Collet latch for releasably locking a flow control device in the pocket of a well mandrel

Claim 2

A new and improved latch apparatus for releasably locking a flow control device movable through the bore of a well conduit to a mandrel for locking in the pocket of the mandrel below a locking shoulder of the mandrel, and in which the latch apparatus includes a stem and a sleeve movably mounted about the stem for coacting with a latch means to effect operation of the latch means, the improvement in the latch means comprising, a plurality of flexible ribs disposed adjacent the sleeve, each of said plurality of ribs having a locking lug mounted therewith at a location intermediate the ends of each of said plurality of ribs; said plurality of locking lugs movable to and from a first retracted position relative to the stem for enabling desired movement of said plurality of locking lugs past the locking shoulder and a second locking position for engaging the locking shoulder for locking the flow control device in the pocket of the mandrel; and means for connecting the ends of said plurality of ribs together to hold the ends from inadvertent engagement from obstructions in the well bore as the latch means moves through the bore to and from the pocket of the mandrel.

Claim 3

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said plurality of locking lugs are circumferentially spaced about the exterior of the sleeve with each of the ribs extending in substantially parallel relationships with each of the other of said plurality of ribs.

Claim 4

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: each of said plurality of locking lugs move radially outwardly from the stem in moving from the first retracted position to the second locking position.

Claim 5

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said means for connecting the ends of said plurality of ribs arranged to move said plurality of locking lugs on the sleeve to and from a first surface formed on the sleeve for enabling movement of said plurality of locking lugs to the first retracted position and a second surface for holding said plurality of locking lugs in the second locking position for locking the flow control device in the mandrel by engagement with the locking shoulder.

Claim 6

The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein: the sleeve is moved relative to the stem to move the second surface from holding said plurality of locking lugs in the second locking position for enabling movement of said locking lugs to the first retracted position to release the flow control device for movement from the mandrel.

Claim 7

The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said means for connecting includes: a first collar means movable relative to the sleeve; a second collar means movable relative to the sleeve and spaced from the first collar; and each of said plurality of ribs having one end connected with said first collar means and the other end connected with said second collar means wherein said first and said second collars connect the ends of said plurality of ribs.

Claim 8

The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said plurality of locking lugs circumferentially spaced about the exterior of the sleeve with said ribs extending in substantially parallel relationships between said first collar means and said second collar means.

Claim 9

The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein: each of said plurality of flexible ribs arranged for urging said locking lugs mounted thereon to move to the second locking position.

Claim 10

The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein: each of said plurality of ribs flexing to enable movement of said locking lug mounted thereon to the first retracted position when said locking lug engages an obstruction in moving through the well bore to the pocket.

Claim 11

The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said first and said second collar means moving said plurality of ribs relative to said sleeve when an obstruction is engaged by saiD locking lugs when moving through the well bore to the pocket to enable movement of said locking lugs to the first retracted position to enable movement of the flow control device to the pocket.

Claim 12

In a latch for releasably locking a flow control device in the pocket of a mandrel in which the mandrel includes a locking shoulder above the pocket, and in which the latch includes a stem, a sleeve telescopically movable on the stem and releasably connected thereto, said sleeve including a recess in its exterior surface intermediate its ends, the improvement in a collet latch comprising, a collet latch slidable relative to the sleeve, said latch including a collar at each end with flexible spring ribs connected between said collars; a locking lug connected to and extending outwardly from each rib and having upwardly and downwardly directed cam surfaces; and upper and lower stop means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the collet latch relative to the sleeve between a first upper position for positioning the lugs adjacent the sleeve recess, and a bottom position for positioning the lugs away from the recess but against the sleeve, whereby when the latch is moved past the locking shoulder the lugs will be pushed upwardly by the locking shoulder into the sleeve recess allowing passage of the latch past the locking shoulder after which the lugs will, by upward movement of the latch, be moved downwardly away from the recess and against the sleeve and locked in place.

Claim 13

In a latch for releasably locking a flow control device in the pocket of a mandrel in which the mandrel includes a locking shoulder above the pocket, and in which the latch includes a stem, a sleeve telescopically movable on the stem and releasably connected thereto, said sleeve including a recess in its exterior surface intermediate its ends, the improvement in a collet latch comprising, a collet latch slidable relative to the sleeve, said latch including a collar at each end with flexible spring ribs connected between said collars; a locking lug connected to and extending outwardly from each rib and having upwardly and downwardly directed cam surfaces; and upper and lower stop means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the collet latch relative to the sleeve between a first upper position for positioning the lugs adjacent the sleeve recess, and a bottom position for positioning the lugs away from the recess but against the sleeve, whereby when the latch is moved past the locking shoulder the lugs will be pushed upwardly by the locking shoulder into the sleeve recess allowing passage of the latch past the locking shoulder after which the lugs will, by upward movement of the latch, be moved downwardly away from the recess and against the sleeve and locked in place.