Patent ID: 9383029
Filing Date: 2016-07-05
CPC Classification: E21B,F16K

Claim Text:
1. A method of actuating a safety valve, comprising: conveying hydraulic fluid pressure to a piston bore defined in a sidewall of a housing and providing an upper bore having a first diameter and a lower bore having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, wherein a piston assembly is movably arranged within the piston bore and comprises an upper piston sealingly engaging the upper bore and a lower piston sealingly engaging the lower bore; axially displacing the piston assembly within the piston bore as the hydraulic fluid pressure acts on the upper piston, wherein a connecting rod couples the upper and lower pistons such that simultaneous movement of each piston is achieved when the piston assembly moves within the piston bore, and wherein a cavity is defined between the upper and lower pistons within the piston bore and the connecting rod extends within the cavity; maintaining pressure equilibrium within the cavity and an annulus region with a conduit defined in the housing; and moving a valve closure device as the piston assembly moves within the piston bore, the valve closure device being arranged within a central flow passage defined in the housing and operably coupled to the piston assembly.