Wave spring flapper closure mechanism

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed herein, including a connector beam, a flapper, a collapsible member coupled to the connector beam and to the flapper, and a wave spring coupled to the connector beam. The flapper may be pivotally mounted to the connector beam such that it is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The wave spring rotates the flapper between the open and closed positions. A method of sealing a wellbore is disclosed herein, including the steps of: retracting a tubing member, partially decompressing a wave spring coupled to a connector beam after retracting a tubing member, collapsing a collapsible member coupled to the connector beam and to the flapper, and engaging a flapper with a seat positioned in a wellbore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a connector beam;   a flapper, wherein the flapper is pivotally mounted to the connector beam such that it is rotatable between an open position and a closed position;   a collapsible member coupled to the connector beam and to the flapper; and   a wave spring coupled to the connector beam, wherein the wave spring rotates the flapper between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seat, wherein the flapper is engaged with the seat when the flapper is in the closed position.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wave spring is in a compressed position
 when the flapper is in the open position, and wherein the wave spring is in a partially decompressed position when the flapper is in the closed position.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tubing member, wherein the tubing member may be retracted, and wherein the tubing member is engaged with the flapper when the flapper is in the open position.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a rod piston coupled to the tubing member; and   a control line coupled to the rod piston, wherein pressure may be delivered to or removed from the rod piston through the control line.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wave spring is located uphole of the flapper. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a wave spring housing, wherein the wave spring housing surrounds the wave spring, and wherein the wave spring housing is located uphole of the flapper. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wave spring provides a greater operating load than a coiled spring of the same length and diameter. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus may be permanently or semi-permanently installed in a wellbore. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wave spring comprises waves that deflect when compressed. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wave spring comprises flat wire. 
     
     
         12 . A method of sealing a wellbore, comprising:
 retracting a tubing member;   partially decompressing a wave spring coupled to a connector beam after retracting a tubing member;   collapsing a collapsible member coupled to the connector beam and to the flapper;   engaging a flapper with a seat positioned in a wellbore.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein retracting the tubing member comprises decompressing a rod piston. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein decompressing a rod piston comprises removing pressure applied to the rod piston through a control line. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wave spring is partially decompressed in response to the retraction of the tubing member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wave spring is located uphole of the flapper. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wave spring provides a greater operating load than a coiled spring of the same length and diameter. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wave spring comprises waves that deflect when compressed. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wave spring comprises flat wire. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the flapper may be permanently or semi-permanently installed in a wellbore.