US3589667A

US3589667A - Combination well blowout preventer

Info

Publication number: US3589667A
Application number: US800850A
Authority: US
Inventors: George E Lewis; Fernando Murman
Original assignee: Hydril LLC
Current assignee: Hydril LLC
Priority date: 1969-02-20
Filing date: 1969-02-20
Publication date: 1971-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-29
Also published as: DE2008034A1; GB1249614A; NL7002468A; FR2031558B1; FR2031558A1; BE746264A

Abstract

The disclosure concerns unusually advantageous apparatus used in controlling and preventing well blowouts, and utilizing novel plug-valve sealing and operating structure, and further as related to the location and housing of an inwardly constrictable packer annulus.

Description

adg well owouts, and utilizing novel plug-valve sealing and operating structure, and further as related to the location and h an inwardly constrictable packer annulus.

251/1 251/1 X 277/73 25l/315X unusually ousing of References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1934 Wickersham et a1 disclosure concerns vantageous apparatus used in controlling and preventin bl 2,313,177 3/1943 Sprague...4.l.,........ 2,609,836 9/1952 Knox......,...m.. 3,124334 3/1964 Szohatzkyl.....h...,...l...

Primary Examiner-A1an Cohan Assistant Examiner-Richard Gerard Attorney-White & Haefliger ABSTRACT: The

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ATENTED JUN29 197i SHEET t 0F 4 Jn w MMM 75 e m M 7 I mi GMM w coMaiNArroN WELL arowotnr raaven'rnn BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to oil well drilling operations, and more particularly concerns apparatus useful in controlling and preventing well blowouts.

Well blowout control and prevention equipment may be categorized as either of the type which closes the well by constricting about apparatus such as a drill string run in the well, or of the type which positively blocks the entire well passage. The former equipment is generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,609,836, whereas the latter equipment is exemplified by safety valves and ram-type preventers. In many cases it is desired to incorporate both types of equipment in wellhead apparatus for increased safety; however, the possible combination of well-constricting equipment with rotary plug safety valve equipment at the wellhead (with or without ram-type preventers) has been considered as presenting certain difficulties. These include the difficulty of gaining access to the plug stopper for inspection and replacement purposes; the problem of satisfactorily sealing off between the rotary stopper and the housing therefor; the problem of particle (such as sand) accumulation between the stopper and its housing; and the difficulty of accommodating the safety valve structure to combination with the well passage constricting apparatus.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the invention to combine well passage constricting apparatus with safety valve structure in such manner as will alleviate the above problems and difiiculties. It is another object-of the invention to provide improved sealing ring structure for a safety valve employing a load-transmitting trunnion or trunnions, the ring sealing off between the latter and the valve housing in such a way as to enable rotation of the valve stopper free of the sealing ring while remaining easily replaceable after disconnection of housing sections between which the ring structure also seals off.

As respects the combined safety valve and well passage constricting equipment, the invention basically comprises a housing structure defining vertically spaced chambers; an inwardly constrictable packer annulus in one of the chambers for forming therewith a vertical passage through which tubular goods may be run; an annular piston movable upwardly in that one chamber to constrict the packer for reducing the opening; a plug stopper having a through opening and mounted to rotate in another of the chambers tobeing the stopper opening into and out of registration with the passage; and the housing structure including a section at the side of the plug opposite that one chamber and which is removable to provide direct access to the plug. Accordingly, the stopper may be easily removed for replacement of seal structure to be described. Typically, there is space in the stopper chamber with elastomer-sealing means filling that space between the stopper and chamber inner wall, the sealant extending annularly about the through opening in the stopper when the latter is in flow-passing registration with the passage, whereby sand and other particles cannot fill into that space and impede stopper rotation. This is very important in respect of subsea drilling operations, where reliability is critical. Further, a metallic seal ring may be provided to form a portion of the passage adjacent the plug, with which the metal seal has sliding and sealing contact, that ring acting to confine the elastomer-scaling means against pressure induced displacement from that space. In addition, the elastomer-sealing means may be formed at two generally hemispherical sections, which are removable for replacement when the housing section is removed, as described. Those sections may have terminals so located as not to be exposed to line pressure during rotation of the stopper opening in communication with those terminals; also retainer structure may block inward deflection of those terminals. Finally, stoppersupporting trunnions are accommodated by the housing and sealing structure described, the trunnions being removable with the stopper, and there being operator means at the housing exterior and connected to rotate one trunnion to rotate the stopper between limits, as provided by operator piston means.

As respects sealing of the valve assembly in the housing or body, the invention comprises, in combination with the stopper and trunnion, an annulus such as a sleeve extending about the trunnion, and seal ring structure having a first portion extending closely about the sleeve to seal off between the latter and body; and a second portion extending about the stopper in nonsealing relation therewith to permit stopper rotation while the second portion seals off the body sections, as will be described. Typically, the ring structure includes a third portion like the first portion and extending about a second sleeve received over a second trunnion integral with the stopper, the trunnions rotating with the stopper but within the sleeves.

Another aspect of the invention concerns the provision of a seal ring structure as described, to be used with a plug stopper having trunnions and sleeves received on the trunnions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects and advantagesof the invention as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the drawings, in which:

FIG. l is an elevation taken in section, showing the overall invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation taken in section on line2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective showing of the plug stopper of FIGS. 11 and 2, with seal ring structure mounted on sleeves on the stopper trunnions;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the FIG. 3 assembly taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the FIG. 3 assembly, taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the seal ring structure;

FIG. 7 is an elevation showing the blowout control equipment of the invention installed in subsea wellhead assembly;

and

FIG. 3 is an elevation showing a modified safety valve seal arrangement.

DESCRIFTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning to FIG. l, the control head or preventer assembly, generally indicated at 10, includes a body member 11, having

concentric bores

12, 113 and 14, which are of progressively increased diameters. Cap 16 is releasably held to the body member by screw-threaded connection 17 in such a position that the fade 19 of cap flange 20 engages the upper end 2i. of the body member 11, the cap and body member being packed off at 22. Cap 16 has a bore 23 which is of the same diameter and is concentric with body bore 12. Sunk in the upper face of cap 16 are boltholes 24 for the attachment of equipment thereabove. The annular groove 25, in that upper face, is adapted toreceive a sealing ring for sealing engagement with said equipment.

The body member 11 has an attachment flange 27 whereby connection is made through bolts 28 to the flange 29 of body lower section 30 defining bore 12. i

Cap 16 has an internal annular flange 35 which defines the downward continuation of bore 23, and a peripheral flange 36 which defines bore 37, said bore 37 being concentric with all the body member bores identified above.

The body 11 has an annular, upstanding flange 38 which engages the packer-actuating member 39 at 40 to limit the extent of downward movement of said member. The actuator 39 has a piston portion 41, having piston fit in bore 14, and piston portion 42 which has piston fit in bore 13. The actuator is extended upwardly at 43, extension 43 having piston fit in the bore 37.

Sealing rings

44, 45 and 46 are provided between piston portions 412, 41 and 43, respectively, and the respective cylinder-defining walls which receive those portions.

Piston 41 divides body bore 141 into upper (first) and lower (second) cylinders or

pressure chambers

47 and 48,

ports

49 and 50 opening, respectively, from those chambers.

External pipes

51 and 52 open to

ports

49 and 50 respectively. Note that the outer diameters 14 of

chambers

47 and 48 are equal, and the inner diameters l3 and 37 of these chambers are equal, for balancing purposes.

The actuator 39 has a downwardly and inwardly tapering conical bore 53, and the actuator portion 43 which defines this bore may be considered broadly as an internal, conical wedge, or as a packer-constricting element.

Packet P includes a massive annulus or sleeve 55 of plastic and, preferably, resilient material such as rubber or Neoprene. in most instances, it is intended that a single packer be adapted for repeating opening and closing operations, and therefore it is preferable that it have relatively high resilient characteristics, so it may be self-resorting to open position when the constricting force is removed. From this point on in the description, it will be assumed that the packer has such resilient characteristics, but this assumption is not considered as limitative on my broader claims. It has been found that rubber having a durometer hardness of about 75 is suitable for general use in the packer but, again, this specification of relative hardness is not to be considered as limitative. The packer is shown as an u nsplit, continuous annulus, but it will be understood that the disclosure is not limited to a packer wherein there is no split, so long as there is no angularly extending gap interrupting the continuity of the packer at times when it is radially contracted into sealing engagement with members positioned within its bore.

included in the makeup of the packer is a series of rigid, rubber-flow-control elements 56 individually movable bodily with the rubber in its movement of radial contraction and expansion and also, to a limited extent, movable individually with respect to the rubber as will later appear. Taken together, the rigid control elements may be considered as a radially expansible and contractable armature embedded and bonded with annulus 55.

Molded annulus 55 has an outer conical face 57 which is complementary to actuator bore 53, and a bore i; which has a central, substantially cylindrical portion 59 and oppositely inclining upper and lower portions 69 and 61, respectively; the outward flare, in each case being toward the associated end of the annulus.

It will be seen that each element 56 comprises top and

bottom plates

63 and 64, respectively, rigidly connected by vertical rib 65, the outer face 67 of the rib having taper as in dicated.

Plates

63, 64 may be considered as transverse flanges on rib 65. Elements 56, which may be of steel, bronze, or any other suitable rigid material, are preferably positioned in the rubber at the time of molding and, preferably, the rubber and the elements are bonded together by the use of suitable bonding agent during the molding process. The plates of the control elements are sectorial in shape, as viewed in plan, and are ar ranged in a circular series, with spaces left between the opposing side edges of the plates, both top and bottom. The plates are so sized that the two opposed side edges of adjacent elements are spaced apart, it following that as the elements move radially inward, the spaces between these, from end-to-end, diminish equally in width, so there is no premature interference of the plates at their inner ends and so the rubber which may flow between the plates during the constriction of the annulus will not be pinched off at the radially inward ends ofthe plates. See US. Pat. No. 2,609,836.

The annulus 55 is molded so its outer annular portion 72 projects radially outward beyond the outer faces of the plates, it following that these metallic faces do not engage the wall of the actuator bore 53. For purposes of later description, consider annular portion 72 as being that portion which extends radially from face 57 to the outer faces 67 of ribs 65.

The packer is lowered, while cap 16 is detached, into the position of H0. 1, the annulus 55 nicely fitting the upper por tion of bore 53 without requiring appreciable radial constriction of the annulus. For positively limiting the downward movement of the annulus, a stop is provided in the form of tube 74 which is retained in housing bore 15. The upper end of the tube provides the packer stop. The bore '75 of this tube is of the same diameter as

bores

12 and 23, and the tube is annularly spaced from both piston portion 42 and the lower end of actuator wedge portion 43. Ports 76 open from bore 75 to chamber 77, which latter is annularly defined by the tube 74 and the sleeve 80, while it is retained endwise by body wall 78 and the lower end ofsleeve 80.

When cap 16 is subsequently secured in place, its horizontal undersurface 79 provides a stop for limiting upward movement of the packer, the upper plates 63 of control elements 56 sliding over this surface as the packer is radially constricted or expanded. Upper end of tube 74 and cap surface 79 thus form vertically spaced stops which prevent appreciable vertical movement of the packer with relation to the body member ll. Packer P is thus confined within an upper chamber formed in the housing.

It will be seen that the radial constriction of the packer is accomplished by virtue of relative vertical movement between the packer and the actuator. While the illustrated embodiment shows this relative movement as brought about by holding the packer against vertical movement with respect to the body member and then moving the actuator vertically with respect to the housing and packer, it will be understood the arrangement and operation may be reversed.

The sleeve 80 may be considered as part of the housing structure ill, to which it is retained by the fastener 81. The sleeve 80 and body ill, together with actuator piston portion 42 form a third chamber 82 to receive control pressure fluid (as via porting 83 and pipe 84) acting to urge the actuator upwardly in at least partly counterbalancing relation to the downward force exertion on the actuator. See in this regard my copending application for US. Letters Patent entitled WELL PRESSURE COMPENSATED WELL BLOWOUT PREVENTER, Ser. No. 785,891 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,468.

Referring again to PK}. 1, a hydropneumatic accumulator is shown as communicating with pipes 5i and 52 via a suitable pressure regulator 91 and four-way valve 92.. In one position ofthe latter, pressure fluid is delivered to pipe 51, and pressure fluid in pipe 52 is exhausted at 93 to the sea. in the alternate position of the valve 92, pressure fluid is delivered to pipe 52 and fluid in pipe 51 is exhausted to the sea. A suitable electric prime mover 94 controls valve Q2 and a suitable control 95 for the regulator may be surface operated to set the pressure applied to

pipes

52 and 52. Similarly, pressure may be supplied to pipe 84 via regulator 96 and four-way valve 97. Controls for the regulator and valve are indicated at 93 and 99 and may be electrically operated from the surface, to result in selected pressure applications to chamber 82, a cable to the surface being indicated at Control 98 for regulator 96 may be connected via ll} to annulus or passage 85 to be responsive to mud e packer, so as to effect transmission of regulated pressv .o chamber 82, in response to changes in mud pressure.

Reference to FIG. 7 shows the control assembly 10 connected in subsea blowout preventer stack F including a unit it? above a series of ram-type preventers 103.. A riser system E02 extends above the stack l nd is connected thereto by a wellhead connector 103. Riser pipe extends to the sea surface, and typically to a drilling barge $.64, or other installation. Stack MM) and riser 102 are illustrative only, and may carry the pressure vessel 90 and associated piping and controls referred to above.

A lower chamber in the housing llli contains a plug stopper 13l mounted to rotate about horizontal axis 132. Such rotation brings the through opening 133 in the stopper into and out of registration with the vertical passage 134 in the housing. In this regard, the lower section 30 of the body or housing is removable, as by disconnection of flange 2% from body portion 27 afforded by removal of bolts 28, thereby to produce direct access to the plug stopper enabling removal of the latter.

The stopper is supported for rotation by the trunnions or

shafts

135 and 136 which project oppositely and in alignment with axis 132. Annuli, as for

example bearing sleeves

137 and 138 extend about the trunnions and are received in the

bores

139 and 140, the upper halves of which are formed by body portion 27, and the lower halves of which are formed by body lower portion 30. Accordingly, upon disconnection of the latter, the sleeves and trunnions are downwardly removable along with the plug stopper, for repair and replacement. This may be accomplished while the flange 1411 of body section remains bolted to wellhead structure therebeneath (bolts 142 affording such connection) the body section 27 and wellhead structure thereabove being elevated.

The space between the plug stopper an

inner wall portions

144 and 145 of the body is filled with elastomer-sealing means extending annularly about the through opening 133 when the latter is in FIG. 1 position, in registration with passage 134. Such sealing means may typically comprise upper and lower hard rubber hemispheres 1416 and 1 17 which are interengaged along a horizontal plane through axis 132. As seen, those hemispheres extend closely about the inner annular terminals 148 of the

nonrotary sleeves

137 and 138 which engage and center the stopper within the housing chamber. O-rings 149 seal off between those terminals and the trunnions. Like

rubber hemispheres

146 and 147 prevent ingress of sand or foreign matter into the space between the stopper and body during working of the well, eliminating a source of possible malfunction of the plug stopper.

Metallic seal rings 150 and 151 carried by the rubber hemispheres are slidably received in body bores 152 and 153 and form portions 134a and 13412 of the passage 134 adjacent the plug stopper 131. These rings have metal-to-metal sealing contact at 154 and 155 with the stopper surface, and act to confine the

elastomer material

146 and 147 against pressure induced displacement from the space between the stopper and chamber wall, particularly when the stopper opening is rotated out of registration with passage 134. Note that fluid pressure in the well is applied to end faces 156 and 157 of the seal rings to maintain the rings in contact with the stopper surface.

Another aspect of the invention has to do with seal ring structure having a portion or portions extending about the trunnion sleeve or sleeves to seal off between the latter and the body bores 139 and 141), and another portion extending about the stopper in nonsealing relation to permit stopper rotation while that ring portion seals off against the body (and specifically between the opposed body faces proximate the horizontal plane through axis 132). In this regard, reference to FIGS. 3-6 show the seal O-

ring portions

160 and 161 which are spaced apart and sized to fit about the sleeve terminals 148 and to extend in upright planes. The seal ring structure also includes portions 162 interconnecting O-rings 161) and 161 and defining a plane normal to the

planes

160 and 161, as well as coincident with the horizontal plane through axis 132. Portions 162 are alike and sized to extend about the stopper with clearance therebetween (as seen in FIG. 5) to permit stopper rotation. Portions 1152 are retained or clamped between the

body elements

27 and 29, as appears in FIG. 41, to seal off therebetween.

Upon removal of the stopper, trunnions and sleeves as described above, the unitary

elastomer seal structure

160, 161 and 162 is also removed and may then be replaced if necessary. By

molding seal structure

160, 161 and 162 as a unit, there is no chance for well fluid outward leakage (or sea water inward leakage) past unconnected segments of installed seal, and this helps to make possible and practical the housing con struction by which the plug stopper and

hemispheres

146 and 147 may be removed and replaced, as described.

Finally, operator means is provided at one side of the housing structure to transmit rotation to the plug stopper. The latter includes a pinion gear 170 keyed at 171 to extension 172 of the trunnion 135 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Gear 170 is carried within a housing 173 bolted at 215 to body section 30 and to body 11 so as to be removable therefrom and with the stopper.

Located within housing 173 are upper and

lower racks

175 and 176 meshing with the pinion gear and integral with

pistons

177 and 173. The latter are reciprocable horizontally within cylinders 1'79 and 1811 formed within and by the housing structure as shown, there being

endcaps

181 and 182 closing the cylinders at their heads. As fluid pressure is admitted to drive piston 177 to the left in FIG. 2, the gear is rotated by rack 175 and drives rack 176 and piston 178 to the right, thereby exhausting fluid from the space between piston 178 and cap 182.

Caps

181 and 182 limit turning of the plug stopper to an angular range of about these caps, together with

caps

181a and 1820 being engaged by opposite ends of the pistons.

Rollers

210 and 211 resist side loading of the pistons imposed by the pinion gear 1711.

Pressure is transmissible from vessel 90 alternately to ports 191) and 191 under the control of four-way valve 192. An electrically energized valve driver is seen at 195. Control lines for this element is seen at 196, leading to the surface via cable 199.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the construction of the safety valve apparatus is similar to that of FIG. 1, with corresponding parts bearing the same identifying numbers. The modified elastomer seals 1416a and 147a are alike, and again function to block ingress of sand or other foreign matter into the space between the stopper and the body. However, in this case the seals have annular terminals 1 16b and 1417b which we mu tually proximate and extend about the stopper at an angle relative to the passage axis 211) characterized in that the stopper opening 133 is directly exposed to the terminals only when that opening is rotated out of communication with the passage 134. As a result the pressure of fluid in passage 134 does not gain direct access to the split or clearance 211 between those terminals, which access could otherwise result in pressure induced inward displacement of those terminals into the stopper opening and subsequent excessive wear thereof as the stopper edge 212 traversed the clearance 211 during stopper rotation toward open position in the direction of arrow 213. As illustrated, that trailing edge traverses clearance 211 just after or at the same time that leading edge 21 1 of the opening 133 traverses the seal ring 151 and comes into communication with the passage 134. The angle made by the plane of clearance 211 with axis 210 is designated at X. That plane also contains the transverse axis 132 of stopper rotation as is clear from FIG. 8.

Note also the provision of retainer means extending in the modified hemispheric seals 1 16a and 147a and restraining the terminals 14612 and 1471) against inward deflection toward the stopper as the stopper opening traverses those terminals. In the illustrated example such retainer means comprise metal inserts 215 and 216 extending or embedded in these terminals and about the stopper, with

insert portions

215a and 216a looping about the trunnions and 136 and

sleeves

137 and 138.

We claim:

1. In well blowout prevention apparatus, the combination comprising a. housing structure defining vertically spaced intercommunicating chambers,

b. an inwardly constrictable packer annulus in one of said chambers for forming therewith a vertical passage through which well tools may be run,

c. an annular piston movable upwardly in said one chamber to constrict the annulus for sealing engagement with a well tool in said passage,

d, a plug stopper having a through opening and mounted to rotate in another of said chambers to bring said through opening into and out of registration with said passage,

c. said housing structure including a section at the side of the plug opposite said one chamber and which is remova' ble to provide direct access to the plug.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein there is space in said other chamber between the plug and said housing structure, and including elastomer-sealing means filling said space and extending annularly about said through opening when said opening is in registration with said passage.

3. The combination of claim 2 including a metallic seal ring forming a portion of said passage adjacent said plug and having metal-to-metal sealing contact with the plug, the ring acting to confine said elastomer sealing means against pressure induced displacement from said space.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said sealing means includes upper and lower generally hemispheric extents.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a shaft connected to said plug stopper and extending to the housing exterior and adjacent said removable section, and operator means at the housing exterior connected to rotate said shaft.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said operator means includes pressure-responsive reciprocable piston structure, a housing for said piston structure, rack and pinion gearing operable to convert reciprocation of said piston structure to rotation of said shaft, and means to limit the stopper to rotate through an angle of about 90.

7. The combination of claim 6 including means to controllably supply fluid pressure to said annular piston and to said piston structure.

8. The combination of claim 1 including operator means at one side of said housing structure, there being a shaft extend ing between the plug and said operator means to transmit rotation to the plug.

9. The combination of claim 8 including an annular seal extending about said shaft to seal off against said housing structure, and another seal joined to said annular seal extending about said plug to seal off between upper and lower extents of an elastomer-sealing means.

10. In a flow control assembly, the combination comprising a. a body having first and second sections forming a chamber and a stopper received in said chamber, the stopper having an opening extending therethrough and defining a first axis,

b. trunnion means mounting the stopper for rotation within the body about a second axis to carry said opening into and out of flow-passing positions, the body having inlet and outlet passages with which the stopper through opening registers in flow-passing position,

. an annulus extending about said trunnion means,

. seal ring structure having a first portion extending closely about the annulus to seal off between the annulus and body and a second portion extending about the stopper in nonsealing relation therewith to permit rotation of the stopper relative to said ring second portion while said ring second portion seals off against the body, said ring second portion being confined between said body first and second sections, and

e. a housing mounted by one of said sections and defining a passage in alignment with said stopper opening in its flowpassing position, and a constrictable annulus movable in said housing between a constricted condition closing said passage and an expanded condition when said passage is open.

Claims

1. In well blowout prevention apparatus, the combination comprising a. housing structure defining vertically spaced intercommunicating chambers, b. an inwardly constrictable packer annulus in one of said chambers for forming therewith a vertical passage through which well tools may be run, c. an annular piston movable upwardly in said one chamber to constrict the annulus for sealing engagement with a well tool in said passage, d. a plug stopper having a through opening and mounted to rotate in another of said chambers to bring said through opening into and out of registration with said passage, e. said housing structure including a section at the side of the plug opposite said one chamber and which is removable to provide direct access to the plug.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said operator means includes pressure-responsive reciprocable piston structure, a housing for said piston structure, rack and pinion gearing operable to convert reciprocation of said piston structure to rotation of said shaft, and means to limit the stopper to rotate through an angle of about 90*.

8. The combination of claim 1 including operator means at one side of said housing structure, there being a shaft extending between the plug and said operator means to transmit rotation to the plug.

10. In a flow control assembly, the combination comprising a. a body having first and second sections forming a chamber and a stopper received in said chamber, the stopper having an opening extending therethrough and defining a first axis, b. trunnion means mounting the stopper for rotation within the body about a second axis to carry said opening into and out of flow-passing positions, the body having inlet and outlet passages with which the sTopper through opening registers in flow-passing position, c. an annulus extending about said trunnion means, d. seal ring structure having a first portion extending closely about the annulus to seal off between the annulus and body and a second portion extending about the stopper in nonsealing relation therewith to permit rotation of the stopper relative to said ring second portion while said ring second portion seals off against the body, said ring second portion being confined between said body first and second sections, and e. a housing mounted by one of said sections and defining a passage in alignment with said stopper opening in its flow-passing position, and a constrictable annulus movable in said housing between a constricted condition closing said passage and an expanded condition when said passage is open.