Locking apparatus for use in a subterranean well

Claim 1

An apparatus for locking a tool into a locking groove formed on the interior surface of a subterranean well conduit, comprising: a mandrel; expandable segmented locking means selectively movable to circumferentially expanded and secured position in said groove; means manipulatable by said mandrel for wedging between adjacent ends of said locking means and surface means on said manipulatable means in constant physical contact with the ends of said locking means for shifting said expandable means into circumferentially expanded position; and means engagable with an associated running tool for shifting said manipulatable means.

Claim 2

An apparatus for locking a tool into a locking groove formed on the interior surface of a subterranean well conduit, comprising: a mandrel; expandable segmented locking means selectively movable to circumferentially expanded and secured position in said groove; means manipulatable by said mandrel for wedging between adjacent ends of said locking means and surface means on said manipulatable means in constant physical contact with the ends of said locking means for shifting said expandable means into circumferentially expanded position; and means engagable with an associated running tool for shifting said manipulatable means.

Claim 3

An apparatus for locking a tool into a locking groove formed on the interior surface of a subterranean well conduit, comprising: a mandrel; circumferentially expandable segmented locking means selectively movable to circumferentially expanded and secured position in said groove; means manipulatable by said mandrel for wedging between adjacent ends of said locking means and surface means on said manipulatable means in constant physical contact with the ends of said locking means for shifting said expandable means into circumferentially expanded position; and means engagable with an associated running tool for axially shifting said manipulatable means.

Claim 4

An apparatus for locking a tool into a locking groove formed on the interior surface of a subterranean well conduit, comprising: a mandrel; circumferentially expandable segmented locking means selectively movable to circumferentially expanded and secured position in said groove; means manipulatable by said mandrel for wedging between adjacent ends of said locking means and surface means on said manipulatable means in constant physical contact with the ends of said locking means for shifting said expandable means into circumferentially expanded position; and means engagable with an associated running tool for axially shifting said manipulatable means.

Claim 5

An apparatus for locking a tool carrying mandrel in an annular groove formed on the interior surface of a subterranean well conduit, comprising: a segmented ring mounted on said mandrel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments; and means having tapered surfaces in constant physical contact with and axially shiftable between the ends of said segments for wedging said segments apart, whereby the circumference of said segmented ring may be increased to engage the locking groove.

Claim 6

An apparatus for locking a tool carrying mandrel in an annular groove formed on the interior surface of a subterranean well conduit, comprising: a segmented ring mounted on said mandrel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments; and means having tapered surfaces in constant physical contact with and axially shiftable between the ends of said segments for wedging said segments apart, whereby the circumference of said segmented ring may be increased to engage the locking groove.

Claim 7

An apparatus for locking a tool into a locking groove formed on the interior surface of a subterranean well conduit, comprising: a mandrel carrying a segmented ring including a plurality of ring segments surrounding said mandrel; tapered key means carried by said mandrel in constant physical contact with the ends of said segments and axially shiftable between said segments for wedging said segments apart whereby the circumference of said segmented ring may be increased to engage the locking groove; and means engagable with an associated running tool for axially shifting said keys.

Claim 8

An apparatus for locking a tool into a locking groove formed on the interior surface of a subterranean well conduit, comprising: a mandrel carrying a segmented ring including a plurality of ring segments surrounding said mandrel; tapered key means carried by said mandrel in constant physical contact with the ends of said segments and axially shiftable between said segments for wedging said segments apart whereby the circumference of said segmented ring may be increased to engage the locking groove; and means engagable with an associated running tool for axially shifting said keys.

Claim 9

An apparatus for locking a tool into a locking groove formed on the interior surface of a conduit in a subterranean well, comprising: a mandrel having an annular recess formed in the outer surface thereof; a segmented ring including a plurality of ring segments within said recess, surrounding said mandrel; means for retaining said segments within said recess; tapered key means carried by said mandrel in constant physical contact with the ends of said segments and axially shiftable between said segments for wedging said segments apart whereby the circumference of said segmented ring may be increased to engage the locking groove; a collet axially shiftable within said mandrel; means for axially fixing said collet relative to said keys, whereby axial movement of said collet will control the expansion of said segmented ring; means on said collet for engaging a probe of an associated running tool, for axially shifting said keys; and releasable means for fixing the relative axial position of said mandrel and said collet.

Claim 10

An apparatus for locking a tool into a locking groove formed on the interior surface of a conduit in a subterranean well, comprising: a mandrel having an annular recess formed in the outer surface thereof; a segmented ring including a plurality of ring segments within said recess, surrounding said mandrel; means for retaining said segments within said recess; tapered key means carried by said mandrel in constant physical contact with the ends of said segments and axially shiftable between said segments for wedging said segments apart whereby the circumference of said segmented ring may be increased to engage the locking groove; a collet axially shiftable within said mandrel; means for axially fixing said collet relative to said keys, whereby axial movement of said collet will control the expansion of said segmented ring; means on said collet for engaging a probe of an associated running tool, for axially shifting said keys; and releasable means for fixing the relative axial position of said mandrel and said collet.

Claim 11

An apparatus for locking a tool relative to a subterranean well conduit having a circumferential locking groove formed on the interior surface thereof, comprising: expandable segmented locking means selectively movable from a retracted position to a circumferentially expended position for engagement with said locking groove; and axially shiftable means movable form a first position to a second position in constant physical contact with the ends of said locking means, said axially shiftable means being between adjacent ends of said locking means in said second position, for wedging the locking means into the circumferential expanded position, said axially shiftable means in said second position maintaining said segmental locking means in the circumferentially expanded position in engagement with said locking groove.

Claim 12

An apparatus for locking a tool relative to a subterranean well conduit having a circumferential locking groove formed on the interior surface thereof, comprising: expandable segmented locking means selectively movable from a retracted position to a circumferentially expended position for engagement with said locking groove; and axially shiftable means movable form a first position to a second position in constant physical contact with the ends of said locking means, said axially shiftable means being between adjacent ends of said locking means in said second position, for wedging the locking means into the circumferential expanded position, said axially shiftable means in said second position maintaining said segmental locking means in the circumferentially expanded position in engagement with said locking groove.

Claim 13

An apparatus for locking a tool into a locking groove formed on the interior surface of a subterranean well conduit, comprising: a mandrel carrying a segmented ring including a plurality of ring segments surrounding said mandrel; tapered key means carried by said mandrel and axially shiftable between said segments, for wedging said segments apart whereby the circumference of said segmented ring may be increased to engage the locking groove; and means engagable with an associated running tool for axially shifting said keys, comprising; a collet having a ring portion abutting said keys and plurality of relatively thin, axially extending resilient latch fingers biased against the inner surface of said mandrel, said fingers having enlarged end portions to engage an associated running tool for axially shifting said collet, and wherein said mandrel includes an annular groove formed on its inside surface, whereby said enlarged portions of said fingers will expand into said groove after a predetermined axial travel, thereby releasing said running tool and locking said collet in said mandrel.

Claim 14

An apparatus for locking a tool into a locking groove formed on the interior surface of a subterranean well conduit, comprising: a mandrel carrying a segmented ring including a plurality of ring segments surrounding said mandrel; tapered key means carried by said mandrel and axially shiftable between said segments, for wedging said segments apart whereby the circumference of said segmented ring may be increased to engage the locking groove; and means engagable with an associated running tool for axially shifting said keys, comprising; a collet having a ring portion abutting said keys and plurality of relatively thin, axially extending resilient latch fingers biased against the inner surface of said mandrel, said fingers having enlarged end portions to engage an associated running tool for axially shifting said collet, and wherein said mandrel includes an annular groove formed on its inside surface, whereby said enlarged portions of said fingers will expand into said groove after a predetermined axial travel, thereby releasing said running tool and locking said collet in said mandrel.

Claim 15

An apparatus for locking a tool into a locking groove formed on the interior surface of a conduit in a subterranean well, comprising: a mandrel having an annular recess formed in the outer surface thereof; a segmented ring including a plurality of ring segments within said recess, surrounding said mandrel; means for retaining said segments within said recess; tapered key means carried by said mandrel and axially shiftable between said segments, for wedging said segments apart whereby the circumferenece of said segmented ring may be increased to engage the locking groove; a collet axially shiftable within said mandrel; means for axially fixing said collet relative to said keys, whereby axial movement of said collet will control the expansion of said segmented ring; means on said collet for engaging a probe of an associated running tool, for axially shifting said keys; an annular groove formed on the interior surface of said mandrel; and releasable means for fixing the relative axial position of said mandrel and said collet, comprising; a plurality of resilient latch fingers carried by said collet and biased against the inner surface of said mandrel, and engagable with said groove in said mandrel.

Claim 16

An apparatus for locking a tool into a locking groove formed on the interior surface of a conduit in a subterranean well, comprising: a mandrel having an annular recess formed in the outer surface thereof; a segmented ring including a plurality of ring segments within said recess, surrounding said mandrel; means for retaining said segments within said recess; tapered key means carried by said mandrel and axially shiftable between said segments, for wedging said segments apart whereby the circumferenece of said segmented ring may be increased to engage the locking groove; a collet axially shiftable within said mandrel; means for axially fixing said collet relative to said keys, whereby axial movement of said collet will control the expansion of said segmented ring; means on said collet for engaging a probe of an associated running tool, for axially shifting said keys; an annular groove formed on the interior surface of said mandrel; and releasable means for fixing the relative axial position of said mandrel and said collet, comprising; a plurality of resilient latch fingers carried by said collet and biased against the inner surface of said mandrel, and engagable with said groove in said mandrel.