Bearing structure for telescoping well tool

Claim 2

A well tool for use within a hole, said tool comprising: an elongated outer member having a longitudinal bore therethrough, and having a first end and a second end; an elongated inner member telescopically mounted in the bore of said outer member, said outer member being axially movable relative to said inner member, said inner member having a first end located within the bore of said outer member axially inwardly of the first end of said outer member, and a second end located free of the bore of said outer member and axially outboard of the second end of said outer member; means limiting axial movement of said outer member relative to said inner member in either direction; a radial bearing for maintaining axial alignment of said inner and outer members, said bearing comprising a plurality of rotating bearing elements circumferentially disposed between and engageable with said inner and outer members, each of said bearing elements having an axis of rotation disposed in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said inner member and located in part between said axis and the inner wall of said outer member, the axes of said bearing elements being fixed with respect to one of said members; and longitudinally extending spline means cooperative between said inner and outer members to permit relative axial movement between said members within the limits of said limiting means and prevent relative rotation between said members.

Claim 3

The tool of claim 1 wherein said spline means is comprised of a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves in the outer surface of said inner member between said bearing elements and said second ends of said members, an equal number of longitudinally extending grooves in the inner surface of said outer member between said bearing elements and said second ends of said members, each of the grooves in said outer member being circumferentially aligned with one of the grooves in said inner member to form a pair of grooves, and a plurality of rolling bearings disposed between each pair of grooves.

Claim 4

The tool according to claim 1 wherein said inner member has a plurality of sockets, each of said sockets being radially directed with respect to said inner member and having one of said bearing elements rotatably mounted therein, each of said bearing elements having a side portion which extends radially outwardly of the socket in which said bearing element is mounted and which is engageable with the inner surface of said outer member.

Claim 5

The tool according to claim 3 wherein each of said sockets has end walls adjacent the ends of the axis of the bearing element mounted therein and extending radially beyond the axis of said bearing element and wherein each of said bearing elements includes a pair of trunnions protruding from opposite ends along its axis and rotatably mounted in said end walls.

Claim 6

The tool according to claim 1 wherein said bearing elements are of roller type configuration and have longitudinally curved convex sides, the radius of longitudinal curvature of each of said bearing elements being substantially equivalent to the radius of circumferential curvature of the adjacent portion of said bore.

Claim 7

A well tool for use within a hole, said tool comprising: an elongated outer member having a longitudinal bore therethrough, and having a first end and a second end; an elongated inner member telescopically mounted in the bore of said outer member, said outer member being axially movable relative to said inner member, said inner member having a first end located within the bore of said outer member axially inwardly of the first end of said outer member, and a second end located free of the bore of said outer member and axially outboard of the second end of said outer member; means limiting axial movement of said outer member relative to said inner member in either direction; a radial bearing for maintaining axial alignment of said inner and outer members, said bearing comprising a plurality of rotating bearing elements circumferentially disposed between and engageable with said inner and outer members, each of said bearing elements having an axis of rotation disposed in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said inner member and located in part between said axis and the inner wall of said outer member, the axes of said bearing elements being fixed with respect to one of said members; and wherein said inner member includes an annular flange disposed circumferentially therearound, said flange forming a pair of axially directed shoulders facing in opposite directions on said inner member, and wherein said outer member has a pair of axially directed shoulders formed in said bore, each of the shoulders on said outer member being opposed to and engageable with one of the shoulders on said inner member, and the distance between the shoulders on said outer member being greater than the distance between the shoulders on said inner member, whereby said shoulders comprise said limiting means, and wherein said bearing elements are mounted in said flange, and said axes of said bearing elements are fixed with respect to said flange.

Claim 8

A well tool for use within a hole, said tool comprising: an elongated outer member having a longitudinal bore therethrough, and having a first end and a second end; an elongated inner member telescopically mounted in the bore of said outer member, said outer member being axially movable relative to said inner member, said inner member having a first end located within the bore of said outer member axially inwardly of the first end of said outer member, and a second end located free of the bore of said outer member and axially outboard of the second end of said outer member; means limiting axial movement of said outer member relative to said inner member in either direction; a radial bearing for maintaining axial alignment of said inner and outer members, said bearing comprising a plurality of rotating bearing elements circumferentially disposed between and engageable with said inner and outer members, each of said bearing elements having an axis of rotation disposed in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said inner member and located in part between said axis and the inner wall of said outer member, the axes of said bearing elements being fixed with respect to one of said members; and wherein said inner member includes an annular flange disposed circumferentially therearound, said flange forming a pair of axially directed shoulders facing in opposite directions on said inner member, and wherein said outer member has a pair of axially directed shoulders formed in said bore, each of the shoulders on said outer member being opposed to and engageable with one of the shoulders on said inner member, and the distance between the shoulders on said outer member being greater than the distance between the shoulders on said inner member, whereby said shoulders comprise said limiting means, and wherein said bearing elements are mounted in said flange, and said axes of said bearing elements are fixed with respect to said flange.