A safety valve and operator for a rotatable kelly or drill string. The valve includes a ball valve, a fluid operator, a swivel connection permitting rotation of the ball valve relative to the operator, and a mechanical movement for converting linear motion of the fluid operator to a pivoting motion for closing or opening the ball valve. A preferred form of the invention includes a rack-and-pinion device associated with the ball valve, a pair of bearing assemblies rotatably supporting the ball valve and rack-and-pinion assembly, and an annular hydraulic actuator connected to a housing which carries the bearing assemblies, the ball valve, and the rack-and-pinion assembly.

A rotary valve actuator for actuating a valve that must be rotated between an open position and a closed position. The valve is disposed in a tubular valve housing having an exterior surface with at least one actuating member receiving aperture. The rotary valve actuator includes a substantially annular body having an interior surface, an exterior surface and a central axis. A male actuator member is rotatably mounted within the body. The male actuator member has a valve coupling end that projects perpendicularly from the interior surface of the body, such that it can be inserted into the actuating member receiving aperture of the tubular valve housing. A hydraulic chamber is positioned in the body having a first inlet and a second inlet. A fluid responsive member is positioned in the one hydraulic chamber between the first inlet and the second inlet. Hydraulic fluid is selectively supplied to the first inlet, such that the flow of hydraulic fluid through the first inlet into the hydraulic chamber causes the fluid responsive member to move in a first direction. Hydraulic fluid is selectively supplied to the second inlet, such that the flow of hydraulic fluid through the second inlet into the hydraulic chamber causes the fluid responsive member to move in a second direction. The movement of the fluid responsive member is translated into rotary movement of the male actuator member.

An actuator for a valve, said valve including a cylindrical valve body having a valve member disposed therein with a first gear attached to said valve member. A second gear is provided for drivingly engaging said first gear to operate said valve member. A support member is adapted to be attached to the valve body, and a first frame is rotatingly connected to the support member so that the valve body may rotate relative to said first frame. A hydraulic cylinder is connected between said first frame and a second frame. The second gear is rotatingly mounted upon the second frame. The hydraulic cylinder selectively moves said second gear into and out of engagement with said first gear. A locking apparatus is provided for selectively locking the first frame to the support member means to prevent the first frame from rotating relative to the valve body when the locking apparatus is in the locked position. The locking apparatus includes a coil compression spring for biasing the locking apparatus toward an unlocked position.

An improved remotely operable safety valve which is adapted for use between the swivel and the kelly is disclosed. An annular hydraulic piston moves the valve to the open and closed position whether or not the drill string is rotating, and in the event of hydraulic failure, the valve may be operated manually. Centering spring means are provided to reduce wear on the operable elements when the valve is in the open position.

Disclosed is a remotely operable top drive safety valve assembly having first and second valve elements. An actuator sleeve moves longitudinally on the main body of the top drive safety valve assembly under the influence of an operating arm. When operating the first valve element, a lock plate is preferably installed over the second valve element stem, and an arm is externally fixed to the stem of the first valve element and is disposed in a cutout in the wall of the actuator sleeve. Movement of the actuator sleeve up and down moves the arm, and thereby moves the first valve element between open and closed positions. When operating the second valve element, the arm on the upper valve element stem is removed, a lock plate is preferably installed over the first valve element stem, an arm is installed on the second valve element stem, and a linkage assembly is installed which operationally engages the second valve element stem arm with the actuator sleeve. Longitudinal movement of the actuator sleeve moves the second valve element between open and closed positions via the linkage assembly.