US3374735A - Apparatus for locating collars and the like in well pipe - Google Patents

Description

1... K. MOORE March 26, 1968 APPARATUS FOR LOCATING COLLARS AND THE LIKE IN WELL PIPE Filed Sept. 29, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l e d rm M 06 0 C 0T.

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BY A K rand ATTORNE YS 1.. K. MOORE 3,374,735

APPARATUS FOR LOGATING COLLARS AND THE LIKE IN WELL PIPE March 26, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 29, 1966 IN VENTOR.

BY H034 4 HM A 14 TTORXE YS L. K. MOORE March 26, 1968 APPARATUS FOR LOCATING COLLARS AND THE LIKE IN WELL PIPE m w mi l! 4 flag; Is 7" 7 WW w t 6 w s e r 0 M e n m W a 1 gal SAND

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for locating collars or the like in a well pipe, and which may be used in conjunction with detonator apparatus, wherein means are provided for multiple selective collar location in a single run of the apparatus in a well pipe by the manipulation of a wire line, whereby a plurality of collars at difierent elevations may be located by movement of the apparatus in either an upward or downward longitudinal direction in the well pipe and without requiring electrical cables extending from the apparatus to the surface or a removal of the apparatus from the well pipe.

Briefly, this invention relates to a new and improved apparatus which is adapted to be actuated by a wire line on which the apparatus is supported for extending and retracting collar-engaging fingers and for locating collars with such fingers when they are extended.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide such an apparatus, which apparatus may be used for determining the elevation of one or more collars in a well pipe and may be used for latching a detonator apparatus or other apparatus in the well pipe for actuating same or for any other purpose.

The preferred embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter together with other features, and additional objects will become evident from such description.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of one form of the apparatus of this invention with its collar-engaging fingers in the retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the collar-engaging fingers in the extended position;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are elevational views, partly in section, illustrating the upper and lower portions of another States atent "ice the collar-engaging finger construction which may be used in the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

In the drawings, the letter A designates generally the collar locator apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 which is adapted to locate one or more collars C in a well casing or pipe P, The apparatus A'may be lowered ona flexible line L which may be a conventional slick wire line or similar member. The apparatus A includes one 01 more collar-engaging fingers 10 which are adapted to be moved from a retracted position (FIG. 1) to an extended position (FIG. 2) by manipulation of the wire line L after the apparatus A is in the well pipe P. Also, the collar-engaging fingers 10 may be moved from the extended position to the retractedposition when the apparatus A is in the well pipe P, whereby the apparatus A may be moved either upwardly or downwardly in the pipe P from one collar C to another with the finger or fingers 10 in the retracted position.

Considering the form of the invention ilustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in more detail, the apparatus A includes a mandrel or body 11 which is operably connected t its upper end to the flexible line L. Preferably, a special connector 15 is threaded at threads 11a to the upper end of the mandrel 11, with the wire line L suitably secured to the coupling 15 and extending thereabove to the surface of the well in which the pipe P is located.

The lower end of the coupling 15 is formed with a depending annular extension 15a which has an internal surface 15b spaced outwardly from the external surface of the mandrel 11. An illustrated in the drawings, the collar-engaging finger or fingers 10* extend into the inner annular recess thus provided by the extension 15a and are welded thereto as indicated at 15c, or are otherwise suitably attached to the coupling 15. It is to be noted that each of the collar engaging fingers 10 is formed of a relatively narrow strip of steel or other flexible material which may be bent from its normally straight shape (FIG. 1) to a curved or extended shape (FIG. 2) and subsequently returned to the straight shape of FIG. 1.

A drag assembly D is mounted externally of the mandrel E11 and is providde with resilient bowed pring elements 20 for frictionally engaging the inside of the casing form of the apparatus, respectively, wherein a detonator mechanism forms a part of the apparatus, and illustrating such apparatus with the collar-engaging finger in a retracted position; a

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the intermediate and lower portions of the form of theapparatus shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, but illustrating the collar-engaging finger in the extended position;

FIG. 5 is a partial view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4A to illustrate a safety mechanism used in conjunction with the apparatus in one form of the invention; 1

FIG. 6 is a view of the apparatus of FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B after the apparatus has been used for detonating an explosive and is in a position for movement out of the well pipe;

or pipe P. In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper ends of the friction spring elements 20 are secured to a slidable ring 21 by welding or any other suitable means. Such ring 21 fits slidably over a sleeve 22 which surrounds the mandrel 11 for longitudinal relative movement with respect thereto. At the bottom of the curved portion of each flexible spring element 20, each of such elements 20 is secured to the sleeve 22 by screws 23 which extend through a connecting ring 24 and into the sleeve 22 so that the flexible spring elements 20 move with the sleeve 22, but the upper ends thereof which are secured to the ring 21 may move relative to the sleeve 22 upon a contraction or expansion of the spring elements 20 in a lateral direction. A spring 28 or other resilient means is confined between the slidable ring 21 and a fixed ring. 30 which is secured to the sleeve 22 by one or more retaining screws 31. Such coil spring 28 serves to maintain a longitudinal force on the ring "21 to thereby maintain the flexible spring elements 20 in an expanded position for constant frictional engagement with FIG. 7 is a partial view illustrating a modification of t the apparatus of FIGS. 3A and 3B wherein the detonator portion of the apparatus is replaced by a wire-line coupling directly to the collar engaging portion of the appara-' tus; and

FIG. 8 is a partial view illustrating a modification. of

suificiently large diameter to allow outward expansion of the elements 20 into frictional contact with the inside of the pipe P.

At the upper end of the sleeve 22, an expander 35 having a generally external cone shape on the surface 35a is provided. Such expander 35, as will be more evident hereinafter, serves to urge the collar-engaging fingers from the retracted position of FIG. 1 to the extended position of FIG. 2 upon a relative longitudinal movement between the mandrel 11 and the drag assembly D.

For controlling the relative movement between the mandrel 11 and the drag assembly D, the mandrel 11 is provided with a control slot which is generally designated with the numeral 33, which control slot 33 is adapted to receive a pin or rod 34 therein for relative movement. The pin or rod 34 is not connected to the mandrel 11 or any part of the slot 33 but is secured to a control sleeve 36 on the inner bore 34a thereof. ,The sleeve 36 is disposed below the sleeve 22 and above a retaining element 38 which is welded or otherwise secured to the lower ends of the flexible friction elements 20. The retainer element 38 preferably is formed with an enlarged internal bore and threads 38a therein for connecting to any suitable tool which is suspended therebelow, such as a conventional detonator apparatus or the like. It is also-to be noted that the mandrel 11 has lower internal threads 11b which may also be connected to a tool or some part thereof for operation in conjunction with the apparatus A, if so desired.

The control slot 33 is formed with a short portion 33a and a long portion 33b. In the position of the apparatus A illustrated in the drawings, the long portion 33b is connected with the short portion 33a of the control slot 33 by a lower laterally extending inclined slot portion 330. An intermediate longitudinal slot portion 33d is also provided, as well as an intermediate laterally extending inclined slot 33e, the purpose of which will be more evident so that the mandrel 11 moves downwardly with respect to the drag assembly D, causing the longer slot portion 33b to move downwardly with respect to the control pin 34, during which movement the control pin 34 is .guided by engagement with the guide wall 33 so that it moves upwardly and ultimately reaches the upper or terminal end of the longer slot portion 33b (FIG. 2). During such downward movement of the mandrel 1'1 with respect to the drag assembly D and the control pin 34, the expander cone 35 is engaged by the collar-engaging fingers 10 to urge the fingers 10 to an extended position and ultimately reaching the fully extended position shown in FIG. 2.

If the collar-engaging fingers -10 are not adjacent a collar such as the collar C shown in drawings, the entire apparatus A moves downwardly in the pipe P after the pin 34 hasreached the upper end of the slot 33b until the fingers 10 do extend into the internal recess or groove of the collar C. Due to the decrease in the weight or load on the line L when the fingers .10 rest in the collar C, the operator is informed at the surface that this position has been reached. The elevation of the particular collar C thus engaged by the fingers 10 can be readily measured by determining the length of the flexible line L which is in the pipe P, 'using any conventional measuring equipment.

hereinafter. Also of significance in connection with the control slot 33 are guide wall surfaces 33f, 33g, and 33h, all of which serve to guide the movements of the control pin 34, as will be explained.

In the operation or use of the apparatus A of this invention, it is lowered into the well pipe or casing P on the flexible line L, with the control pin 34in the upper or terminal end of the control guide slot portion 33a (FIG. 1). The weight of the apparatus A is itself sufficient to force the apparatus A to fall by gravity, with the friction springs or elements 20 frictionally engaging the inside of the pipe P and tending to resist such downward movement. In the event the apparatus A is not of itself sufficiently heavy to cause the apparatus A to fall by gravity, additional weight may be included above'the apparatus A or therebelow in order to move the apparatus A downwardly in the pipe P on the flexible line L. In any event, the apparatus A is caused to move downwardly by gravity, and the friction of the drag springs or elements 20 on the inside of the pipe P maintains the control pin 34 in the upper or terminal end of the slot portion 33a. When the control pin 34 is in such position, the collar-engaging fingers 10 are in the substantially straight or retracted position illustrated in FIG. 1. When the apparatus A is approximately at the elevation desired for locating a particular collar C in the pipe P, the operator lifts upwardly on the wire line L to impart an upward movement to the mandrel 11. The drag assembly D remains stationary in the pipe P as the mandrel 11 moves upwardly relative thereto, and therefore the control slot 33 moves upwardly with respect to the control pin 34. When the mandrel 11 has been raised sufliciently to position the pin 34 at the lower end of the short slot portion 33a, the continued upward movement of the mandrel 11 imparts a rotation to the sleeve 36 as the pin 34 moves laterally in the slot portion 33c'to the lower end of the longer slot portion 33b.

The operator at the surface of the well can determine when the pin 34 is at the lower end of the slot portion 33b because at that time the drag assembly D will also begin to move and therefore increased resistance to the upward movement will occur.

Thereafter, the operator slacks off on the wire line L The apparatus A may thereafter be moved to another collar within the well pipe P or it may be removed entirely from the pipe P if so desired. To reset the tool with the fingers 10 in the retracted position to accomplish such movement of the apparatus A within the pipe P, the operator lifts upwardly on the wire line L so as to cause the mandrel 11 to move upwardly with respect to the drag assembly D and to simultaneously cause the relative upward movement of the slot portion 33b with respect to the control pin 34. When the pin reaches the surface 33g, it is guided into the intermediate longitudinal slot portion 33d, which is indicated to the operator by the increased weight of the apparatus when the drag assembly D begins to move withthe mandrel 11. At that time, the operator slacks oil again on the wire line L, causing the downward movement of the mandrel 11 and the slot 33 with respect to the control pin 34 and ultimately causing a contact between the pin 34 and the guide wall surface 33h which causes a relative movement of the groove 33e with respect to the pin 34 and a guiding of the pin 34 to the upper end of the short slot portion 33a. When the pin 34 reaches the upper or terminal portion of the slot portion 33a (FIG. 1), the fingers 10 are in the retracted position since the mandrel 11 has been moved downwardly with respect to the fingers 10 to that position shown in FIG. 1. The apparatus A may then be moved'to any other location in the pipe P, or it can be removed completely from the pipe P with the fingers 10 in theretracted position. When the apparatus A is just above the next collar C to be located, the above steps for causing the fingers 10 to move to the extended position are repeated, as will be understood.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be operated in an upside down position from that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which case the flexible line L is connected to the mandrel 11 at or in the vicinity of the thread 11b, which end is at that time at the upper position. When the apparatus A is operated in such an upside down position, the apparatus A is lowered into the pipe P with the pin 34 in the control slot 33 at the junction between the long slot 33b and the inclined slot 33c. In such position, the fingers 10 are in the retracted position of FIG. 1 as viewed from an upside down posi tion. Therefore, when it is desired to move the fingers 10 to an extended position, the operator simply picks up with the wire line L, and the relative movement of the mandrel 11 with respect to drag springs D causes the slot 33b to move relative to the pin 34 until the pin 34 reaches the terminalend of the slot 33b, which is the upper end thereof as viewed in FIG. 1, but it the lower end in the upside down position. This corresponds to the position shown in FIG. 2, and-therefore the fingers are thus expanded to the extended position shown in FIG. 2 but, of course, are extended upwardly when in the upside down position. Therefore, the continued upward movement of the wire line L moves the extended fingers 10 into the collar C next above such fingers 10. When the fingers 10 move into the collar C, the increased resistance to movement is indicated to the operator so that he knows that this has occurred and he can then determine the eleva tion of the collar C by the length of the wire line L in the pipe P, as previously explained.

To release the fingers 10 and move them to the retracted position of FIG. 1, the wire line L is slacked off so that the pin 34 reaches the position of the intermediate slot 33d, then the wire line is picked up and'moved to the terminal end of the short portion 33a as indicated in FIG. 1. A continued picking up on the line L will thus move the entire apparatus A out of the well if this is desired.

In FIGS. 3A and 3B, an apparatus A1 is illustrated which is another form of the present invention which is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with a detonator or firing apparatus F, one example of which is illustrated in United States Patent No. 3,180,261. The apparatus A1 is adapted to be lowered and raised in a casing or pipe P having a collar C therein by means of a flexible line L.

The apparatus A1 includes a mandrel 111 which is suitably connected at its upper end, preferably with threads 111a to the housing 40 of the detonator unit F. The housing 40 isconnected to the flexible line or wire line L so that such line L is operably connected to the mandrel 111.

The mandrel 111 is in the form of a tube or pipe with a bore 111!) through which a firing rod 41 extends. The upper end of the firing rod 41 has a threaded box 41a into which is threaded the lower end of an actuator rod 42 which extends upwardly into the housing or body 40 and forms a part of the firing unit F as will be explained more in detail.

Although the firing mechanism or unit F may take several forms, one of which is illustrated in said United States'Patent No. 3,180,261, the form shown in the drawings includes a piston 43 mounted on the actuating rod 42 and movable therewith, through which a restricted orifice 43a is provided so that upon relative movement between the rod 42 and the housing 40 fluid 44 within the housing 40 and below a floating seal 45 is caused to move from one side of thepiston 43 to the other through the restricted opening 43a. The piston 43 has closely associated therewith a pair of electrical contacts 46a and 46b which are not electrically connected together but which become electrically connected together by means ofan electrical ring 47 when the contacts 461: and 46b engage the contact ring 47, thereby completing an electrical circuit from a battery source 48 downwardly through the firing unit F -by means of an electrical wire 49 which extends downwardly through the firing rod 41 and is connected to an explosive E (FIG. 3B).

Normally, the actuating rod 42 is held in an upper or raised position by means of a coil spring 50 which acts upon a shoulder 42a on the actuating rod 42, but when the actuating rod 42 and the firing rod 41 are held to prevent them from moving upwardly, an upward movement of the housing 40 causes a relative movement of the contacts 46a and 46b towards the contact ring 47 to bring them into engagement and to thereby close the electrical circuit from the battery 48 to the explosive E, whereby detonation of the explosive E occurs.

The mandrel 111 is formed with a slotted portion or slot 33 which is identical with the slot 33 of FIG. 1, except that it is upside down as compared to FIG. 1. Therefore, the parts of the slot 33 in FIG. 3A bear the same numeral and letter designations as the parts of the slots 33 in FIG. 1. Similarly, thecontrol pin 34 of FIG.

3A is mounted in a manner similar to that of FIG. 1 since it is not connected to the mandrel 111 but extends from and is a part of the ring 36. The operation of the control pin 34 within the slot 33 of FIG. 3A will be explained hereinafter.

A drag assembly D-l which is shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is similar to the drag assembly I) of FIGS. 1 and 2 except that it is upside down and has other modifications as will be explained. Such assembly D-1 includes a sleeve 122 which has a coupling 55 secured thereto by threading or other means at its upper end. The drag assembly D1 has flexible drag springs or friction elements which correspond with the elements 20 of FIG. 1 and which are connected at their upper ends to the coupling 55 by rivets, welding, or other suitable means. The lower ends of the friction elements 120 are connected to a sliding ring 121 by welding, rivets, or other suitable means so that the lower ends of the friction elements 120 are free to move relative to the sleeve 122. A coil spring 128 is disposed between the ring 121 and another ring 130 which is secured on the sleeve 122 by means of screws 121 or other suitable securing means. Such coil spring 128 serves to maintain the friction elements 120 in frictional engagement with the inside of the well pipe P at all times, while allowing a collapse or reduction in diameter of the springs 120 for smaller sizes of pipe if this is desired or if the springs 120 pass through a smaller section of pipe in use.

The coupling 55 has a connector tube 56 welded or otherwise secured thereto and which extends upwardly so as to generally surround the mandrel 111. The upper end of the connector tube 56 is welded or otherwise connected to a retaining collar 138 so as to provide a confined space for the ring 36 to move rotationally with respect thereto, while limiting the relative longitudinal movement between the ring 36 and the drag assembly D1. It is to be noted that the connecting sleeve 56 has an upper flange 56a which forms the lower support for the ring 36. Also, the sleeve 56 has a lower flange 56b which is adapted to be engaged by a lower shoulder 111d of the mandrel 111 for transmitting downward forces to the drag springs D-1 and the parts therebelow, if desired, in the lowering of the apparatus A1 in the pipe P.

An explosive support body 60 is connected to the lower end of the firing rod 41 by threads or other suitable means, and such body 60 is provided with a passage or opening 60a through which the electrical wire 49 passes to the explosive E. The explosive E is mounted in any suitable manner on the external surface of the body 60, preferably with a pair of deflectors 60b on each side of the explosive E to direct the explosive force when the explosive E is detonated.

A latch finger 110 is mounted on a bracket 110a for movement therewith, which bracket is pivoted at a pivot pin 11012 disposed on an extension or arm 600 of the body 60. The bracket 110a has a notch or other similar configuration 1100 which is engaged by a leaf spring 62 secured to the body 60 by a screw 62a or other suitable means so that the bracket 110a and the latch finger 110 therewith are urged from a substantially vertical position to an inclined or extended position, as will be more fully explained.

The latch 110 is held in a retracted position (FIG. 3B) in opposition to the force of the spring 62 by means of a coil spring 63 or other similar resilient means which acts between the upper end of the body 60 and a release ring 64. The release ring 64 is connected to a latch rod 65 which extends downwardly through a guide tube 60d mounted on the body 60 and is pivotally connected at its lower end to a link 66 which in turn is pivotally connected to the bracket 110a. A guide rod 65a corresponding to the rod 65 but on the opposite side thereof is also connected to the release ring 64, and it extends downwardly through a ring 6% on the body 60 for serving to stabilize the movement of the release ring 64 with respect to. the firing rod 41, as will be more evident hereinafter. In any event, when the spring' 63 is in the extended position illustrated in FIG. 3B, it exerts an upward force on the ring 64 and thereby on the rod 65 to hold the bracket 110a and the latch finger 110 in the upwardly extending retracted position in opposition to the force of the spring 62. However, when the release ring 64 is moved downwardly with respect to the body 60 compressing the spring 63, the force of the spring 62 then acts to take up the slack provided by such compression of the spring 63 and move the finger 110 outwardly to the extended position which is shown in FIG. 4B of the drawmgs.

In the operation or use of the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B, the apparatus is run into the well pipe P with the parts in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The weight of the tool or any supplemental weight disposed thereabove acts to urge the apparatus A-1 downwardly in the well by gravity, with the spring assembly D-1 dragging on the inside surface of the pipe P. The control pin 34 is thus held at or near the top of the long portion 33b of the slot 33 as illustrated in FIG.- 3A. To prevent an overloading of the pin 34 by the weight of the apparatus during the lowering thereof, the pin 34 may be spaced slightly below the wall of the slot when in the position shown in FIG. 3A and the weight may be transmitted through the contact of the shoulder 111d and the flange 56b or any other suitable shoulder contact.

When the apparatus A-1 has been lowered to a position at which it is desired to release the latch finger 110 to an extended position, the operator picks upwardly on the flexible line L at the surface of the well to thereby raise the body 40 and the mandrel 111 with respect to the drag assembly D-1. The coil spring 50 maintains the actuator rod 42 in the upper position shown in FIG. 3A during such initial lifting movement, and therefore the rod 41 likewise maintains its same relative position with respect to the mandrel 111 during the initial lifting movement. The firing rod 41 is thus moved upwardly with respect to the sleeve 122 so as to bring the release ring 64 into engagement with the shoulder at the lower end 122a of the sleeve 122. Continued upward movement of the wire line L then compresses the spring 63 and urges the rod 65 downwardly with respect to the body 60 to release the holding force which was holding the latch finger 110' in the retracted position and thereby allowing the spring force of the leaf spring 62 to take over and urge the finger 110 outwardly to the extended position of FIG. 4B. The upward movement of the apparatus A1 continues even after the finger 110 is moved to its extended position until the finger 110 engages in a collar C as shown in FIG. 4B, at which time the firing rod 41 and the actuator rod 42 are latched into the Well pipe P through the latch finger- 110. The increased weight or resistance offered at the surface of the well indicates to the operator that the latch finger 110 has engaged the collar C, and if firing of the explosive E is not desired, a measurement as to the elevation of the collar C may be obtained. However, if firing of the explosive E is desired, it is to be noted that the explosive E is disposed at the collar C in which the finger 110 is disposed. This is particularly suitable when using the explosive E for providing the explosive force in conjunction with a torque on the pipe P for backing off or unthreading a collar such as the collar C.

To fire the explosive E after the finger 110 has engaged the recess or internal opening of the collar C, the operator continues to pull upwardly on the wire line L. It is to be noted from FIG. 4A that at the time the latch finger 110 is engaged in the collar C and prior to the any relative movement between the housing 40 and the rod 42, the control pin 34 has moved to the bottom or terminal end of the slot 33b or at some point near such lower end. Preferably, pin 34 does not engage the lower wall of the slot 33b, but instead, the shoulder 111d engages the flange 56a of the connector sleeve 56 so that the subsequent lift- 8. ing force is transmitted to the drag assembly D-1 through such engagement. Therefore, after the finger 110 is engaged in the collar C, the continued upward movement of the wire line L imparts a lifting on the housing 40, the mandrel 111, and the entire drag assembly D-l. The firing rod 41, the actuator rod 42, and the body 60 are all prevented from moving upwardly because of the latching of the finger 110' in the collar C. Since the firing mechanism or unit F has the restriction 43a in the piston 43, a time delay is provided before the engagement of the electrical contacts 46a and 46b with the contact ring 47, and therefore a time delay is provided before the firing of the explosive E.

It should be noted that during the movement of the drag assembly D-1 upwardly with the mandrel 111 and the housing 40, the lower end 122a moves upwardly with respect to the release ring 64 so that the release ring 64 is spaced therefrom substantially as shown in FIG; 6, which means that the latch finger 110 could return to the retracted position except for the force which is being exerted upwardly thereon through the rod 41 by the pulling action on the wire line L. Thus, the finger 110 remains in the collar C during the upward pull on the 'wire line L and until the firing of the explosive takes place. However, immediately upon the firing of the explosive E, the operator may release the pulling force on the wire line L and thereby enable the compressed spring 63 to urge the finger 110 toward the body 60 and out of the collar C to thus return it to the retracted position of FIG. 3B.

It should be noted that if firing is not desired, the finger 110 may also be retracted to the retracted position by a slacking off of the wire line L so that the control pin 34 moves first to the intermediate slot 33d and then by picking up on the line L, the pin 34 is guided through the inclined slot 33:: to the short slot portion 330. Then, by slacking off again on the line A, the mandrel 111 moves relatively with respect to the pin 34 so as to return the pin 34 to the top of the long slot portion 33b as shown in FIG. 3A. As can be appreciated, repeated manipulations with the wire line L may be utilized for retracting and extending'the latch finger 110 as desired within the pipe P so that a number of collars C may be located with: out removing the apparatus from the pipe P.

In FIG. 5, a detailed partial sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4A illustrates a safety mechanism which is preferably incorporated with the apparatus of FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B. The mandrel 111 is provided with a longitudinal opening 111:; and a resilient safety latch mounted in proximity to such opening 111e. The lower end of the safety latch 80 is connected to the mandrel 111 by a screw 80c or other suitable securing means. The upper end of the safety latch 80 preferably has an enlarged head 80a with a curved inner surface 80b, which head is adapted to move laterally as will be explained. A stop shoulder or collar 41b is formed integrally with or secured to the firing rod 41 for movement therewith longitudinally relative to the mandrel 111. The head 80a of the safety latch extends into the bore of the mandrel 111 a sufficient distance to prevent the movement of the head 80:: longitudinally upwardly past the shoulder 41b until such time as the head 80a has passed upwardly above the upper end of the retaining collar 138, which position is illustrated in FIG. 5. Therefore, so long as the head 80a is confined within the sleeve 36, the head 80a cannot pass upwardly with respect to such collar 41b. Such safety latch prevents the relative movement of the mandrel 111 upwardly with respect to the firing rod 41 and therefore prevents the relativemovement between the housing 40 and the actuator rod 42 to thereby prevent a closing of the electrical circuit by the contacts 46a, 46b, and 47 unless the apparatus has been moved to its extended posi-- tion as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Such position cannot be reached until the latch finger has been fully extended and is engaged in a collar C, and therefore the firing mechanism F cannot be actuated until the latch finger 110 is in the collar C and the tool is otherwise ready for firing. Such safety mechanism prevents an inadvertent firing in case the body 60 in the vicinity of the explosive E is caught or stuck in the well pipe by debris or other foreign object at a position wherein it is undesirableto fire the explosive E. Also, if the latch finger 110 inadvertently becomes disconnected from the rod 65 and therefore inadvertently moves to the extended position so as to become engaged in the collar C when it is not desired to fire the mechanism, the safety mechanism of FIG. 'will prevent a firing because it prevents enough relative movement between'the rod 42 and the housing 40 to allow a movement of the electrical contacts 46a, 46b, and the ring 47 into engagement with each other even though an upward pull is exerted on the wire line L.

In FIG. 7, another modification of the invention is illustrated wherein the apparatus of FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B is modified by providing with the apparatus A1 a connector head H (FIG. 7) which takes the place of the firing unit F of FIG. 3A. The upper end of the mandrel 111 is connected to the connector head H at threads 111a, and the upper end of the head H is connected to a conventional rope socket 85 having the flexible line L attached thereabove. The connector head H preferably has an internal rod 86 integral therewith or secured thereto which has male threads 86a adapted to be threaded into the threaded box 41a of the firing rod 41.

In the form of'the invention shown in FIG. 7, the detonator apparatus or unit F is thus replaced with the connector head H so that the apparatus A-l is not used for detonating an explosive, but is used solely for locating collars in the pipe P. The operation is identical in the form of the invention of FIG. 7, except that the operation stops insofar as FIG. 3A is concerned after the latch finger 110 has engaged the collar C. At that time, the operator at the surface can determine the elevation of the collar C and may thereafter release the latch finger 110 by slacking off on the wire line L as previously described in connection with FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B.

In FIG. 8, a further modification is illustrated wherein a pair of latch fingers 110 is mounted on the body 160. The body 160 is identical to that illustrated as the body 60 in FIGS. 3B and 4B except that the explosive E is not mounted at the same elevation as the fingers 110. Instead, the body 160 has a threaded connection at 1602 to a tubular support 88 upon which an explosive E-1 is mounted. Such explosive E-l may be a perforator or jet cutter or other type of conventional explosive which is detonated upon the closing of the contacts 46a, 46b, and the electrical ring 47 as described previously with respect to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B.

The latch fingers 110 in FIG. 8 posite sides of the body at pivot pin 11% with a are disposed on op- 160 and are pivotally mounted spring 162 secured to each latch bracket 110a and to the body 160 for urging the brackets 110a and the fingers 110 therewith to the extended position shown in FIG. 8. However, the coil spring 63 serves to hold the release collar 64 in the upper position so that the operating rod 65 for each of the latch fingers 110 holds each latch finger 110 in the retracted position corresponding to that shown in FIG. 3B until the release collar 64 is urged downwardly in the manner previously described in connection with FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A. and 4B.

Thus, when the form of the invention of FIG. 8 is utilized, the fingers 110 are in the retracted position when lowering the apparatus A1 into the well pipe P, but when it is desired to move the fingers 110 'to the extended position shown in FIG. 8, the wire line L is manipulated by lifting upwardly on same to force the release collar 64 downwardly by the engagement with the lower end 122a of the sleeve 122, where-by the latch fingers 110 are urged to the extended position by the springs 162 in essentially the same manner as described heretofore in connection with FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B.

.T he foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for locating collars or the like in a well pipe, comprising:

(a) a mandrel;

(b) a flexible line operably connected to said mandrel for raising and lowering same in a well pipe;

(c) a drag assembly adapted to frictionally engage the inside of the pipe and mounted externally of said mandrel for limited relative longitudinal movement;

(d) a collar-engaging finger supported by said mandrel;

(e) means for moving said finger to and from a re tractedposition and to and from an extended position by a manipulation of the flexible line and predetermined relative longitudinal movement between said mandrel and said drag assembly; and

(f) said finger being capable of longitudinally passing a collar in a well pipe when moving in both longitudinal directions when in the retracted position but being engageable with such a collar when in the extended position.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

(a) said mandrel having a control slot with a long portion, a short portion, and an intermediate portion connecting the'long and short portions; and

(b) said drag assembly having a pin therewith and extending into said control slot for movement to the long portion or the short portion for controlling the position of the drag assembly with respect to the mandrel upon a manipulation of the flexible line.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

(a) a detonator apparatus having a firing rod therewith;

(b) means connecting said detonator apparatus to said mandrel with said firing rod extending therethrough; and

(c) means connecting said collar-engaging finger to said firing rod.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

(a) a detonator apparatus having a firing rod therewith;

(b) means connecting said detonator apparatus to said mandrel with said firing rod extending therethrough;

(c) means connecting said collar-engaging finger to said firing rod; and

(d) an explosive supported by the firing rod at substantially the same elevation as the collar-engaging finger.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

(a) a detonator apparatus having a firing rod therewith;

(b) means connecting said detonator apparatus to said mandrel with said firing rod extending therethrough;

(c) means connecting said collar-engaging finger to said firing rod; and

(d) an explosive supported by the firing rod below the collar-engaging finger.

6. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

(a) means for releasably holding said collar-engaging finger in the retracted position; and

(b) means for urging said finger to the extended position upon a predetermined longitudinal movement of said mandrel relative to said drag assembly.

7. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

(a) said mandrel having a control slot with a long portion, a short portion, and an intermediate portion connecting the long and short portions;

(b) said drag assembly having a pin therewith and extending into said control slot for movement to the long portion or the short portion for controlling the position of the drag assembly withrespe'ct to the mandrel upon a manipulation of the fiexible line; (c) means for releasably holding said collar-engaging finger in the retracted position when said pin is at a point near one end of said short portion of said control slot; and v I (d) means for urging said finger to the extended position when said pin has moved in said Control slot to a point near one end of said long portion ofthe slot.

The structure set forth'in claim 1-, including: I h (a) a detonator apparatus having a firing rod therewith;

'(b) means connecting said detonator apparatus to said mandrel with'said firing rod extending therethrough;

' (a) a detonator apparatus having a firing rod therewith; (b) means connecting said detonator apparatus to said mandrel with said firing rod extending therethrough; (c) means connecting said collar-engaging finger to said firing rod;

(d) a sleeve with sai drag 'a'ss' jernbl'y andsurrounding s and ki 4. (er) a safety latch mounted on said mandrel and disposed within s aid isleeve until said mandrel has been [moved relative to said jdrag assembly for'moving said finger to an extended position; and y g I (f) a stop shoulder on said firing rod engageab-le'with said safety latch to prevent relative: movement between said mandrel 'arid said firing rod until said safety latch has moved outof said. sleeve. I 1 0. The structure set iorth inclaim i, including:

(a) said finger being resiliently urged to theretracted c i om I (b)- expander means for urging said finger outwardly to the extended position. 1 4.

v V f References Cited-- UNITED STATES PATENTS 25 BENJAMIN BORCHELT,'Primary Examiner,

SAMUEL .w. ENGLE, Examiner. V. R. PENDEGRA'SS, Assistant Examiner.

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