Sliding sleeve valve and operator therefor

Claim 2

A well tool for moving a movable member between two longitudinally spaced positions in a housing having a restricted bore portion spaced from said movable member, coMprising: an elongate body having means at opposite ends for connection with actuating mechanisms for moving said tool through said housing; and operator means pivotally supported on said body for releasably engaging said movable member for moving said member between first and second positions therein, one end portion of said operator means being mounted to be pivoted laterally outwardly into engaging relationship with said movable member when an opposite end portion of said operator means engages a cam surface provided by said restricted bore portion of said housing; said operator means being movable past said movable member after said movable member has been shifted from said first to said second position in said housing, said operator means being laterally retractably movable independently of said pivotal movement of said operator means for providing increased clearance around said operator means to permit said tool to pass obstructions in said housing past which said tool is precluded from moving by normal pivotal movement of said operator means.

Claim 3

A well tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said elongate body is provided with load bearing surface portion engageable with a surface portion of said operator means whereby force is transmitted from said elongate body to said operator means independently of the pivotal support between said operator means and said body for moving said movable member in said passage.

Claim 4

A well tool as defined in claim 2, including: means operably connected between said elongate body member and said operator means for biasing said operator means toward said load bearing surface on said body.

Claim 5

A well tool for moving a sleeve of a flow control device connected in a well flow conductor, the flow control device having a cam surface away from which the sleeve valve is moved, said tool comprising: an elongate body having means at opposite ends for connection with actuating apparatus for moving said well tool through said flow conductor; sleeve engaging means supported on said body for swingable movement relative thereto whereby engagement of one portion of said sleeve engaging means with said cam surface in said flow control device pivots another portion of said sleeve engaging means laterally outwardly for engaging said sleeve; said sleeve engaging means being retractable toward said elongate body independently of said swingable movement to provide increased clearance around said tool for passing obstructions in said flow conductor; and means operatively connected between said sleeve shifting means and said elongate body for biasing said sleeve shifting means to a predetermined position relative to said body.

Claim 6

A well tool for moving a sleeve of a flow control device connected in a well flow conductor, the flow control device having a cam surface away from which the sleeve valve is moved, said tool comprising: an elongate body having means at opposite ends for connection with actuating apparatus for moving said well tool through said flow conductor; sleeve engaging means supported on said body for swingable movement relative thereto whereby engagement of one portion of said sleeve engaging means with said cam surface in said flow control device pivots another portion of said sleeve engaging means laterally outwardly for engaging said sleeve; said sleeve engaging means being retractable toward said elongate body independently of said swingable movement to provide increased clearance around said tool for passing obstructions in said flow conductor; and means operatively connected between said sleeve shifting means and said elongate body for biasing said sleeve shifting means to a predetermined position relative to said body.

Claim 7

A well tool as defined in claim 4 wherein said sleeve shifting means comprises: a plurality of sleeve shifting keys each swingably supported with respect to said elongate body by a pivot pin secured to said key and movably disposed in a longitudinally extending transverse slot provided in said elongate body, said slot having an inwardly sloping portion whereby said keys are compressible inwardly on said body responsive to longitudinal movement thereof relative to said body.

Claim 8

A well tool as defined in claim 5 wherein: each of said sleeve shifting keys is provided with a shoulder surface for engaging said sleeve and moving said sleeve between positions in said flow control device and for camming a portion of said key inwardly for disengagement from said sleeve when the portion of said key engaging said cam surface passes said cam surface, whereby said key is released to pivot on said elongate body to a position of disengagement from said sleeve for releasing said tool from said sleeve.

Claim 9

A well tool as defined in claim 6 wherein said elongate body is provided with a bearing surface engageable with a bearing surface provided on each of said keys for transmitting force from said body to each of said keys independently of the pivot pin supporting said key whereby force applied to said body is transmitted at said bearinG surfaces to said keys for moving said sleeve when said sleeve is engaged by said keys.

Claim 10

A well tool as defined in claim 7 wherein said keys are biased on said elongate body in a direction biasing said bearing surface on said keys toward said bearing surface on said body.

Claim 11

A well tool as defined in claim 8 wherein: said elongate body has an external enlarged portion through which each of said transverse slots for receiving said pivot pins is formed, and each of said keys is provided with an internal recess longer in a longitudinal direction than the longitudinal length of said enlarged portion of said elongated body.

Claim 12

A well tool as defined in claim 9 wherein said elongate body is provided with a second external enlarged portion spaced from said first enlarged portion, said second external enlarged portion being provided with said bearing surface of said elongated body engageable with said bearing surfaces of said keys; and biasing means is confined between an end surface of said keys and said elongate body for biasing said keys toward said second enlarged portion.

Claim 13

The well tool as defined in claim 10 wherein said biasing means includes a ring biased against an end surface of said keys for biasing said keys toward said enlarged portion of said elongate body.

Claim 14

A well tool as defined in claim 11 wherein: said ring has a surface of predetermined configuration facing toward said keys, and the end surfaces of said keys adjacent to and engageable with said ring are shaped complementary to said surface of the ring.

Claim 15

A well tool as defined in claim 11 wherein: the angle between said bearing surfaces of both said elongate body and said keys and the longitudinal axis of said body is greater than the angle between said longitudinal axis and the slope of said sleeve engaging shoulder surfaces on said keys, whereby said engagement between said shoulder surfaces of said keys and said sleeve cams said keys inwardly, disengaging said keys from said sleeve after said keys pass the cam surface of said flow conductor.

Claim 16

A well tool as defined in claim 11 wherein: said second enlarged portion of said elongated body comprises an annular ring secured on said body by shearable means releasable for releasing said ring to provide for said keys to move longitudinally on said elongate body and be retracted inwardly responsive to engagement with a sliding sleeve requiring more than a predetermined force for movement in such flow conductor, and said transverse slots in said first enlarged portion of said elongated body slope inwardly along both opposite end portions whereby said keys are retractable inwardly on said body responsive to movement toward an end position in either direction on said body.

Claim 17

A well tool comprising a flow control device for a well flow conductor and an actuator therefor, including: an elongate tubular housing having means at each end for coupling the same to a flow conductor; an aperture in the wall of said housing communicating the exterior and interior thereof; a valve element in said housing slidable longitudinally therein between a position closing said aperture and a position in which the aperture is open to permit flow therethrough; means in said housing spaced from said valve element providing a cam surface; an actuator tool having operator means pivotally supported thereon and engageable with said valve element and said cam surface for moving said valve element in said housing between open and closed positions, said operator means being mounted to move out of engagement with said cam surface and to pivot out of engagement with said valve element when said valve element has been moved from one of said open and closed positions to the other, and to be movable laterally to a retracted position to permit said operator means to pass obstructions in said housing independently of pivotal movement of said operator means.

Claim 18

A well tool comprising a flow control device for a well flow conductor and an actuator therefor, including: an elongate tubular housing having means at each end for coupling the same to a flow conductor; an aperture in the wall of said housing communicating the exterior and interior thereof; a valve element in said housing slidable longitudinally therein between a position closing said aperture and a position in which the aperture is open to permit flow therethrough; means in said housing spaced from said valve element providing a cam surface; an actuator tool having operator means pivotally supported thereon and engageable with said valve element and said cam surface for moving said valve element in said housing between open and closed positions, said operator means being mounted to move out of engagement with said cam surface and to pivot out of engagement with said valve element when said valve element has been moved from one of said open and closed positions to the other, and to be movable laterally to a retracted position to permit said operator means to pass obstructions in said housing independently of pivotal movement of said operator means.

Claim 19

A flow control device for a flow conductor and an actuator therefor, including: an elongate tubular housing having means at each end for coupling the same to a flow conductor; an aperture through the wall of said housing; a sleeve valve element in said housing for controlling flow of fluids between the interior and exterior of said housing through said aperture; said valve element being slidable in said housing between a position in which said aperture is open to permit flow therethrough and a position in which the lateral aperture is closed to prevent flow therethrough; seal means between said housing and said lateral aperture when said valve element is in closed position; means providing actuating shoulder means on said valve element and relief means in the form of an enlarged bore in said valve element; a cam surface in said housing spaced from said valve element; an actuator tool for moving said valve element between said open and said closed positions in said housing comprising an elongate body having means thereon for connection with a tool string for moving said actuator through said housing and said valve element; operator means pivotally supported on said elongate body of said actuator means having means for releasably engaging said actuating shoulder means of said valve element for moving said valve element longitudinally of the housing between a first position and a second position, said operator means being movable laterally and retractable from engagement with said shoulder means for movement past said shoulder means after said valve element has been shifted in said housing, said cam surface in said housing engaging one end of said operator means for holding the opposite end thereof in actuating engagement with said shoulder means of said valve element for moving said valve element in said housing between said first and second positions, said cam surface being disposed in spaced relationship with respect to said valve element to free the end of said operator means in engagement with said cam surface from such engagement when said valve element has been moved to said second position, whereby said end of said operator means which engaged said cam surface may pivot outwardly to permit said opposite end to pivot out of engagement with said shoulder means of said valve element to permit said operator means to pass said valve element after the same has been shifted to said second position in said housing.

Claim 20

A flow control device for a flow conductor and an actuator therefor, including: an elongate tubular housing having means at each end for coupling the same to a flow conductor; an aperture through the wall of said housing; a sleeve valve element in said housing for controlling flow of fluids between the interior and exterior of said housing through said aperture; said valve element being slidable in said housing between a position in which said aperture is open to permit flow therethrough and a position in which the lateral aperture is closed to prevent flow therethrough; seal means between said housing and said lateral aperture when said valve element is in closed position; means providing actuating shoulder means on said valve element and relief means in the form of an enlarged bore in said valve element; a cam surface in said housing spaced from said valve element; an actuator tool for moving said valve element between said open and said closed positions in said housing comprising an elongate body having means thereon for connection with a tool string for moving said actuator through said housing and said valve element; operator means pivotally supported on said elongate body of said actuator means having means for releasably engaging said actuating shoulder means of said valve element for moving said valve element longitudinally of the housing between a first position and a second position, said operator means being movable laterally and retractable from engagement with said shoulder means for movement past said shoulder means after said valve element has been shifted in said housing, said cam surface in said housing engaging one end of said operator means for holding the opposite end thereof in actuating engagement with said shoulder means of said valve element for moving said valve element in said housing between said first and second positions, said cam surface being disposed in spaced relationship with respect to said valve element to free the end of said operator means in engagement with said cam surface from such engagement when said valve element has been moved to said second position, whereby said end of said operator means which engaged said cam surface may pivot outwardly to permit said opposite end to pivot out of engagement with said shoulder means of said valve element to permit said operator means to pass said valve element after the same has been shifted to said second position in said housing.

Claim 22

A flow control device for a flow conductor adapted for use with an actuating tool having thereon elongate pivotally mounted operator means having opposite ends swingable about said pivotal mounting, said flow control device comprising as a subcombination: an elongate tubular housing having means at each end thereof for coupling the same to a flow conductor; an aperture through the wall of said housing; a tubular valve element slidable longitudinally in said housing between a first open position admitting flow through said aperture in said housing wall and a second closed position closing off flow through said aperture; seal means between said tubular housing and said valve element sealing therebetween when the valve element is in said second closed position to prevent flow of fluids through said aperture in said housing; means providing actuating shoulder means on said valve element and an enlarged relief bore in said valve element; and means providing camming surface means in said housing spaced from said shoulder means of said valve element and adapted to be engaged by one swingable end of said operator means of said actuating tool when said valve element is in said first position to hold the opposite swingable end of said operator means of said actuating tool in engageMent with said shoulder means of said valve element for movement of said valve element between said first position and said second position.

Claim 23

A flow control device for a flow conductor adapted for use with an actuating tool having thereon elongate pivotally mounted operator means having opposite ends swingable about said pivotal mounting, said flow control device comprising as a subcombination: an elongate tubular housing having means at each end thereof for coupling the same to a flow conductor; an aperture through the wall of said housing; a tubular valve element slidable longitudinally in said housing between a first open position admitting flow through said aperture in said housing wall and a second closed position closing off flow through said aperture; seal means between said tubular housing and said valve element sealing therebetween when the valve element is in said second closed position to prevent flow of fluids through said aperture in said housing; means providing actuating shoulder means on said valve element and an enlarged relief bore in said valve element; and means providing camming surface means in said housing spaced from said shoulder means of said valve element and adapted to be engaged by one swingable end of said operator means of said actuating tool when said valve element is in said first position to hold the opposite swingable end of said operator means of said actuating tool in engageMent with said shoulder means of said valve element for movement of said valve element between said first position and said second position.

Claim 24

A flow control device of the character set forth in claim 18 wherein said relief bore in said valve element is disposed to receive said one end of said operator means to permit said opposite end of said operator means of said actuating tool to pivot out of engagement with and move past said shoulder means of said valve element when said one end of said operator means is out of engagement with said camming surface.