Patent ID: 8261836

Claim:
A downhole deployment valve (DDV) for disposal in a casing string in a borehole, comprising: a housing having a first coupling end to couple with a tubing section end that integrates with the DDV to form the casing string; a valve member moveable between a first position obstructing a bore through the housing and a second position permitting tool passage through the bore; a first biasing member coupled to the valve member to urge the valve member from the second position to the first position; a second biasing member attached to a cage disposed within the housing, the second biasing member being configured to engage with the valve member in the second position to urge the valve member initially away from the second position toward the first position; and an actuator sleeve having a first leading edge portion and a second leading edge portion, wherein the first leading edge portion contacts the valve member before the second leading edge portion when the sleeve displaces the valve member to the second position and the first leading edge portion contacts the valve member at a point that is further from a pivot point of the valve member than the second leading edge portion, and wherein the first and second leading edge portions are separated by convex edge portions.