbons present in the subsoil. In the event of an alarm or danger or when you simply wish to stop the passage of the fluid in the conduit, the safety valve is closed which then closes, in the closed position, the conduit and prevents the ascent of fluid in the conduit, downstream of said valve.

To this end, means are provided for triggering the closing of the safety valve, comprising a part for receiving the opening hold signal, an actuating part and conversion means for maintaining the actuating part in a first longitudinal position for the passage of fluid, when the receiving part receives the opening hold signal, and for passing the actuating part into a second longitudinal position for triggering closure, when the receiving part does not receive the opening hold signal. Such an actuator is known, in which the actuating part acts via tube sections on the closing valve. These tube sections are slidably mounted against the inner wall of the basement operating duct. One end of these sections of tube is pressed against the safety valve to retract it against the wall of the basement operating duct, when the actuating part is in the first longitudinal position, to let the fluid pass in the tube sections, the fluid then also passing through the valve closing release means. When the actuating part passes into the second closed position, the section of tube previously pressed against the valve is moved longitudinally relative to the basement operating duct so that it is no longer pressed against the valve and allows a spring to move the valve from the retracted position to the closed position of the basement operating duct. This actuator has many disadvantages. The valve closure release means are obligatorily crossed by the fluid taken from the basement, when the valve is open. This results in pollution of the means for triggering the closure of the actuator by the fluid present in the basement. Since the fluid present in the subsoil may contain liquid or viscous materials as well as solid particles entrained in the flow of fluid, there is a great risk that the fluid extracted from the subsoil will wedge the different parts of it these closing release means. The closing of the safety valve may be triggered inadvertently, while the keep open signal is still received, or, more seriously, the closing of the safety valve may not be triggered by the sections of tubes, when precisely this closing is desired and that no signal to maintain opening is no longer applied for this purpose, which may harm the entire installation for operating the fluid and in particular the storage means of the fluid reassembled and to personnel at the surface. In addition, the above-mentioned actuator can only operate for a specific type of underground operating duct and control interfaces, given that the tube sections used to trigger the closing of the safety valve cooperate with the inner wall of this underground mining conduit. Thus, this actuator cannot be used with another basement operating conduit having a diameter greater or less than the diameter of the underground operating conduit for which it was designed, or having an interface different order.

An object of the invention is to provide an actuator for triggering the closing of a safety valve having better reliability when the safety valve is closed as well as when the safety valve is opened and when it is closed. reopening.

Another object of the invention is to provide an actuator for triggering the closing of a safety safety valve which can be used for several types of underground mining conduits. A third objective of the invention is to provide an actuator for triggering the closing of a safety valve which is of lower cost.

A fourth objective of the invention is to obtain an actuator which is easy to install in the production column of the well.

To this end, the invention relates to a trigger actuator for closing of a safety valve mounted in a basement operating duct to be introduced into a hole made in said basement, the actuator comprising means for triggering the closing of the safety valve, which comprise a part for receiving the closing signal and electrical control of electromechanical conversion means, a mechanical actuation part, the electromechanical conversion means being provided for maintaining the actuation part in a first longitudinal position, when the reception part receives an opening hold signal, and for passing the actuating part from the first longitudinal position to a second longitudinal position for triggering the closing of the safety valve in a direction of longitudinal movement, when the receiving part is not receiving no signal to maintain opening, the means for triggering closure of the valve e safety being housed in a chamber of an actuator housing, the actuator housing being intended to be disposed in the basement operating duct, sealing means being provided in the chamber of the housing actuator for sealing it with respect to an opening of the actuator housing, the opening of the actuator housing being remote from the housing chamber in a longitudinal direction opposite to the direction of longitudinal movement of the actuating part going from the first position to the second closed position, the sealing means and the opening of the actuator housing having a passage allowing the longitudinal sliding of a longitudinal actuating pin of the safety valve, comprising a part retained in the chamber, connecting means being provided in the chamber of the actuator housing to connect the movement of the actuating part from the first long position itudinal to the second longitudinal closing release position to a longitudinal movement of the spindle allowing the closing of the safety valve, via the part of the spindle retained in the chamber. Thanks to the invention, the means for triggering the closing of the safety valve are isolated from the flow of fluid present in the basement operating duct, which reduces the danger of an unwanted closing triggering of _. the safety valve, and especially the danger of an unwanted absence of triggering of closing of the safety valve and increases the reliability of the actuator. In addition, the actuator housing can be constructed with a minimum external space requirement, allowing fluid to pass through, so that it can be mounted in any basement operating conduit having a diameter greater than this minimum space requirement. . This avoids having to adapt the actuator to each type of underground operating duct, which makes the actuator more modular and reduces the costs associated with the actuators.

According to various embodiments of the invention:

- The part of the spindle, retained in the chamber, comprises a transverse shoulder and the connecting means comprise a longitudinal intermediate part, a first end part of which is integral with the actuation part and whose second end part, distant from the first extreme part, comprises a transverse shoulder, engaging behind the transverse shoulder of the spindle in the direction of movement from the first longitudinal position to the second longitudinal position for triggering closure;

- The longitudinal intermediate piece is tubular and has at its second end part an internal transverse rim forming a complementary transverse shoulder and surrounding the longitudinal pin, behind the transverse shoulder of said pin; the longitudinal spindle is mounted movable longitudinally with respect to the intermediate piece, first means for prestressing the transverse shoulder of the longitudinal spindle towards the transverse shoulder complementary to the intermediate piece being provided, the conversion means being able to maintain the actuating part in the first longitudinal position meeting the first prestressing means, the first prestressing means being capable of allowing the longitudinal spindle to slide relative to the intermediate piece, when the safety valve passes into the closed position and when the actuation part is controlled by the conversion means to move from the second position to the first position; - The first prestressing means are formed by a compression spring;

- The compression spring is housed in the tubular intermediate piece, between the actuating part and the transverse shoulder of the longitudinal spindle; the conversion means comprise a second means for prestressing the actuating part from the first position to the second longitudinal position for closing the safety valve, acting between the actuating part and a fixed internal stop located in the actuator housing chamber;

- The second prestressing means is formed by a compression spring;

- The intermediate piece surrounds the actuating part and means for longitudinally guiding the intermediate piece relative to the actuator housing are provided;

- The second prestressing means is housed in the room around the intermediate piece;

the opening of the actuator housing is provided on an end piece, at a distance from the sealing means, in the longitudinal direction opposite to the direction of longitudinal movement of the actuating part going from the first position to the second closed position;

- The sealing means are slidably mounted longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal spindle and to the actuator housing;

- The chamber of the housing contains an operating fluid of the means for triggering the closing of the safety valve;

- the operating fluid contains lubricating oil. According to other characteristics of the invention:

- The conversion means comprise reverse passage means for passing the actuating part from the second closing release position to the first position, when the receiving part receives an opening signal;

the reverse passage means comprise an electric motor, the stator of which is fixed inside the housing and the rotor of which is connected to a threaded longitudinal rod cooperating, reversibly, with a nut connected to means for longitudinally pushing the actuation part from the second closing release position to the first position, means being provided to cause the motor to rotate the rotor in the direction determined until the first position of the actuation part when the part of reception receives an opening signal, means being provided for locking the nut in rotation by relative to the stator of the motor when passing from the second closing release position to the first position;

the locking means comprise a jacket for the longitudinal guide of the nut and means for immobilizing the jacket with respect to the stator of the motor during the rotation of the rotor in the determined direction and in the first position of the actuating part;

- The guide sleeve includes a longitudinal guide groove of a finger integral with the nut;

the means for immobilizing the guide jacket comprise an electrical coil housed in an immobilization support for attracting an additional attraction piece secured to the guide jacket, supply means being provided for supplying electrical energy d attraction of said complementary attraction part the winding during the rotation of the rotor in the determined direction and in the first position of the actuating part; the reverse passage means comprise means for authorizing the rotation of the rotor in the determined direction and preventing rotation of the rotor in the opposite direction to the determined direction;

- Said means for authorizing the rotation of the rotor comprise a free wheel; - Said means for authorizing the rotation of the rotor comprise at least one pawl cooperating with a toothed wheel secured to the rotor;

- The pushing means comprise a housing tube for the threaded longitudinal rod closed at its end remote from the nut, an intermediate member being inserted between said end of the housing tube and the actuating part to allow rotation of said tube. housing relative to the actuating part;

- Said intermediate member is formed by a grain of a toad;

- The conversion means comprise means for unlocking the guide jacket relative to the stator of the motor to pass the actuating part from the first longitudinal position to the second longitudinal position for triggering closure by means of the nut and thrust means;

the unlocking means comprise means for controlling the winding supply cut-off; - The safety valve comprises a shutter shutter of the conduit, constrained by means of constraint of safety valve, to pass in, position of shutter of the conduit, the spindle is secured, outside the housing, of a stop piece against the flap of the safety valve against said safety valve constraint means, for passing the safety valve from the open position of the conduit to the closed position when the actuating part passes from the first longitudinal position to the second longitudinal closing release position;

- The stopper part is formed of a sleeve comprising a first part for fixing to the spindle and a second part for applying against the flap, the first part for fixing and the second part for applying being fitted one to the other. 'other by complementarity of form.

- Means are provided on the closing release actuator to allow the actuator to be withdrawn from the basement operating duct, when the safety valve is closed.

The invention also relates to a safety assembly for a basement operating duct to be introduced into a hole made in said basement, comprising a safety valve associated with an actuator for triggering the closing of said safety valve, said safety valve and said actuator for triggering the closing thereof being mounted in a secondary conduit intended to be introduced into the basement operating conduit and allowing the passage of underground fluid in the secondary conduit when the safety valve is open.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings, given solely by way of nonlimiting example and in which:

- Figures 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E schematically represent the actuator according to the invention in a first position for maintaining a safety valve in an open position, according to different mounting possibilities in an underground hole;

- Figure 2 shows schematically in longitudinal section enlarged relative to Figure 1, the actuator according to the invention in the first position for maintaining a safety valve in an open position;

- Figure 3 shows schematically in cross section the actuator according to FIG. 2, on the same scale as the latter, in a position causing the closing of the safety valve;

- Figure 4 shows schematically in longitudinal section the actuator according to Figure 2 and 3, on the same scale as these, in a closed position of the safety valve and reset to be able to pass the safety valve later from the closed position to an open position, after pressure equalization on either side of the safety valve; and

- Figure 5 shows schematically in cross section a stop piece against the safety valve, provided in the actuator according to the invention.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the actuator 1 according to the invention is mounted in a basement operating duct 2 extending in a general direction 3 longitudinally in the casing 4b of a hole 4 formed in a sub- soil 5. Direction 3 is a general direction of continuity of the conduit 2. The conduit 2 is intended to let pass a flow of fluid present in the basement 5, such as hydrocarbons for a hole 4 formed by a wellbore in oil slicks present in the basement 5, the conduit 2 having for this purpose one or more orifices 6 for communication between the exterior of the conduit 2, facing the hole 4 of the basement 5 and the interior 7 of the duct 2. The duct 2 is intended to take off gaseous and / or liquid fluid present in the basement 5, in a longitudinal direction 8 of closure and ascent towards the ground surface. Means 4c are provided between the conduit 2 and the casing 4b to prevent fluid from passing between them. In the variant shown in FIG. 1C, the actuator 1 is fixed inside a secondary duct 2b fixed in a fluid-tight manner in the duct 2 by means of sealing means 4d provided between them ci, downstream of the valve 9 in the direction 8, the secondary conduit 2b being able to terminate upstream of the valve 9 in the direction 8.

A safety valve 9 is mounted in the wall of the duct 2 in FIGS. 1A and 1B and in the wall of the secondary duct 2b in FIG. 1C. The safety valve 9 may for example be a rotary ball valve comprising a through passage which can be placed in a closed position for closing the valve and in a position for free passage of fluid for opening the valve, the ball can be controlled to pass between one and the other of its shutter and non-shutter positions by rotation caused by means of rotation control. The actuator is described in the following with reference to FIG. 1A; of course, the description which follows applies as well to FIG. 1B as to FIG. 1C.

In the figures, the safety valve 9 is a safety valve 9 comprising a shutter 10 for closing the conduit 2 connected by a pivoting hinge 11 to the wall 12 of the conduit 2. The safety valve 9 is located downstream of the orifice 6 in the longitudinal direction 8. A spiral torsion spring 13 is mounted around the hinge 11 and is fixed by a first end 14 in the wall 12 of the duct 2 and by a second end 15 in the shutter 10. The spring 13 is mounted so as to force the flap 10 to pass from the retracted position shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which the flap 10 is located along the wall 12, is housed in a seat 12b provided in the wall 12 and allows passage the fluids in the conduit 2, in a closed position shown in Figures 3 and 4, in which the flap 10 extends transversely in the cross section of the conduit 2, for example perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 3, for emp prevent fluid from passing downstream of the valve 9 in the longitudinal direction 8. Thus, in this closed position, the fluid entering through the orifice 6 can no longer pass downstream of the valve 9 in the direction 8.

The actuator 1 is mounted in the duct 2 or 2b downstream of the safety valve 9 in the longitudinal direction 8. The actuator 1 comprises a housing 16 of oblong actuator in the longitudinal direction 3 and comprising on its outer surface means 16a for fixing to the wall 12 of the conduit 2 or 2b, for example by wedging in the conduit 2 or 2b. The housing 16 is of generally circular cylindrical shape with a cross section smaller than the internal cross section of the conduit 2 so as to allow fluid to pass around the housing 16 and the actuator 1. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1D and 1 E, the housing 16 comprises as means 16a on its outer wall one or more compressible projections 2d provided on a part of its circumference to be received in a circular inner groove 2c of the wall 12 of the conduit 2 or of the secondary conduit 2b, the groove and the projection (s) having longitudinally complementary shapes and allowing the passage of fluid in the conduit around the projection (s).

The housing 16 is hollow and has an interior chamber 17 made impervious to fluids external to the housing 16. The interior chamber 17 of the housing 16 is filled with a known medium, different from the fluid present in the pipe 2, not very compressible and allowing the operation of the parts contained therein, for example lubricating oil. To this end, the housing 16 has an opening 161 for filling the operating fluid of the chamber 1 and subsequently blocked by any suitable means.

The housing 16 comprises a first end portion 16b, intended to be turned towards the safety valve 9, a second end portion 16c, more distant from the safety valve 9 than the first end portion 16b, and a central outer wall 16d to which are connected the first end portion 16b and the second end portion 16c in a sealed manner to the external fluid and to the operating fluid. The opening 161 is for example located in the second extreme part 16c. The chamber 17 is delimited with respect to the outside by the first end part 16b, the second end part 16c and the central wall 16d. The second end portion 16c is for example integral with a part 16e for attaching a tool, not shown, for removing the actuator 1 from the conduit. The attachment part 16e is for example in the form of a point directed in the direction 8 and comprising a rear shoulder 16f intended to be clamped by the removal tool.

The elements included in chamber 17 will be described below. Means 18 for triggering the closing of the safety valve 9 are housed in the chamber 17 of the actuator housing 16. These trigger means 18 successively comprise in the longitudinal opening direction 9b, going from the closed position to the open position, also going from the second end part 16c to the first end part 16b and reverse from the longitudinal direction 8 of closure, a part 19 for receiving the opening hold signal, fixed inside the housing 16, conversion means 20, which will be described below, and a part 21 for actuation, guided in the longitudinal direction 3 in room 17.

The actuating part 21 is for example in the form of a longitudinal bar comprising a base 22 connected, in the longitudinal direction 9b, to a longitudinal section 23 of cross section smaller than that of the base 22 and thus defining a shoulder 24 turned in direction 9b towards the safety valve 9. The receiving part 19 is for example in the form of a receiver of electromagnetic signals emitted from the surface of the ground by a transmitter, a link being established between the transmitter and the receiver.

The receiving part 19 is connected to the conversion means 20 and electrically controls these. The conversion means 20 are arranged to maintain in the chamber 17 the actuating part 21 in a first longitudinal position 25 advanced in the opening direction 9b, when the receiving part 19 receives an opening maintenance signal. When the receiving part 19 no longer receives an opening hold signal, the conversion means 20 no longer maintain the actuating part 21 in the first position 25. The conversion means 20 are of the electromechanical type, converting the signals received or the absence of signals received from the receiving part 19 at a position of the actuating part 21. For example, the reception of a closing signal or the non-reception of an opening maintenance signal by the reception part 19 is converted into a safety valve closing signal for the conversion means. The reception of the opening maintenance signal or the non-reception of the closing signal by the reception part 19 is converted into a safety valve opening signal for the conversion means.

The conversion means 20 comprise an electric motor 201 housed in the chamber 17 near the receiving part 19 and electrically connected to the latter by a sealed bushing 202. The motor 201 is for example formed by a geared motor and will be referred to below - generally after by engine. The sealed passage also allows the passage of electric wires supplying the motor 201 from the outside of the actuator, for example by a battery not shown. A passage is provided in the motor 201 for the electrical wires and for the operating fluid in the rest of the chamber 17.

The stator of the motor 201 is fixed inside the housing 16, while its central rotor 203 extends longitudinally towards the actuating part 21 and is integral with a circular cylindrical longitudinal rod 204 comprising, successively in direction 9b , a part 205 of non-threaded rod and a part 206 of threaded rod.

) A nut 207 cooperates with the part 206 of threaded rod. The nut connection

207 / part of threaded rod 206 is reversible. Means are provided for locking the nut 207 in rotation relative to the stator of the motor 201 when passing from the second position 32 for triggering closure to the first position 25. The nut 207 is externally integral with a ring 208 comprising an external guide finger 209 in a longitudinal groove 210 complementary provided in a tubular guide sleeve 211, movable in rotation in the housing 16, allowing the longitudinal sliding of the ring 208 in the sleeve 211 and preventing rotation of the ring 208 relative to the sleeve 211.

Means are provided for immobilizing the jacket 211 relative to the stator of the motor 201 during the rotation of the rotor 203 in the determined direction S1. The sleeve 211 is integral with a piece 212 of attraction towards the stator of the motor for its immobilization relative to the latter. The attraction piece 212 is for example formed by a bottom 212 of the jacket 211, metallic in the form of a washer transverse to direction 3, near the non-threaded part 205. The bottom 212 is pierced with a central recess 213 to let pass and turn the rod 204.

The stator of the motor 201 and the housing 16 are integral with a support 214 for immobilizing the jacket 211, which support 214 has two internal cylindrical walls 215 and external 216 separated transversely by a space for housing a coil 217. L the winding housing space 217 is open towards the bottom 212 of the jacket 209 and is extended towards the latter by an air gap. Electric wires for supplying electric current to the electric winding 217 are connected to the part 19 through a passage 218 provided in the support 214 and between the motor 201 and the wall 16d. Means for controlling the power supply to the motor 201 and to the winding 217 as a function of instructions received by the receiving part 19 are provided.

The nut 207 and the ring 208 are integral, towards the actuating part 21, with a tube 219 for housing the rod 204 when the nut 207 is close to the bottom 212. The tube 219 is closed at its end 220 remote from the nut 207 and close to the actuating part 21. An intermediate member 221 is inserted between the end 220 and the actuating part 21, so as to allow the rotation of said actuating part 21 relative to the tube 219 around the point of contact between the actuating part 21 and the end 220 of the tube. The intermediate member 221 is, for example, formed of a grain 221 of crapaudine. The operation of the conversion means 20 is as follows. When the receiving part 19 receives an instruction to open a safety valve, electrical energy is sent to the coil 217 which then magnetically attracts the bottom 212 of the jacket 211, to immobilize it relative to the housing 16, and the rotor 203 is rotated in a determined direction S1 causing the rotation of the rod 204 relative to the housing 16. This determined direction S1 is for example that of rotation of a free wheel 203b mounted on the rotor 203 and cooperating outside the motor 203 with a corresponding peripheral part 203c fixed inside the wall 16d. The freewheel 203b forms a means for authorizing the rotation of the rotor 203 in said determined direction S1. As a variant, there may be provided inside the wall 16d a pawl 203c cooperating with a toothed wheel 203b fixed to the rotor 203, to allow the rotation of the rotor in said determined direction S1. The determined direction S1 of rotation of the rotor 203 and the direction of the thread of the rod 204 and of the nut 207 are such that the rotation of the rod 204 in the determined direction S1 and the blocking of the jacket 211 cause the longitudinal sliding of the nut 207 in the direction 9b moving the nut 207 away from the bottom 212.

The energy sent to the motor is such that the rotor 203 performs the number of turns allowing the nut 207 to reach the end of the thread of the rod 204. This number of turns made by the rotor 203 is preprogrammable in the part 19 for receiving and controlling the motor and the winding 217, so that the actuator easily adapts to different types of safety valve. The longitudinal length of the threaded part 206 of the rod 204 is dimensioned for the largest type of valve. As a variant or in addition, the power supply to the motor is cut off when a determined torque on the rotor is reached and detected by the motor control means, for example that corresponding to the maximum stress of the prestressing means 30, 40.

This causes, through the tube 219 and the grain 221 of the plate, the translation of the actuating part 21 in the first advanced position 25 towards the end 16b. The power supply to the winding 217 is maintained to block the jacket 211. The pawl or the freewheel 203b prevents rotation of the rod 204 in the direction S2 of screwing of the nut 207 bringing it closer to the bottom 212, which is opposite of the determined meaning S1. When the power supply to the motor 201 is cut, its rotor 203 is locked in position by the pawl or the freewheel 203b and the counter-torque exerted by the nut 207 under the load of the spring 30, which then keeps the part 21 actuation in the first position 25.

The actuating part 21 is fixed by its base 22 to an intermediate piece 26 which is longitudinal and tubular, comprising an outer rim 27 fixed around the base 22 and connected in the direction 9b to a hollow tubular section 28. The flange 27 is guided externally and longitudinally against the inner wall of the actuator housing 16, while the tubular section 28, of outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the actuator housing 16 is guided longitudinally inside a guide sheath 29 fixed to the interior surface of the housing 16, downstream in direction 9b.

The rim 27 is located at a longitudinal distance from the guide sheath 29. A longitudinal prestressing means 30, for example in the form of a helical compression spring, is inserted in the chamber 17 between the inner wall of the actuator housing 16 and the outer surface of the tubular section 28 of the intermediate piece 26 and between the rim 27 of the intermediate piece 26 and a fixed inner stop 31, located downstream of the rim 27 in the direction 9b. The stop 31 is for example formed, as shown, by a shoulder of the guide sheath 29, facing the rim 27. When the signal to keep the safety valve open is no longer received by the part 19 of reception, the power supply to the winding 217 is cut off. The pawl or the freewheel 203b prevents rotation of the rod 206 in the direction S2. The bottom 212 of the jacket 211 is then no longer immobilized by the coil 217 relative to the housing 16, which leaves the jacket 211 free to rotate with the nut 207. In this case, the conversion means 20 no longer maintain the actuating part 21 in the first position 25 meets the prestressing means 30. The prestressing means 30 exerts a force on the intermediate part 26, and therefore on the actuating part 21 in the longitudinal closing direction 8, spreading the actuating part 21 away from the guide sheath 29 and from the fixed stop 31 to the actuator housing 16, to pass the actuating part 21 into a second closed position 32, moved back in the opening direction 9b relative to the first position 25, as shown in FIG. 3. The passage from the actuating part 21 from the first position 25 to the second closed position 32 causes the nut 207 to be screwed onto the rod 204, in direction 8 bringing it closer to the bottom 212. The rotation of the nut 207 causes that of the shirt 210 and the longitudinal translation of the nut 207 relative to the latter via the finger 209 and the groove 211 complementary. The prestressing means 30 is such that it is capable of storing alone the energy necessary to close the safety valve 9. In the case of spring 30, this energy is stored by compression thereof when the safety valve is opened by the actuator 1.

The actuator housing 16 comprises, downstream of the part 21 for actuation in the opening direction 9b, an end piece 33 forming the first end part 16b and comprising an end opening 34 provided for the longitudinal sliding of a longitudinal pin 35. The end part 16c is also formed of a tip, on which the receiving part 19 is fixed. The ends are fitted and fixed by any suitable means, in a fluid-tight manner, to the tubular wall of the actuator housing 16 to delimit the chamber 17, after fixing and arrangement therein of the conversion means 20 of the part 21 actuation, of the part 26, of the spring 30, of the spring 40 described below, of the sheath 29, of the spindle 35 and of the piston 39 and of the sealing means 391, 392.

The opening 34 is intended to be turned towards the safety valve 9 and is distant from the chamber 17 of the housing 16 in the longitudinal direction 9b. The longitudinal spindle 35 comprises a body 36, for example circular cylindrical, extending in the end piece 33 and in the tubular section 28 of the intermediate piece 26 and projecting longitudinally from the opening 34 in the direction 9b in the direction of the flap 10 of the safety valve 9. The spindle 35 has a first end portion 37 retained in the tubular section 28 of the intermediate piece 26, and for example formed by a transverse shoulder such as a disc of diameter greater than that of the body 36 of the spindle 35, and a second end portion 38 for actuating the flap 10 of the safety valve 9.

The second end portion 38 can be applied directly against the flap 10, at a distance from its hinge 11 for its opening, or, as shown, be secured to a piece 381 of abutment against the flap 10 of the safety valve 9, to distance from its hinge 11. The abutment part 381 is formed for example of a sleeve comprising a first part 382 for fixing to the end part 38 and a second part 383 for application against the flap 10. The first part 382 for fixing is fixed to the end portion 38 for example by screwing around the latter. In the screwed position, the part 382 covers a part 382, a with a rear sleeve 382b. gasket 382c being compressed in a groove of the spindle 35 between the spindle 35 and the rear bush 382b, thus protecting the thread between the parts 382 and 38 and locking the screwing.

The sleeve 381 and its parts 382, 383 are for example cylindrical circular and smaller in diameter than that of the duct 2. The abutment piece 381 has one or more longitudinal openings 381b for the passage of fluid, for example provided in the bottom of the first part 382 for fixing to the end part 38. These openings longitudinal 381b are for example in the form of three arcs of a circle distributed around the socket 382b, as shown in FIG. 5. The first fixing part 382 and the second application part 383 are fitted to each other by complementarity of form. The fitting is carried out by inserting the actuator provided with the fixing part 382 in the duct 2, in which the application part 383 is already inserted against the closed valve 9, for example during assembly of the valve 9. The thrust of the actuator against the part 383 in the direction 9b allows the nesting therewith, but the possible subsequent displacement of the housing 16 in the opposite direction 8 takes the part 383, correspondingly adapted slopes being provided in the connection between parts 382 and 383. A piston 39 comprising sealing means is mounted to slide longitudinally around the body 36 of the spindle 35 in the end piece 33. The piston 39 and the opening 34 of the actuator housing 16 have a passage allowing the longitudinal sliding of the spindle 35 therein. The sealing means are arranged to prevent fluid, possibly originating from the opening 34 and from the environment external to the actuator housing 16, from passing into the chamber 17 of the actuator housing 16. The sealing means are also arranged to prevent the fluid contained in the chamber 17 from passing outside the actuator housing 16. The piston 39 has one or more seals, and for example an outer seal 391 applied between the piston 39 and the end piece 33, and an inner seal 392 applied between the piston 39 and the spindle 35 The sliding of the piston makes it possible to balance the pressure prevailing in the chamber 17 with the pressure prevailing on the other side thereof, imposed for example inside the duct by the fluid passing through the duct 2, and thus reduce stresses and leaks on either side of the sealing means. In another embodiment not shown, the sealing means are provided in the passage opening of the longitudinal spindle abutment against the safety valve.

As shown in the figures, the intermediate part 26 comprises, at the free end of its tubular section 28, distant from the rim 27, a shoulder internal transverse 37b for retaining the end part 37 of the spindle 35 in the direction 8 of movement of the actuating part 21 from the first position 25 to the second position 32, the shoulder 37b being turned towards the end part 37 and being formed by an internal transverse rim of the tubular section 28. Another means 40 of prestressing is housed in the intermediate part 26 between the retained part 37 of the spindle 35 and the shoulder 24 of the actuating part 21 and is arranged for move the pin 35 away from the actuating part 21. Thus, in the absence of force exerted on the spindle 35 in the closed direction 8, the prestressing means 40 is such that it applies the retained part 37 of the spindle against the internal shoulder 37b of the intermediate piece 26, as shown in FIG. 2. The prestressing means 40 is for example formed by a helical compression spring disposed partly around the bar 23 of the actuating part 21.

In the first position 25 of the actuating part 21 and when the longitudinal spindle 35 is at the end of its travel in the intermediate part 26, as shown in FIG. 2, the abutment part 381 pushes back the flap 10 of the valve 9 safety against the spring 15 thereof towards the wall 12 of the conduit 2, in an open position of the safety valve 9, allowing fluid to pass through the conduit 2 in the direction 8, outside of the actuator housing 16, the sealing means 391, 392 preventing fluid from reaching the prestressing means 30, 40, the actuating part 21, the conversion means 20, the receiving part 19 and the chamber 17. In this position, an inner stop 384 of the duct 2 is provided beyond the valve 9 to prevent the piece 381 of the stop from continuing its course in the direction 9b. When the actuating part 21 passes from the first position 25 shown in FIG. 2 to the second position 32 shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate part 26 drives, by means of its internal shoulder 37b, the retained part 37 and the spindle 35 of the same longitudinal stroke in the closing direction 8. This longitudinal stroke is such that the abutment piece 381 is located at a distance and in front of the flap 10 of the safety valve 9, allowing the latter to pass into the closed position in which the flap 10 closes the duct 2. The intermediate piece 26 thus forms a connection means between the actuating part 21 and the spindle 35. This closing movement of the flap 10 is caused by the force of the spring 13 and is accelerated by the flow of the fluid arriving at the interior 7 of the duct 2 in the direction 8 of fluid rise.

When the receiving part 19 receives an opening signal, the conversion means 20 cause, as shown in FIG. 4, the return of the actuating part 21 from the second position 32 to the first position 25 against the force of the prestressing means 30 and 40. Thus, when the force exerted by the flow of the fluid on the flap 10 of the safety valve 9 decreases sufficiently or disappears, the prestressing means 40 pushes the longitudinal pin 35 in the direction 9b d opening of the safety valve 9 against the force exerted by the spring 13 thereof, in order to be able to return it to the open position shown in FIG. 2.

Claims

1. Actuator for triggering the closure of a safety valve (9) mounted in a basement operating duct (2) to be introduced into a hole in said basement, the actuator comprising means for trigger for closing the safety valve (9), which comprise a part (19) for receiving the closing signal and electrical control of electromechanical conversion means (20), a part (21) for mechanical actuation, the means electromechanical converters (20) being provided for holding the actuating part (21) in a first longitudinal position (25), when the receiving part (19) receives an opening hold signal, and for passing the part (21) actuating the first longitudinal position (25) to a second longitudinal position (32) triggering the closing of the safety valve (9) in a direction (8) of longitudinal movement, when the part (21) from r reception does not receive an opening hold signal, the means for triggering the closing of the safety valve (9) being housed in a chamber (17) of an actuator housing (16), the housing (16) actuator being intended to be disposed in the conduit (2) for operating the basement, sealing means (39) being provided in the chamber (17) of the actuator housing (16) to seal that -this relative to an opening (34) of the actuator housing (16), the opening (34) of the actuator housing (16) being remote from the chamber (17) of the housing (16) in a longitudinal direction (9b) opposite to the direction (8) of longitudinal displacement of the actuating part (21) going from the first position (25) to the second closed position (32), the sealing means (39) and the opening (34) of the actuator housing (16) having a passage allowing the longitudinal sliding of a longitudinal pin (35) for actuating the valve (9) safety, comprising a part (37) retained in the chamber (17), connecting means (26) being provided in the chamber (17) of the actuator housing (16) to connect the movement of the part (21) for actuation from the first longitudinal position (25) to the second longitudinal position (32) for triggering closure at a longitudinal movement of the spindle (35) allowing the closing of the safety valve (9), by means of the 'intermediary of the part (37) of the spindle (35) retained in the chamber (17).

2. Actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that the part (37) of the spindle, retained in the chamber (17), comprises a transverse shoulder and the connecting means comprise an intermediate piece (26) longitudinal including a first part end (27) is integral with the actuating part (21) and the second extreme part of which, remote from the first extreme part (27), comprises a transverse shoulder (37b), engaging behind the transverse shoulder (37 ) from the spindle (35) in the direction (8) of displacement from the first longitudinal position (25) to the second longitudinal position (32) for triggering closure.

3. Actuator according to claim 2, characterized in that the longitudinal intermediate part (26) is tubular and comprises, at its second end part an internal transverse flange (37b) forming a transverse shoulder and surrounding the longitudinal pin (35) behind the transverse shoulder (37) of said pin (35).

4. Actuator according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the longitudinal spindle (35) is mounted movable longitudinally relative to the intermediate piece (26), first means (40) for prestressing the transverse shoulder (37) from the spindle (35) towards the transverse shoulder (37b) of the intermediate piece (26) being provided, the conversion means (20) being able to maintain the actuating part (21) in the first longitudinal position (25 ) against the first prestressing means (40), the first prestressing means (40) being able to allow the longitudinal spindle (35) to slide relative to the intermediate piece (26), when the safety valve (9) passes in the closed position and when the actuating part (21) is controlled by the conversion means (20) to pass from the second position (32) to the first position (25).

5. Actuator according to claim 4, characterized in that the first means (40) of prestressing are formed by a compression spring.

6. Actuator _. according to claims 3 and 5, characterized in that the compression spring is housed in the tubular intermediate part (26), between the actuating part (21) and the transverse shoulder (37) of the longitudinal spindle (35) .

7. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the conversion means comprise a second means (30) for prestressing the part (21) for actuating the first longitudinal position (25) at the second longitudinal position (32) for closing the valve, acting between the actuating part (21) and a fixed internal stop (31), located in the chamber (17) of the actuator housing (16).

8. Actuator according to claim 7, characterized in that the second prestressing means (30) is formed by a compression spring.

9. Actuator according to any one of claims 2 to 6 or any one of claims 7 and 8, when it depends on claim 2, characterized in that the intermediate piece (26) surrounds the part (21) d actuation and means (29) for longitudinal guide of the intermediate piece (26) relative to the actuator housing (16) are provided.

10. Actuator according to claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the second means (30) of prestressing is housed in the chamber (17), around the intermediate piece (26).

11. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the opening (34) of the housing (16) of the actuator is provided on an end piece (33), at a distance from the means (39 ) sealing, in the longitudinal direction (9b) opposite to the direction (8) of longitudinal movement of the actuating part (21) going from the first position (25) to the second closed position (32).

12. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the sealing means (39) are slidably mounted longitudinally relative to the longitudinal pin (35) and to the actuator housing (16).

13. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the chamber (17) of the housing (16) contains an operating fluid of the means for triggering the closing of the safety valve (9).

14. Actuator according to claim 13, characterized in that the operating fluid contains lubricating oil.

15. Actuator according to any one of claims T to 14, characterized in that the conversion means (20) comprise means (201 to 221) of reverse passage for passing the part (21) of actuation from the second position (32) for closing closure to the first position (25), when the part (21) of reception receives a signal d 'opening.

16. Actuator according to claim 15, characterized in that the 5 reverse passage means (201 to 221) comprise an electric motor (201), the stator of which is fixed inside the housing (16) and the rotor ( 203) is connected to a threaded longitudinal rod (204) cooperating, reversibly, with a nut (207) connected to means (219, 220, 221) for longitudinally pushing the part (21) for actuating the second position (32) for triggering closure at the first 0 position (25), means being provided for causing the motor (201) to rotate the rotor (203) in the determined direction (S1) to the first position (25 ) of the actuating part (21) when the receiving part (21) receives an opening signal, means (209, 210, 211) being provided for locking the nut (207) in rotation relative to the stator of the motor (201) during the passage of the

15 second position (32) for triggering closure at the first position (25).

17. Actuator according to claim 16, characterized in that the locking means (209, 210, 211) comprise a jacket (211) for longitudinal guide of the nut (207) and means (217) for immobilizing the jacket ( 211) relative to the stator of the motor (201) during the rotation of the rotor (203) in

20 the determined direction (S1) and in the first position (25) of the actuating part (21).

18. Actuator according to claim 17, characterized in that the guide sleeve (211) comprises a groove (210) for longitudinal guide of a finger (209) integral with the nut (207).

19. Actuator according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the means (217) for immobilizing the guide jacket (211) comprise a coil _. _(2. 17) electrical housed in a support (218) of immobilization to attract a counterpart (212) secured to attraction of the liner (211) for guiding, feeding means being provided for

30. supplying attraction electrical power to said complementary attraction part (212) the winding (217) during the rotation of the rotor (203) in the determined direction (S1) and in the first position (25) of the actuation part (21).

20. Actuator according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the means (201 to 221) of reverse passage comprise means (203b, 203c) for authorizing the rotation of the rotor (203) in the determined direction (S1) and preventing rotation of the rotor (203) in the opposite direction (S2) from the determined direction (S1).

21. Actuator according to claim 20, characterized in that said means (203b, 203c) for authorizing the rotation of the rotor (203) comprise a free wheel.

22. Actuator according to claim 20, characterized in that said means (203b, 203c) for authorizing the rotation of the rotor comprise at least one pawl (203c) cooperating with a toothed wheel (203b) integral with the rotor (203).

23. Actuator according to any one of claims 16 to 22, characterized in that the thrust means (219, 220, 221) comprise a tube (219) for housing the threaded longitudinal rod (204) closed at its end ( 220) remote from the nut (207), an intermediate member (221) being inserted between said end (220) of the housing tube (219) and the actuating part (21) to allow rotation of said tube (219) of housing relative to the actuating part (25).

24. Actuator according to claim 23, characterized in that said intermediate member (221) is formed by a grain of a crapaudine.

25. Actuator according to any one of claims 17 to 19, or any one of claims 20 to 24, when it depends on any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the means (20) conversion comprise means for unlocking the jacket (211) guiding with respect to the stator of the motor (201) to move the actuating part (21) from the first longitudinal position (25) to the second longitudinal position (32 ) closing release via the nut (207) and thrust means (219, 220, 221).

26. An actuator according to claim 25, when it depends on claim 19, characterized in that the unlocking means comprise means for controlling the winding power cut (217).

27. Actuator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the safety valve (9) comprises a flap (10) for closing the duct (2), constrained by means (13) of the valve constraint. safety, to pass in the closed position of the conduit (2), the spindle (35) is secured, outside the housing (16), to a piece (381) of abutment against the flap (10) of the safety valve (9) against said safety valve constraint means (13), for passing the safety valve (9) from the open position of the conduit (2) to the closed position when the actuating part (21) passes from the first longitudinal position (25) to the second longitudinal position ( 32) closing release.

28. Actuator according to claim 27, characterized in that the abutment part (381) is formed of a sleeve comprising a first part (382) for fixing to the spindle (35) and a second part (383) for application against the flap (10), the first fixing part (382) and the second application part (383) being fitted to each other by complementarity of form.

29. Actuator any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means (16e, 16f) are provided on the actuator (1) for triggering closure to allow the actuator (1) to be withdrawn from the conduit (2 ) operating underground, when the safety valve (9) is closed.

30 . Safety assembly for a basement operating duct (2) to be introduced into a hole made in said basement, comprising a safety valve (9) associated with an actuator (1) for triggering the closing of said valve (9) safety, said safety valve (9) and said actuator for triggering the closing thereof being mounted in a secondary conduit (2b) intended to be introduced into the underground exploitation conduit (2) and allowing the passage of basement fluid in the secondary conduit (2b) when the safety valve (9) is open.