Patent ID: 7086471

Claim:
Apparatus for controlling the flow rate of a fluid in a well, the apparatus including a tubing ( 4 ) passing from a first producing region of the well to a location above the first producing region, the apparatus ( 5 ) comprising, in the location above the producing region, at least one hole ( 7 ) passing through the wall of the tubing and a moving shutter jacket ( 8 ) mounted to engage the hole, the apparatus being characterized in that the apparatus further comprises: deflector means ( 9 ) covering the jacket and the hole so that the deflector means directs the fluid through the wall of the tubing; a protection jacket ( 12 ) mounted in line with the shutter jacket and urged towards it by resilient means ( 13 ) so as to bring the protection jacket automatically into a position in which it overlies sealing means mounted on the tubing ( 4 ) on the side of the hole ( 7 ) remote from the shutter jacket ( 8 ) when said shutter jacket is not covering said sealing means.