US2776012A

US2776012A - Apparatus for lowering and elevating tools in well bores

Info

Publication number: US2776012A
Application number: US460116A
Authority: US
Inventors: Reuben C Baker
Original assignee: Baker Oil Tools Inc
Current assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
Priority date: 1954-10-04
Filing date: 1954-10-04
Publication date: 1957-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 1974-01-01

Description

R. C. BAKER Jan. 1, 1957 APPARATUS FOR LOWEIRING AND ELEVATING TOOLS IN WELL. BORE Filed Oct. 4 1954 rToQNEy.

United States Patent() APPARATUS FOR LOWERING AND ELEVATING TOOLS IN WELL BORES Reuben c. Baker,-ooa1inga;c1if., assignor to Baker ou Tools, Inc.`,^Lo`s' Angelesg'Calif., a corporation of Califomia n.. r

Application October 4, 1954, Serial No. 460,116

8 Claims. (Cl. 166--123) The present invention relates to 'subsurface well bore apparatus, and' more particularly to" apparatus for lowering other tools or ldevic'esinf the well boreand elevating or retrieving such devices from the' well bore.

An object of thepresent invention is `to provide improved'apparatus adapted to lower and'elevate a well device in a well bore, the apparatus being easily coupled to the well device whiley the latter is in the well bore and easily released'from thewell device, whenever desired.

Another object of the invention is to' provide an improved apparatus capableofloweringa `well packer, and the like, to a desiredlocationl in the ,well bore without anchoring 'the packer in the well bore, 'the apparatus being capable of being releasedfrom the well packer, and of then being coupled) thereto when it is desired to reshift the packer to another' location in thewell bore,

orto remove the packer from thefwell bore.

, A further object of the' invention is to provide an appartus capable of lowering awelldevice in a well bore, of being released from the well device, and of then being reconnected to the well4 device for the purpose of either lowering or raising theflatter in thewell bore, the apparatus being comparatively simple in construction and in inode of operation. p

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has'other objects' whichmay be mademore clearly apparent from atfconsiderationofa forminwhich it may be embodied. 'This ifo'r'm is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It Awill now 'be describedin detaiL for the' purpose of illustrating the 'general principles `of Vthe invention; but

it is to `be understood Atliatfsuch detailed description is fnot to be taken in a limiting sense, sincethe scope of the invention is best defined bytli'appcndcd claims.

Referring to the drawings:A f i Figure 1 is atside elevation, partly in longitudinal section', ofa wellpacker )being lowered inea well casing disposedinawellbore; I

Fig. 2 is an'enlar'ged longitudinal section of the running-in and retrieving' tool, [by means of 4which the apparatus is lowerednandraised int the well bore;

Fig. 3'is acrossLsection, on-fan enlarged scale, taken alongthe linef33 onFig. 2;fi"f" 1 t Fig. 4 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 3'3 on Fig.-2; t `1`ig.r4 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 4-'4 on Fig 2; -1

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation, shown in a single plane, of the development of theislotted portion of the retrieving tool, and -the various operative positions of the pin movable in the slot.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings in association with a well packer A, which is specifically designed to function as a bridge plug to be anchored in a well casing B in packed-off condition against longitudinal movement in lboth anuupward anda downward direction. The well packer is` lowered in the well casing by a running-in tool C secured to the lower end of a tubular 'Y A 2,776,012 Patented Jan. l, 1957 Mice AZ running-in string D" extending tothe top of the well bore.

The specific well'packer or bridge plug A disclosed,

by itself, forms no part of'lthe present invention and is fully described in my joint application with Martin B. Conrad, for Well Packer Apparatus, Serial No. 425,646, led April 26, 1954. In that application, the well packer A is 'described as being run in' the 'well casing B to the desired setting point merely `by pushing it down the casing. During such pushing action, fluid in the well casing is capable of by-passing around the packer. Following its arrival attlie desired setting location in the casing, the running-in string D can be released from the packer and pressure either from above or below the packer, as the case'may be,^is effective to anchor the packer to the well casing against downward or upward movement, thepacker`` also being sealed against the casing to prevent leakage of fluid thereby. After the well packer has performed its function in the well casing, it can be retrieved by means of the running-in and retrieving tool'C, or shifted to another location in the well casing. The well packer can be pulled in an upward direction, if it is to be elevated to a new location in the latter, or it can be pushed downwardly to a new location below its initial setting point.

' In generalgthe w`ell packer'A includes a tubular body 1i) having a passage 11 therethrough that is valve controlled,- as well as a"control vrod 12 which extends through the body to substantially its lower end, the control rod projecting" upwardly above the body to a substantial extent 'andterminating in an enlarged head 13 having a tapered upper guiding Vend 14. One or more pins 15 may project laterally from the enlarged head 13for cooperation" with the outer portion of the runningin and retrieving tool C.

Secured to'the body 10 is an upwardly facing generally cup-shaped packing memberV `16 sealingly engaging the well casing B,asv well as an upper expander 17 that tapers in a downward direction for cooperation with an upper set of circumterentiallyfspaced slips 18 having lfriction drag portions 19-adapted to frictionally engage the wall of therfwell casing. The upper expander 17 and upper set of slips 18 coact with'- each other to anchor the well packer A to the casing B against downward movement therewithin.

Similarly, a set` of vc'zircumferentially spaced lower slips 20 is disposed around'the body 10 of the tool, having friction drag portions 21 to frictionally engage the wall of the well casingtthese slips 20 being cooperable with a lower upwardly tapering expander 22 secured on the body. A downwardly facing 'lower packing cup 23 is also adapted to sealingly engage the well casing B. The lower slips 20 and lo'wer expander 22 coact with each other to anchor the well packer to the casing against upward movement therewithin.

The upper' and lower packing cup's 16, 23 frictionally engage the wall` of the wellcasing B, and, since these packing cups are secured to the tubular packer body 10, the control rod 12 can be shifted longitudinally within the body, to determine the ability of the upper and

lower expanders

17, 22 to anchortheir respective slips 1S, 20 against the wall of the-well casing. In the event that the packing members V16, y23provide insufficient friction for securing the relative movement of the control rod 12 within the packer body, a friction drag device 24 may be secured to vthe lowerend of the body, this friction drag device frictionally engaging the wall of the well casing B. 1

Further details of the well packer are unnecessary to an understanding ofthe present invention, and may be found in the abov'eidentiiied patent application. t is sufficient to state, at'this point, that when the control rod 12 is disposed in a central or neutral longitudinal` position within the body 10, to which position it is normally urged by springs 25 engaging valve members 26 within the packer body adapted to engage the rod (of which only an upper valve head is disclosed), pressure on the packer imposed from above can shift the upper packing member 16, packer body and upper expander 17 in a downward direction relative to the slips 18, to cause the upper expander to expand and hold the upper set of slips in anchoring engagement with the well casing B. By the same token, with the control rod 12 in its neutral position, pressure from below the Well packer will urge the lower packing cup 23, body 10 and lower expander 22v in an upward direction relative to the slips 20, the lower expander shifting the lower slips outwardly into anchoring engagement with the wall of the well casing B, to prevent upward movement of the well packer within the casing. When in such neutral position, the control rod allows the upper and lower valves 26 (of which only the upper valve is disclosed in the drawings, there being a lower valve in the packer body) to prevent flow of fluid in both longitudinal directions through the packer body 10.

As further explained in the above-identified patent application, the shifting of the control rod 12 in a downward direction relative to the packer body 10 will cause it to open the lower valve in the packer body and allow fluid to by-pass around the well packer by flowing through the packer body. At the same time, such downward shifting of the control rod 12 within the body 10 will serve the purpose of holding the slips 18, in a central or neutral position with respect to the expanders 1'7, 22 preventing relative movement between the body and expanders with respect to the slips, so as to prevent the upper expander 17 from being wedged within the upper slips 18. Similarly, the control rod 12 can be shifted upwardly with respect to the body 10 from its neutral or central position, to open the upper valve member 26 and allow fluid to by-pass through the body passage 11 and around the well packer. When in this upper position, the control rod 12 will again hold the slips 18, 20 in a central or neutral position with respect to the

expanders

17, 22 and will prevent the lower expander 22 from moving upwardly withk respect to the lower slips 20 to expand and anchor the latter outwardly against the w-all of the well casing.

As explained above, when the control rod 12 is allowed to occupy a neutral or central position within the body 10, then thel body 10 and the

expanders

17, 22 can shift longitudinally with respect to the slips 18, 20, longitudinal movement of the latter being resisted by the frictional engagement of their

drag block portions

19, 21 against the wall of the well casing B. Accordingly, the running-in and retrieving tool C constitutes a device for shifting the control rod 12 downwardly within the body 10, when the well packer A is being lowered within the well casing B, in order to prevent the upper slips 18 from being anchored against the casing. The tool C can also become coupled or connected to the control rod 12, for the purpose of elevating the latter within the body of the tool, to prevent the lower expander 22 from being wedged upwardly within the lower slips 20, to anchor the latter against the well casing. When the tool C is connected to the well packer A, to shift the control rod 12 in the upward direction just described, the entire apparatus can be elevated in the well casing to the desired location in the latter, or may be removed completely from the well casing.

The running-in and retrieving tool C is connected to the lower end of the tubular running-in string D that may consist of tubing extending to the top of the well bore. The lower end of the running-in string may be constituted by a tubular sub 27 piloted within the tubular housing 28 of the retrieving apparatus. The sub 27 has an enlarged portion 29 providing an upper shoulder 30 engageable with an inwardly directed ange 31 of a oneway or overrunning clutch housing portion 32 of the housing 28. The lower end of the housing 32 is threaded onto the upper end of the main housing portion 33 of the running-in and retrieving tool C. inadvertent disconnection between the clutch housing 32 and the main housing 33 may be prevented by one or more set screws 34. A lower shoulder 35 of the enlarged sub portion 29 is adapted to engage the upper end of the housing 33, so that downward movement of the sub 27 will cause corresponding downward movement of the housing 28.

The upper sub 27 is capable of rotating in one direction with respect to the housing 28, but not in the opposite direction. To accomplish this objective, a oneway clutch element 36 is interposed between the sub 27, which actually constitutes an inner clutch member, and the housing 28, which constitutes another portion of the clutch, or an outer clutch member. The connection between the sub and housing in one direction may be effected by a one-way helical clutch spring 36 which is disposed around the enlarged portion 29 of the sub and is adapted to engage its periphery, the lower end 37 of the spring 36 being secured to the upper end of the housing 33 by disposing the lower end of the spring in a companion bore or socket 38 in the upper end of the housing.

Specifically, it is preferred thatrotatio'n of the tubular running-in string D and sub 27 in a right-hand direction be permitted without corresponding rotation of the housing 28, whereas left-hand movement of the running-in string and sub will cause the clutch spring 36 to engage and connect the sub 27 to the housing 28. Thus, lefthand or counter-clockwise rotation of the sub 27 can cause corresponding rotation of the housing 28, for a reason that will appear. In View of the one-way characteristic of the clutch, it is evident that left-hand rotation of the housing 28,can occur free of the sub 27 and tubular running-in string D.

The housing 28 has a slotted portion therewithin in which the transverse pin or pins 15 on the tapered head 13 may move, for the purpose of controlling the position of the control rod 12 within the body 10 of the well packer. For convenience of manufacture, the slot 40 is formed within a composite sleeve st-ructure contained within the housing member 33. Thus, there is an upper sleeve 41 whose upper end engages a downwardly facing shoulder 42 in the housing and which is prevented from rotating with respect `to the housing by one or more transverse pins 43 secured to the housing 33 and extending into longitudinal slots 44 in the upper end of the upper sleeve 44. y A lower sleeve 45 is disposed in the housing, being held in spaced relation with respect to the upper sleeve by an intervening spacer sleeve 46 encompassing the confronting reduced

diameter portions

47, 47 of the upper and lower sleeves. For-the purpose of preventing rotation of the lower sleeve 45 with respect to the housing 33 and the upper sleeve 41, and to maintain the proper orientation between the upper and

lower sleeves

41, 45, the intermediate sleeve 46 is rotationally connected to the upper and lower sleeves by pins 48 on the latter extending within longitudinal slots 49 in the intermediate sleeve.

A lower guide 50 is threaded into the lower end of the housing 33, its `upper end 51 engaging the lower end of the lower sleeve 4S, forcing the latter against the spacer sleeve 46, which is, in. turn, urgedagainst a shoulder 52 on the upper sleeve 41, to hold the latter against the housing shoulder 42. Inadvertent unthreading of the guide 50 from the housing 33 may be prevented by one or more set screws 53. This guideh'as a lower flaring end 54 to facilitate its movement over the enlarged head 13 of the control rod 12.

The slot 40, which is formed in the housing 28 between the confronting portions of the upper and lower sleeves 41,- 45, is disclosed most clearlyin th'e diagrammatic view of Fig. 5. A pin 15 on the control rod head 13 can move :andere Yinto a lower entrance portion 55 of the slot,'ithe'low'er end of`the sleeve 45.011 both. sides Yof the-slot having inclined guide surfaces-'56,` 57 that are in a downward direction, to guide the pin 15 into a portio-n 58 of the slot which* is inclined in :an upward direction to the left, as seen in Fig. 5. This inclined slot portion S merges into a vertical slot portion 59 terminating at another inclined guide surface 50 in the upper Vsleeve y413,7which slopes to the left, as seen in Fig.-5, this surface lguiding the pinlS into another vertical or locating slot portion 61 in the upper sleeve. i A

It-=is evident that the locating slot portion 61 is displaced to the left of4 the intermediatevertical 'slot portion'59.v Such displacement is'provided to-'preclude the downward and return movement of the pin into the

slot portion

59, 59. Instead, relative downward movement of the pin `15 in the slot 61- will result in the pin engaging a guide surface 62 on the upper end of the lower sle'eve"45,` whichlis-inclined in a :downward direction'utoward the left, as seen in FigfS, this guide surface '62 causing the pin to shift relatively to the left and intoalignment with opposed upper and lower vertical slot portions'63, 64 in the upper and lower sleeve members, respectively, that enablethe well packer A to :be either lowered in the well casing'B'or elevated in the well casing by shifting the control `rod 12' downwardly 'with respect to the packer body 10 or upwardly with respect to the packer body. y"Adjacent the upper lowering slot portion 63 is a guide surface 65 that is inclined downwardly to the'left, whereasladjacent thefelevatingslotlportion 64 is a guide surface` 66 that isvinclined upwardly to the left. These opposed inclinedl guide surfaces `65, `tmerge into a departing verticall slot portion 67, the lower endof which conimunicates with han exiting slot' portion 68which isinclinedin a downwarddirection toward the right.: Actu- Tally, athis exiting-@slot portion 68T mayf-also operate as the entrance portion of another set of slots identicalto the lset previously described.y As an'example, there may be two of the slotted paths that have justbeen described disposed 180 degrees apart around the circumference of the

sleeves

41, 45, in order to accommodate diametrically opposed pins `15 on the control rod 12. 'However, only onepin 15 may be used, if desired, and this pin can venter 4into one or the other of the two sets of slotted paths provided'. Thus; thel exiting slot 68 wi1l also have the' pin 15 is disposed within the upper running-'slot portion 63 and the rod 12 pushed downwardly within the body to the position in which it'prevents relative longitudinal movementbetween the body 10 and `its expand- '

ers

17, 22, on the one hand, and the slips`18, 20, on the other hand. However, the control rod 12 may be shifted downwardly within the body 10 to the extent preventing the slips-18 vfrom being expanded out against thecasing Bin the absence of the guide 50 engaging the 1upper end 4c' i"the'body 1t), inasmuch as the control yrod 12 itself,

as vexplained iri'the above-identified patent application, may be shifted to la position in which itexerts a downward force on the body 10, to-preclude relative downward movement between the'rod 12 and body 10, and

Vbetween, the expanders and the slips. 1"" In the use of the running-in and retrievmg tool C,

'in connection with the retrievableV bridge plug A, it .is ffrstdesiredto lower theplug to a specific locatron in 'lthwllcasing B in which it isto` be set. The retriev- *liti`g""h'ou`sing" 28'is disposed `over--thetcontrol rod12` at the top of the hole, the pin 15 vbeing moved in' theslot 40 from'the No; lposition, shown in Fig; 5,v to the No; t2 position, and thence to the No. 3 position. YAt the. top of the well bore, it is easily ascertainable-that the pin 15 is properly located in the slot 64, inasmuch as an upward movement of the housing 28 will be accompanied by upward movement therewithof thecontrol rod 12. The apparatus is then lowered in the well casing B. As the well packer or bridge plug enters the casing, the

drag block portions

19, 21 of its slips vvill engagethe wall of the casing, whereupon the downward weight imposed on the tubing D will shift the housing 28 and its

sleeves

41, 45 downwardly, causing the pin 15 to move from the lower elevating slot portion 64 into the running-in slot portion 63 aligned -therewith (No. 4 position in Fig. 5 When the upper end 63a of ithe running-in slot portion 63 engages the pin 15, it will shift the rod 12 downwardly within the packer body 10 to the extent determined vby engagement of the lower end 54 of the guide 50with the upper end 70 of the body 10. When in this position,as explained above and in the aforementioned patent application, further relative downward movement between vthe rod 12 and body 1t) cannot occur, which, by virtue of an interconnection between the rod 12 and the slips 18, 20, also precludes relative movement between the slips 18, 20 and the

expanders

17, 22, the slips occupying the neutral position disclosed in Fig. l. The apparatus can then be run in the wall casing B on the lower end of the string of tubing D, pushing the bridge plug A downwardly with the tubing, without anchoring the slips against the casing, the pin 15 occupying the No. 4 position disclosed in Fig. 5'.

When the location in the well casing B has been reached at which the well packer A is to be anchored, the runningin and retrieving tool C is released from the'rod 12. A left-hand torque is taken yon the tubular running-in string D, which shifts the housing 28 and the

sleeves

41, 45 to the left, in view of the action of the one-way clutch 36, which couples the tubular subf27 to the housing 2S when the sub is turning in the yleft-hand direction. With such left-handv torque imposed on the tubing string D and the housing 2S, the tubing string is elevated slowly, to raise the running-in slot portion 63 with respect to the pin 15. inasmuch as the slotted

sleeves

41, 45 lare being urged to the left (actually to the right in Fig. 5) as the pin 15 cornes out of the running-inv slot portion `63, the pin will engage the inclined guide surface 65 and move over against the left wall '7,5 of the vertical slot 67, the pin following the relative movement indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5. As the tubing string D, housing 2S, and the

sleeves

41, 45 are elevated to a further extent,` the pin will move down within the inclined slot portion 68 and will exit from the lower end 55a of the lower sleeve portion'45, whereupon the tubing' string D and the running-in and retrieving tool may beV raised in the 'casing B, or can be removed completely from the well casing. Following removal of the running-in and retrieving tool C from the well packer A, the springs 25 of the latter can close the valves 25 and the passage 11 through the packer body 10, and also shift the control rod 12 to the neutral positionI within the body, permitting relative 1ongitudinal movement between the body 10 and

expande'rs

17, 22, on the one hand, and the slips 18, 2t), on the other hand, so as to anchor the plug against the well casing, depending upon the existence of a pressure differential above or'below the location of ,the bridge plug or well packer A.

During the elevation of the running-in' and retrieving tool C, and with the continued vimposition of left-hand torque thereon, the operator is advised of the fact that the pin 15 has entered the exiting slot portion 68, inasmuch as `additionalresistance `to turning of the tubing string D to the left will be noted 'during thel time that the pin is riding along the wall l76 of the exiting slot portion 68, which isinclined in adownwarddirectionjtoward the right. Of course,` when the housing 28 has elevated sufficiently, so that the pin 15 leaves the slotted portion 40 contained therein, the operator will be advised of the release of the tool C from the control rod 12 because of the diminution of torque in the tubular runningin string D.

To retrieve the well packer or bridge plug A, the tubular running-in string D is lowered in the well casing B, the flaring end 54 of the guide 50 insuring the movement of the housing 28 and the

sleeves

41, 45 therein over the control rod 12 `and its head 13. The tubular string and the housing connected thereto are turned slowly to the left, during the lowering movement, and when the rod head 13 has entered the guide S0, the pin 15 moving into the slotted portion 40 of the

sleeve

41, 45 through the entrance portion 55. If the pin 15 engages the inclined surface 57 at the right of the entrance portion to the Slot (as seen in Fig. it will tend to rotate the housing 28 to the left, and such rotation relative to the tubular sub 27 will be permitted in view of the automatic release of the one-way clutch 36. Accordingly, during the lowering action, the pin will move easily into the slot portion 58. lf the pin 15 were to engage the other inclined guide surface 56 lat the entrance portion 55 of the slot, it will be lifted toward the other inclined surface 57 and into the slot portion 58, whereupon the downweight imposed on the housing 28 by the tubular string D will cause the pin 15 to enter the intermediate vertical slot portion 59.

With the left-hand torque imposed on the tubular running-in string D and housing 28, they are lowered slightly, the pin 15 moving relatively upward until it is disposed in the yupper portion of the locating slot 61 (position No. 2), which is disaligned with the slot portion 59. The pin 15 will not engage the end 61a of this upper slot 61 since, before that occurs, the lower end 54 of the guide will have engaged the body and will have shifted the latter downwardly, so as to expand the upper slips 18 against the casing. The fact that the well packer A is taking weight will advise the operator that the pin is in the locating slot portion 61.

While continuing the left-hand torque on the tubular running-in string D and the housing 28, the operator will now elevate them slowly, causing the inclined guide surface 62 in alignment with the upper vertical slot portion 61 to engage the pin 15. The left-hand or counterclockwise movement of the housing 28 will then urge the pin relatively into alignment with the retrieving slot 64, the upward movement of the housing insuring the disposition of the pin in that slot (position No. 3). Continued upward movement of the tubing string D and housing 28 will now shift the control rod 12 upwardly with respect to the body 10 yor to a neutral position, which will prevent the slips 18, 20 from being set against the well casing B, during upward movement of the packer in the latter. With the pin lin the position just described, the well packer A can be elevated in the casing B to a new setting location, or it can be removed completely from the well casing.

Tnstead of elevating the well packer A in the well casing, if it is desired to Vlower it to a new location, all that need be done after the pin 15 has been located in the elevating slot portion 64 is to lower the tubing string D and housing 28 without any torque being imposed on the tubing string. Such lowering will shift the housing 28 and sleeves 41, downwardly until the pin 15 enters the running-in slot portion 63 (position No. 4), the upper end 63a of this slot portion engaging the pin and shifting the control rod 12 downwardly to its neutral position, the lower end 54 of the guide engaging the upper end 70 of the body 10. The tubing string can now be -lowered to carryl the running-in and retrieving tool C and the well packer A down the casing to a new location. If it is again desired to release the tool C from the well packer A, aleft-hand torque is taken on-the tubing string and the latter elevated slowly, to elevate the housing 28, which will cause the pin 15 -to move relatively to the left of the slot 63 and against the vertical wall 75. The elevating movement can now be continued, the pin 15 moving relatively out of the slot through the No. 5 position shown in Fig. 5.

It is to be noted that the upper end 63a of the runningin slot 63 is substantially lower than the upper end 61a of the locating slot portion 61. The arrangement is provided `so that the pin 15, when in the running-in slot portion 63, will be engaged by the sleeve 41 to effect downward shifting of the control rod 12 within the body 10 to the neutral and non-slip setting position. On the other hand, the locating slot portion 61, by extending much higher in the sleeve 41, allows the lower end 54 of the guide 50 to engage the body and anchor the upper slips 18 against the casing before the pin 15 can engage the upper end 61a of the locating slot, to shift the control rod 12 downwardly in the body 10 to a neutral position.

It is, accordingly, apparent that ia relatively simple apparatus C has been provided which is capable of coacting with the well packer A for the purpose of running it in the well casing B to the desired setting point, being released from the well packer to secure the setting of the latter, and of then being reconnected to the well packer for the purpose of either elevating it in the well casing or for the purpose of lowering it in the well casing to another setting location. Not only is the running-in and retrieving tool C simple in construction, but it is easily cleaned. In the event any sand, or the like, might be deposited on top of the set well packer, such sand can be removed by circulating fluid down through the tubular string D and the housing 28, with the guide 50 disposed adjacent the upper end of the sand accumulation. When the sand has been thoroughly removed, it is a simple matter for the housing 28, and the slotted

members

41, 45 contained therein, to be disposed properly over the control rod 12 and its one or more lock pins 15.

The one-way clutch 36 has the purpose of permitting the tubular running-in string D to be turned in one direction, as to the right, without correspondingly rotating the housing 28. This is of advantage, not only in permitting relative motion between the parts so that the housing 28 can shift freely to the left with respect to the tubular string, to facilitate entry of the pin 15 into the slotted portion 40 but it also enables other apparatus that might be incorporated in the tubular running-in string D, such as a retrievable well packer (not shown) above the bridge plug, to be properly manipulated, as by turning the tubular string to the right without disposing any turning effort on the running-in and retrieving tool C and the bridge plug A.

The inventor claims:

l. In apparatus for moving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coupling pin: a member adapted to be connected to a running-in string and adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; said member having a slotted structure therein including an inclined entrance slot portion to receive the pin and a locating generally vertical slot portion above and circumferentially offset from said entrance slot portion and communicating therewith; an inclined guiding wall below said locating slot portion to engage and guide the pin relatively circumferentialy away from said entrance slot portion; said guiding wall dening the lower side of an intervening slot portion inclined in a downward direction circumferentially away from said entrance slot portion; said structure having generally vertical upper and lower pin retaining slot portions above and below and communicating with said intervening inclined slot portion and offset circumferentially from said locating slot portion in a direction away from said entrance slot portion; said locating slot portion terminating a substantial distance above the upper end of said upper retaining slot portion; said structure further including an exit slot portion communicating with 'said' pin retainv ing slot portions and through which the pinfcan move relatively downward out of said structure.

2. In apparatus formoving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coupling pin; a member adapted to be connected to a running-in string and adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; said member having a slotted structure therein including an inclined entrance slot portion to receive the pin and a locating generally vertical slot portion above and circumferentially olset from said entrance slot portion and communicating therewith; an inclined guiding wall below said locating slot portion to engage and guide the pin relatively circumferentially away from said entrance slot portion; said guiding wall defining the lower side of an intervening slot portion inclined in a downward direction circumferentially away from said entrance slot portiomsaid structure having a generally Vertical pin retaining slot portion above and communicating with said intervening inclined slot portion and offset circumferentially from said locating slot portion in a direction away from said entrance slot portion, said structure closing the upper end of said pin retaining slot `portion to coniine the pin therein below the upper end of said locating slot portion; said locating slot portion terminating a substantial distance above said upper end of said pin retaining slot portion; said structure further having an exit slot portion communication with said pin retaining slot portion and through which the pin can move relatively downward out of said structure.

3. In apparatus for moving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coupling pin: -a member adapted to be connected to a running-in string and adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; said member having a slotted structure therein including an inclined entrance slot portion to receive the pin and a locating generally vertical slot portion above and circumferentially offset from said entrance slot portion and communicating therewith; an inclined guiding wall below said locating slot portion to engage and guide the pin relatively circumferentially away from said entrance slot portion; said guiding wall defining the lower side of an intervening slot portion inclined in a downward direction circumferentially away from said entrance slot portion; said structure having generally vertical upper and lower pin retaining slot portions above and below and communicating with said intervening inclined slot portion and oilset circumferentially from said locating slot portion in a direction away from said entrance slot portion; said locating slot portion terminating a substantial distance above the upper end of said upper retaining slot portion; said structure further including an exit slot portion communicating with said pin retaining slot portions and through which the pin can move relatively downward out of said structure; said exit slot portion being inclined downwardly in a direction toward said entrance slot portion.

4. In apparatus for moving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coupling pin: a rst member adapted to be connected to a running-in string; a second member operatively connected to said first member for movement longitudinally therewith and adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; said second member having a slotted structure therein including an inclined entrance slot portion to receive the pin and a locating generally vertical slot portion above and circumierentially offset from said entrance slot portion and communicating therewith; an inclined guiding wall below said locating slot portion to engage and guide the pin relatively circumferentially away from l said entrance slot portion; said guiding wall defining the lower side of an intervening slot portion inclined in a downward direction circumferentially away from said entrance slot portion; said structure having a generally vertical pin retaining slot portion communicating with said intervening inclined slot portion Vandoiset jcircunifer'eiih tially from said locating slot portion in a direction away from said entrance slot portion; said structure further having an exit slot portion communicating with said pin retaining slot portion and through which the-pin can move relatively downward out of said structure; and a one-way clutch for transmitting rotation of said first-member to said second member and to permit saidsecond member to shift arcuately with respect to said first member in response to engagement of said inclined guiding wall with said pin. I i

5. ln apparatus for moving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coupling pin: a iirst member adapted to be connected to a running-in string; a second member operatively connected to said firstV member for movement longitudinally therewith and adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; said second member having a slotted structure therein including an inclined entran-ce slot portion to receive the pin and a locating generally vertical slot portion above and circumferentially offset from said entrance slot portion and communicating therewith; an inclined guiding wall below said locating slot portion to engage and guide the pin relatively circumferentially away from said entrance slot portion; said guiding wall defining the lower side of an intervening slot portion inclined in a downward direction circumferentially away from said entrance slot portion; said structure having generally vertical pin retaining slot portions above and below and communicating with said intervening inclined slot portion and oiset circumferentially from said locating slot portion in a direction away from said entrance slot portion; said structure further including an exit slot portion communicating with said pin retaining slot portions and through which the pin can move relatively downward out of said structure; and a one-way clutch for transmitting rotation of said iirst member to said second member and to permit said second member to shift arcuately with respect to said rst member in response to engagement of said -inclined guiding wall with said pin.

6. In apparatus for moving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coupling pin: a first member adapted to be connected to a running-in string; a second member operatively connected to said first member for movement longitudinally therewith and adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; said second member having a slotted structure therein including an inclined entrance slot portion to receive the pin and a generally vertical slot portion above and circumferentially oiset from said entrance slot por-tion and communicating therewith; said structure having an exit slot portion through which the pin can move relatively downward out of said structure; said structure fur-ther having a transverse slot portion interconnecting said vertical and exit slot portions and extending circumferentially from said vertical slot portion to said exi-t slot portion in a direction leading away from said entrance slot portion; and a one-way clutch for transmitting rotation of said iirst member to said second member and to permit said second member to shift arcuately with respect to said first member in response to relative longitudinal movement of said pin in said inclined entrance slot portion.

7. In apparatus for moving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coupling pin: a first member adapted to be connected to a running-in string; a second member operatively connected to said rst member for movement longitudinally therewith and adapted to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; said second member having a slotted structure therein including an inclined entrance slot portion to receive the pin and a iirst generally vertical slot portion circumferentially above and offset from said entrance slot portion and communicating therewith; said structure having a second generally vertical slot portion below and communicating with said first generally vertical slot portion; said structure having an exit slot portion through which the pin can move relatively downward out of said structure; said structure further having a transverse slot portion interconnecting said vertical and exit slot portions and extending circumferentially from said vertical slot port-ions to said exit slot portion in a direction leading away from said entrance slot portion; and a one-way clutch for transmitting lrotation of said first member to said second member and to permit said second member to shift arcuately with respect to said first member in response to relative longitudinal movement of said pin in said inclined entrance slot portion.

8. Ink apparatus for moving a device in a well bore, the device having a laterally extending coupling pin: a lirst member adapted to be connected to a running-in string; a second member operatively connected to said first member for movement longitudinally therewith and adapted `to be moved over the device and its coupling pin; said second member having a slotted structure therein including an inclined entrance slot por-tion to receive the pin and a locating generally vertical slot portion above and circumferentially offset from said entrance slot portion and communicating therewith; an inclined guiding wall below said locating slot portion to engage and guido the pin relatively circumferentially away from said entrance slot portion; said guiding wall dening the lower side of an intervening slot portion inclined in a downward direction circumferentially away from said entrance slot portion; said structure having generally vertical upper and lower pin retaining slot portions above and below and communicating with said intermediate inclined slot portionand offset circumferentially from said locating slotportion in a direction away from said entrance slot portion; said locating slot portion terminating a substantial distance above the upper end of said upper retaining slot portion; said structure further including an exit slot portion communicating with said pin retaining slot portions and through which the pin can move relatively downward out of said structure; and a one-way clutch for transmitting the rotation of said rst member to said second member and to permit said second member to shift arcuately with respect to said rst member in response `to engagement of said inclined guiding wall with said pin.

ReferencesvCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,214,622 Walker Feb. 6, 1917 2,167,019 Yost July 25, 1939 2,250,463 Boynton July 29, 1941 2,327,503 Coberly Aug. 24, 1943 2,373,648 Boynton Apr. 17, 1945 l2,429,910 Anderson Oct. 28, 1947 2,690,225 Baker et al. Sept. 28, 1954