US4355685A — Ball operated J-slot

Claim 1

Independent Claim 67 words

In a lug and slot assembly for guiding a relative movement between first and second telescoping tubular members of a downhole tool, the improvement comprising: said slot having a semicircular cross section; said lug being a spherical ball approximately one-half of which is received in said slot; and biasing means for resiliently biasing said ball toward said slot, said biasing means including a displaceable fluid under pressure.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 67 words

In a lug and slot assembly for guiding a relative movement between first and second telescoping tubular members of a downhole tool, the improvement comprising: said slot having a semicircular cross section; said lug being a spherical ball approximately one-half of which is received in said slot; and biasing means for resiliently biasing said ball toward said slot, said biasing means including a displaceable fluid under pressure.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The assembly of claim 1, wherein: said biasing means further includes a compression spring.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 88 words

A guide apparatus, comprising: a first part having a groove disposed in a surface thereof; a spherical ball engaging said groove for movement along said groove; and a second part including a holding means for holding said spherical ball relative to said second part and a biasing means for resiliently biasing said spherical ball toward said groove, so that movement of said second part relative to said first part is guided by said engagement of said ball and groove, said biasing means including a displaceable fluid under pressure.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 88 words

A guide apparatus, comprising: a first part having a groove disposed in a surface thereof; a spherical ball engaging said groove for movement along said groove; and a second part including a holding means for holding said spherical ball relative to said second part and a biasing means for resiliently biasing said spherical ball toward said groove, so that movement of said second part relative to said first part is guided by said engagement of said ball and groove, said biasing means including a displaceable fluid under pressure.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein: said biasing means further includes a compression spring means for providing a portion of said resilient biasing of said spherical ball.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 138 words

A downhole tool, comprising: an outer cylindrical member having a longitudinal passageway disposed therein, said outer cylindrical member including a cylindrical inner surface defining a portion of said longitudinal passageway; an inner cylindrical member having a cylindrical outer surface thereof closely received within said cylindrical inner surface of said outer cylindrical member; a groove disposed in said cylindrical outer surface of said inner cylindrical member; a spherical ball engaging said groove for movement along said groove; and a holding means for holding said spherical ball relative to said outer cylindrical member, said holding means including a radial bore disposed through a wall of said outer cylindrical member, said ball being disposed in said radial bore, so that movement of said outer cylindrical member relative to said inner cylindrical member is guided by engagement of said ball and groove.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 138 words

A downhole tool, comprising: an outer cylindrical member having a longitudinal passageway disposed therein, said outer cylindrical member including a cylindrical inner surface defining a portion of said longitudinal passageway; an inner cylindrical member having a cylindrical outer surface thereof closely received within said cylindrical inner surface of said outer cylindrical member; a groove disposed in said cylindrical outer surface of said inner cylindrical member; a spherical ball engaging said groove for movement along said groove; and a holding means for holding said spherical ball relative to said outer cylindrical member, said holding means including a radial bore disposed through a wall of said outer cylindrical member, said ball being disposed in said radial bore, so that movement of said outer cylindrical member relative to said inner cylindrical member is guided by engagement of said ball and groove.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

The downhole tool of claim 5, further comprising: biasing means for resiliently biasing said ball toward said groove.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 64 words

The downhole tool of claim 5, being further characterized as a circulation valve, wherein: said outer cylindrical member is further characterized as being a circulation valve housing having a circulating port disposed therethrough; and said inner cylindrical member is further characterized as including a sliding valve member movable between a closed position closing said circulating port and an open position opening said circulating port.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

The downhole tool of claim 5, wherein: said inner cylindrical member includes a cylindrical sleeve disposed thereon, said cylindrical outer surface in which said groove is disposed being defined as a cylindrical outer surface of said sleeve.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The downhole tool of claim 8, wherein: said sleeve is freely rotatable relative to said inner cylindrical member.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 13 words

The downhole tool of claim 9, wherein: said slot is a continuous slot.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 95 words

The downhole tool of claim 10, wherein said continuous slot includes: an upper repeating zig-zag portion for rotating said sleeve in a first direction relative to said outer cylindrical member upon reciprocation of said inner cylindrical member relative to said outer cylindrical member; a lower repeating zig-zag portion for rotating said sleeve in a second direction, opposite said first direction, relative to said outer cylindrical member upon reciprocation of said inner cylindrical member relative to said outer cylindrical member; and first and second vertical groove portions joining ends of said upper and lower zig-zag portions.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The downhole tool of claim 5, further comprising: retainer means for retaining said ball in said radial bore.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The downhole tool of claim 12, wherein: said ball is closely received in said radial bore, an inner diameter of said radial bore being slightly greater than an outer diameter of said ball.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The downhole tool of claim 13, further comprising: biasing means for resiliently biasing said ball toward said groove.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The downhole tool of claim 14, wherein: said biasing means includes a compression spring located between said ball and said retainer means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 14 words

The downhole tool of claim 15, wherein: said compression spring directly engages said ball.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 57 words

The downhole tool of claim 15, wherein: said retainer means includes a threaded plug means received in a threaded radial counterbore located outward of said radial bore, for blocking said radial bore; and said downhole tool further includes annular seal means disposed between said plug means and a shoulder defined between said radial bore and said counterbore.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 37 words

The downhole tool of claim 12, wherein: said holding means further includes a holding block closely received in said radial bore and having a hemispherical cavity disposed in a radially inner surface thereof for receiving said ball.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 41 words

The downhole tool of claim 18, wherein: said retainer means includes a threaded plug blocking said radial bore outward from said holding block; and said downhole tool further includes compression spring biasing means compressed between said plug and said holding block.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 52 words

The downhole tool of claim 19, wherein: said threaded plug of said retainer means is received in a threaded radial counterbore located outward of said radial bore; and said downhole tool further includes annular seal means disposed between said plug means and a shoulder defined between said radial bore and said counterbore.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 63 words

The downhole tool of claim 18, wherein: said retainer means includes a threaded plug blocking said radial outward from said holding block, said plug having a fluid passage means disposed therethrough for communicating said radial bore with an outer surface of said outer cylindrical member; and said downhole tool further includes annular seal means disposed between said holding block and said radial bore.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

The downhole tool of claim 21, further comprising: biasing means for resiliently biasing said ball toward said groove.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 22 words

The downhole tool of claim 22, wherein: said biasing means includes a compression spring located between said plug and said holding block.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 35 words

The downhole tool of claim 22, wherein: said biasing means includes a displaceable fluid under pressure communicated with a radially outer end of said holding block through said fluid passage means of said threaded plug.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1985-10-25	1986-04-26	1986-10-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1989-10-25	1990-04-26	1990-10-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1993-10-25	1994-04-26	1994-10-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ball operated J-slot

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