Selectively-anchored well tools

Claim 2

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; packing means carried by said body member for packing off a well conduit; slip means for anchoring against movement in the well conduit; expander means movable downwardly relative to said slip means for expanding said slip means into anchoring engagement; and means for translating upward force on said body member to downward force on said expander means to retain said slip means in anchoring engagement.

Claim 3

The well packer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said translating means comprises a member coupled to said body member and movable upwardly relative to said slip means, and cam means responsive to upward movement of said member for applying downward force on said expander means.

Claim 4

The well packer apparatus of claim 2 wherein said cam means includes wedge means having a downwardly and inwardly inclined surface cooperable with an upwardly and outwardly inclined surface on said member, and a clutch member coupled to said expander means, said wedge means having an upwardly and inwardly inclined surface cooperable with a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface on said clutch member.

Claim 5

The well packer apparatus of claim 3 wherein said clutch member is laterally expansible and contractible relative to said expander means and has clutch teeth cooperable with companion clutch teeth on said expander means, said clutch teeth being engaged to transfer downward force to said expander means and disengaged to enable longitudinal relative movement between said expander means and said slip means.

Claim 6

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; packing means carried by said body member for packing off a well conduit; slip means for anchoring against movement in the well conduit; expander means movable downwardly relative to said slip means for expanding said slip means into anchoring engagement; means for translating upward force on said body member to downward force on said expander means to retain said slip means in anchoring engagement; and a lost-motion connection between said packing means and said expander means to enable the application of downward force on said expander means independently of said packing means.

Claim 7

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; packing means carried by said body member for packing off a well conduit; slip means for anchoring against movement in the well conduit; expander means movable downwardly relative to said slip means for expanding said slip means into anchoring engagement; means for translating upward force on said body member to downward force on said expander means to retain said slip means in anchoring engagement; and a lost-motion connection between said packing means and said expander means to enable the application of downward force on said expander means independently of said packing means.

Claim 8

The well packer apparatus of claim 5 where said packing means includes a sleeve member and an elastomeric packing element mounted on said sleeve member, said lost-motion connection coupling said sleeve member and said expaNder means together for limited longitudinal movement.

Claim 9

The well packer apparatus of claim 6 wherein said translating means includes a housing member coupled to said body member and movable upwardly relative to said slip means, and cam means responsive to upward movement of said housing member and said body member for applying downward force on said expander means.

Claim 10

The well packer apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cam means includes wedge means having a downwardly and inwardly inclined surface cooperable with an upwardly and outwardly inclined surface on said housing member, and a clutch member coupled to said expander means, said wedge means having an upwardly and inwardly inclined surface cooperable with a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface on said clutch member.

Claim 11

The well packer apparatus of claim 8 wherein said clutch member is laterally expansible and contractible relative to said expander means and as clutch teeth cooperable with companion clutch teeth on said expander means, said clutch teeth being engaged to transfer downward force to said expander means and disengaged to enable longitudinal relative movement between said expander means and said slip means.

Claim 12

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; packing means on said body member for packing off a well bore; normally retracted slip means shiftable to expanded positions for anchoring against movement in a well conduit; expander means movable downwardly relative to said slip means for shifting said slip means into anchoring positions; housing means on said body member including upper and lower relatively movable housing members, said slip means being mounted on said upper housing member; means for coupling said housing members together for limited longitudinal relative movement; clutch means for coupling said body member to said lower housing member in longitudinally spaced relative positions, whereby longitudinal force on said body member is transmitted to said lower housing member; and mechanical means coacting between said lower housing member and said expander means for applying an upward force on said body member and lower housing member as a downward force on said expander means to retain said slip means in anchoring positions.

Claim 13

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; packing means on said body member for packing off a well bore; normally retracted slip means shiftable to expanded positions for anchoring against movement in a well conduit; expander means movable downwardly relative to said slip means for shifting said slip means into anchoring positions; housing means on said body member including upper and lower relatively movable housing members, said slip means being mounted on said upper housing member; means for coupling said housing members together for limited longitudinal relative movement; clutch means for coupling said body member to said lower housing member in longitudinally spaced relative positions, whereby longitudinal force on said body member is transmitted to said lower housing member; and mechanical means coacting between said lower housing member and said expander means for applying an upward force on said body member and lower housing member as a downward force on said expander means to retain said slip means in anchoring positions.

Claim 14

The well packer apparatus of claim 10 wherein said mechanical means includes cam means having at least two pair of coengageable inclined surfaces for reversing the direction of a component of the upward force on said body member and said lower housing member, and clutch means for transmitting said force component to said expander means.

Claim 15

The well packer apparatus of claim 11 further including a lost-motion connection between said packing means and said expander means to enable limited longitudinal motion therebetween.

Claim 16

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; a sleeve member mounted for limited longitudinal motion on said body member, said sleeve member and said body member defining a fluid bypass passage therebetween; coengageable valve means on body member and said sleeve member for closing off one end of said bypass passage; expansible packing means mounted on said sleeve member for packing off a well conduit; normally retracted slip means movable to expanded positions for anchoring against movement in the well conduit; a housing assembly on said body member for supporting said slip means; expander means below said packing means and movable downwardly relative to said slip means for expanding said slip means into anchoring engagement; releasable means on said housing assembly for securing said packing means and said slip means in both retracted and expanded positions; said releasable means transmitting longitudinally directed force on said body member to a portion of said housing assembly; and means for translating upward force on said body member and said portion to downward force on said expander means to retain said slip means in anchoring engagement.

Claim 17

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; a sleeve member mounted for limited longitudinal motion on said body member, said sleeve member and said body member defining a fluid bypass passage therebetween; coengageable valve means on body member and said sleeve member for closing off one end of said bypass passage; expansible packing means mounted on said sleeve member for packing off a well conduit; normally retracted slip means movable to expanded positions for anchoring against movement in the well conduit; a housing assembly on said body member for supporting said slip means; expander means below said packing means and movable downwardly relative to said slip means for expanding said slip means into anchoring engagement; releasable means on said housing assembly for securing said packing means and said slip means in both retracted and expanded positions; said releasable means transmitting longitudinally directed force on said body member to a portion of said housing assembly; and means for translating upward force on said body member and said portion to downward force on said expander means to retain said slip means in anchoring engagement.

Claim 18

The well packer apparatus of claim 13 whereIn said housing assembly includes upper and lower housing members coupled together for limited longitudinal relative movement, said lower housing member constituting said portion, said translating means including relative slidable means having coengageable inclined surfaces for reversing the direction of a component of the upward force on said body member and said lower housing member, and clutch means for applying said force component to said expander means.

Claim 19

The well packer apparatus of claim 14 further including a sliding connection between said sleeve member and said expander means to enable downward movement of said expander means relative to said packing means when said packing means is in expanded position.

Claim 20

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; packing means carried by said body member for packing off a well conduit; slip means for anchoring against movement in the well conduit; expander means below said packing means and movable downwardly relative to said slip means for expanding said slip means into anchoring engagement, said expander means including an expander member having inclined surfaces engageable with said slip means and a sleeve member extending to a location below said slip means; and means coupled to said body member and said sleeve member for reversing the direction of a component of an upward force on said body member and for applying the resultant downward force component to said sleeve member, thereby forcing said expander member in a downward direction to retain said slip means in anchoring engagement.

Claim 21

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; packing means carried by said body member for packing off a well conduit; slip means for anchoring against movement in the well conduit; expander means below said packing means and movable downwardly relative to said slip means for expanding said slip means into anchoring engagement, said expander means including an expander member having inclined surfaces engageable with said slip means and a sleeve member extending to a location below said slip means; and means coupled to said body member and said sleeve member for reversing the direction of a component of an upward force on said body member and for applying the resultant downward force component to said sleeve member, thereby forcing said expander member in a downward direction to retain said slip means in anchoring engagement.

Claim 22

The well packer apparatus of claim 16 wherein said reversing means includes cam means having at least two pair of coengageable and relatively slidable inclined surfaces, said applying means including a laterally shiftable clutch member having clutch teeth cooperable with companion teeth on said sleeve member, said clutch teeth being engaged to apply downward force on said sleeve member and disengaged to enable longitudinal relative movement between said expander means and said slip means.

Claim 23

The well packer apparatus of claim 17 further including a lost-motion connection between said packing means and said expander means to enable the application of downward force on said sleeve member and said expander means independently of said packing means.

Claim 24

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; a sleeve member surrounding said body member and having an upwardly facing fixed abutment and a downwardly facing slidable abutment; means for sealing said sleeve member with respect to said body member; packing means on said sleeve member between said abutments and adapted to be compressed and expanded by advancement of said abutments toward each other; means for coupling said slidable abutment to said body member; normally retracted slip means adapted to be shifted outwardly into gripping engagement with a well conduit; expander means movable downwardly relative to said slip means for shifting said slip means outwardly; housing means on said body member including upper and lower relatively movable housing members, said slip means being mounted on said upper housing member; means for coupling said housing members together for limited longitudinal movement; clutch means for coupling said body member to said lower housing members, whereby longitudinal force on said body member is transmitted to said lower housing member; and means coacting between said lower housing member and said expander means for reversing the direction of a component of an upward force on said body member and said housing member and for applying the resultant downward force component to said expander means, thereby retaining said slip means in gripping engagement with the well conduit.

Claim 25

A well packer apparatus comprising: a body member; a sleeve member surrounding said body member and having an upwardly facing fixed abutment and a downwardly facing slidable abutment; means for sealing said sleeve member with respect to said body member; packing means on said sleeve member between said abutments and adapted to be compressed and expanded by advancement of said abutments toward each other; means for coupling said slidable abutment to said body member; normally retracted slip means adapted to be shifted outwardly into gripping engagement with a well conduit; expander means movable downwardly relative to said slip means for shifting said slip means outwardly; housing means on said body member including upper and lower relatively movable housing members, said slip means being mounted on said upper housing member; means for coupling said housing members together for limited longitudinal movement; clutch means for coupling said body member to said lower housing members, whereby longitudinal force on said body member is transmitted to said lower housing member; and means coacting between said lower housing member and said expander means for reversing the direction of a component of an upward force on said body member and said housing member and for applying the resultant downward force component to said expander means, thereby retaining said slip means in gripping engagement with the well conduit.

Claim 26

A well tool comprising: a body; slip means for anchoring said well tool against movement in the well conduit; expander means movable downwardly relative to said slip means and adapted for extending said slip means into anchoring engagement witH a well conduit; and means for translating upward force on said body to downward force on said expander means to retain said slip means in anchoring engagement.

Claim 27

A well tool comprising: a body; slip means for anchoring said well tool against movement in the well conduit; expander means movable downwardly relative to said slip means and adapted for extending said slip means into anchoring engagement witH a well conduit; and means for translating upward force on said body to downward force on said expander means to retain said slip means in anchoring engagement.

Claim 28

The well tool of claim 20 wherein said force translating means comprise a member coupled to said body and movable upwardly relative to said slip means, and cam means responsive to upward movement of said movable member for applying a downward force on said expander means.

Claim 29

The well tool of claim 21 wherein said cam means include a clutch member coupled to said expander means, and wedge means operatively associated with said movable member and said clutch means for transmitting an upward force on said movable member as a downward force on said expander means.

Claim 30

The well tool of claim 22 wherein said wedge means has a first downwardly and inwardly inclined surface and a second upwardly and inwardly inclined surface; said movable member has an upwardly and outwardly inclined surface slidably coengageable with said first inclined surface; and said clutch member has a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface slidably coengageable with said second inclined surface.

Claim 31

A well tubing anchor comprising: a central tubular body member adapted for connection to a string of well tubing; normally-retracted anchor means shiftable to extended positions for anchoring a well tubing string against movement in well bore; housing means on said body member including upper and lower relatively-movable housing members, said anchor means being mounted on said upper housing member; means for coupling said housing members together for limited longitudinal relative movement; clutch means adapted for coupling said body member to said lower housing member in longitudinally-spaced positions and transmitting longitudinal forces on said body member to said lower housing member; and mechanical means coacting between said lower housing member and said expander means for applying an upward force on said body member and lower housing member as a downward force on said expander means to retain said anchoring means in an anchoring position.

Claim 32

A well tubing anchor comprising: a central tubular body member adapted for connection to a string of well tubing; normally-retracted anchor means shiftable to extended positions for anchoring a well tubing string against movement in well bore; housing means on said body member including upper and lower relatively-movable housing members, said anchor means being mounted on said upper housing member; means for coupling said housing members together for limited longitudinal relative movement; clutch means adapted for coupling said body member to said lower housing member in longitudinally-spaced positions and transmitting longitudinal forces on said body member to said lower housing member; and mechanical means coacting between said lower housing member and said expander means for applying an upward force on said body member and lower housing member as a downward force on said expander means to retain said anchoring means in an anchoring position.

Claim 33

The tubing anchor of claim 24 wherein said mechanical means include wedge means having a first downwardly and inwardly inclined surface and a second upwardly and inwardly inclined surface; and wherein said lower movable housing member has an upwardly and outwardly inclined surface cooperatively associated with said first inclined surface and said clutch means has a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface cooperatively associated with said second inclined surface providing camming action for reversing an upward force on said body member and said lower housing member and transmitting said force downwardly to said expander means to retain said anchor means in extended anchoring positions.

Claim 34

The tubing anchor of claim 25 wherein said wedge means has a third upwardly and inwardly inclined upper surface; and further including a downwardly-facing fixed abutment on said upper housing member; and a bearing member having a lower portion forming a downwardly and outwardly inclined lower surface cooperatively co-engageable with said third surface, said bearing member haVing a flat upper portion engaging said abutment for transmitting an upward thrust on said upper housing member as a radial thrust on said wedge means and translating said radial thrust as a downward thrust on said clutch means.

Claim 35

The tubing anchor of claim 26 wherein said clutch means are laterally expansible and contractible relative to said expander means and includes clutch teeth selectively cooperable with companion clutch teeth on said expander means for transferring downward force to said expander means upon coengagement of said clutch teeth and enabling longitudinal relative movement between said expander means and said slip means upon disengagement of said clutch teeth.