Releasable locking system for a well tool

Claim 2

Apparatus for use in a well tool, comprising: a first member; a second member movable relatively along said first member; releasable means for permitting movement of said second member along said first member in one direction but normally preventing movement in the opposite direction, including a lock member having gripping engagement with said first member, cam means engaging said second member and causing said lock member to grip said first member when in one position and movable to another position to enable said lock member to pass longitudinally therethrough, holding means for positioning said cam means in said one position and means to enable movement of said cam means to said other position; and recess means in said second member for receiving said lock member after passage thereof through said cam means and during movement of said second member along said first member in said opposite direction.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second member is a slip expander means that is adapted to shift a normally retracted slip means outwardly during movement in said one direction, said expander means being adapted to retract said slip during movement in said opposite direction.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second member is a sleeve structure that is adapted for mounting a settable packing means, movement of sleeve structure in said one direction causing expansion of said packing means and movement thereof in the opposite direction enabling retraction of said packing means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lock member is constituted by a split ring having internal teeth that mesh with external teeth on said first member to provide said gripping engagement, said ring having external cam surfaces that are engaged by internal cam surfaces on said cam means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said cam means is constituted by a split cam ring having the capability for lateral expansion and contraction between said one and said other position.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said holding means is constituted by an annular member having limited longitudinal movement with respect to said second member, said member having an internal annular locking surface that engages said cam ring in said one position, said member being movable longitudinally to dispose a relief means opposite said cam ring to enable movement thereof to said other position.

Claim 8

Apparatus for use in a well tool, comprising: a body member, an annular member surrounding said body member and movable relatively therealong; releasable one-way lock means for enabling movement of said annular member along said body member in one direction but normally preventing movement in the opposite direction, said lock means including an expansible and contractible ring having gripping engagement with said body member, cam means engaging said ring and said annular member and causing said ring to grip said body member when in one position and movable to another position to enable said ring to pass longitudinally therethrough; holding means for positioning said cam means in said one position and including means to enable movement of said cam means to said other position; and elongated recess means within said annular member sized to receive said ring after its passage through said cam means and during subsequent movement of said annular member along said body member in said opposite direction.

Claim 9

Apparatus for use in a well tool, comprising: a body member, an annular member surrounding said body member and movable relatively therealong; releasable one-way lock means for enabling movement of said annular member along said body member in one direction but normally preventing movement in the opposite direction, said lock means including an expansible and contractible ring having gripping engagement with said body member, cam means engaging said ring and said annular member and causing said ring to grip said body member when in one position and movable to another position to enable said ring to pass longitudinally therethrough; holding means for positioning said cam means in said one position and including means to enable movement of said cam means to said other position; and elongated recess means within said annular member sized to receive said ring after its passage through said cam means and during subsequent movement of said annular member along said body member in said opposite direction.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said ring has upwardly and outwardly inclined external cam surfaces and said cam means has downwardly and inwardly inclined internal cam surfaces, said cam surfaces being slidably engaged when said cam means is in said one position and disengaged when said cam means is in said other position.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said cam means and said annular member have oppositely facing transverse surfaces that are engageable to transmit longitudinal forces from said annular member to said cam means in said opposite direction when said cam means is in said one position.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said elongated recess means is formed internally of annular member on a diameter at least as great as the outer diameter of said ring.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said cam means is formed by the lower end portion of a sleeve having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots cut from the lower end thereof to divide said lower end portion into a plurality of laterally flexible fingers, each finger having an enlarged head portion that is provided with said internal cam surfaces and one of said oppositely facing transverse surfaces.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the upper portion of said sleeve has internal threads therein adapted to be connected with latch means on a seal mandrel extending into said body member.