US Patent 7980316 Formation isolation valve

A valve includes a housing, a valve element that is located in the housing, an operator, a locking device and an interference device. The housing includes an interior surface that has a profile. The operator may be configured to transition the valve element between open and closed states. The locking device is adapted to be selectively extended into the profile. The interference device may be adapted to be selectively extended radially inside the locking device to retain the locking device in the profile, thereby locking the valve element in the open or closed state.