US3027947A - Releasable supports for well devices - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1962 J. v. FREDD 3,027,947

RELEASABLE SUPPORTS FOR WELL DEVICES Filed Aug. 11, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 20 20 I9 19 18 l8 I7 17 ii l7 I! 32 15 m 20 20 Fig.2

INVENTOR. John V. Fre dd Fig.l ww

ATTORNEY April 3, 1962 J. v. FREDD RELEASABLE SUPPORTS FOR WELL DEVICES 3 Sheets- 2 A: q 147/ 4 W m Td m d m mF V n h 0 J TTORNEY April 3, 1962 J. v. FREDD RELEASABLE SUPPORTS FOR WELL DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 11, 1958 INVENTOR. J 0 h n V. F re d d Fig.7

ATTORNEY United States Patent 32,9 7,941. ,RELEASABLE SUPPORTS FQR WELL'DEVICES JohrtV. Fredd, Dallas, Tex.,- assignor to Otis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a-co'rporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 11, 1958, SeL NO. 754,406 24 Claims. (01. 16,6-=-21,4)

T i invention tes' we de is an r a e part c I y to s pp r o top po it n ble in p edet min d Pos i a wel p pe. Ibis pp cation awn iim tion in pa o my sopendins applic tiqn e al N 385, 8, filed Ost b r 9. v19:5 11.0w aten .94 3.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved stop for positioning a well device in a predetermined position in a well pipe. a

A particular object of the invention is to provide an obstruction or stop which may be removably secured in an open-ended well pipe whereby the passage of well tools downwardly and out of the open end ofsaid tubing is prevented, but wherein said stop permits substantially full flow of fluids in either direction through the well pipe past the stop.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a new and improved stop or support of the character which is positionable in and removable from a well pipe by means of a flexible line. a

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stop p sitionable in a nipple in a well pipe provided with a recess having an upwardly facingstop shoulder for engagement by a stop member on the stop whereby said stop is stopped at and supported in said nipple.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of devices constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein: I

FIGURE 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a tubing stop showing it locked in place in a landing nipple connected in a well pipe;

FIGURE 2 is a view, partly in section and partlyin elevation, taken at a right angle to FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitud'nal sectional view of another form of the tubing stop showing the same as it appears while being lowered in a well pipe or tubing string;

FIGURE .4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, showing the stop as it appears locked in place in a landing nipple nnes edin e we ripe;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a still further form of tubing stop showing the same as it appears while being lowered into a landing nipple connected in a well pipe or tubing string; and,

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7, showing the stop as it appearslocked in place in the landing nipple.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, the reference numeral 10 designates a tubing stop which includes a tubular body 11 having a pair of opposed longitudinally extending key slots or windows 12 through which the stop and lock keys 13 extend. Each key has at its opposite ends lateral projections or wings 14 which are adapted to bear against the inner walls of the body 11 to limit outward movement of the keys. Each key is biased outwardly by a pair of springs 15 whose central bight portions lfibear against the keys, whose opposite end portions 17 are disposed in recesses 18 formed in the stop body on each side of the key slots, and whose ends 19 are received and held in suitable catch holes 20 in the body wall. On the lower end of each of the keys 13 a guide boss 21 having outwardly convergent beveled upper and lower shoulders 22 and 23, respectively; and an elongate selector and stop b0ss24 is formed on the key above the guide boss and provides a downwardly facing stop shoulder 25 at: the lower end of said stop boss. a A tubular lock mandrel or member 26 is slidable longitudinally in the stop body and is releasably held in an upper position in said body by a shear :pin 27. The lock mandrel has a pair of opposed windows 28 which receive internal projections 29on the upper ends of the keys for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

In use, the stop is -lowered into a tubing string orwell pipe by means of any suitable running tool which engages the external annular flange 30 on the upper end of the lockmandrel. The keys 1 3 arefree to move inwardly against the resistance of the springs 15 whenever the guide bossesvzrl encounter any obstructions in the tubing string, their lower beveledshouldersicamming the keys inwardly upon meeting such obstructions.

;When; the tubing stop reaches the landing nipple 31, which is preferably connected to the lowerend of the tubing string, the guide bosses move past an internal a11- nul'ar stop flange '32. in the bore .ofthe landing nipple but the downwardly facing stop shoulders 25 of the. selector and stop .bosses engage the undercut'upper shoulder 33 of the stop flange, the keys moving outwardly under the urging of the springs into position for the undercut stop shoulders 25 engage the shoulder 33, thus stopping further downward movement of the stop body.

Downward jarringblows are .then imparted to the lock mandrel 26 by means of the usableflexible line operated running and pulling tools to shear the pin 27 and move the lock mandrel downwardly in the body 11. The lower end portion of the lock mandrel is provided on opposite sides with flattened surfaces 34 below the windows 28, andthese flattened surfaces engage internal lock surfaces 35 on the lower portions of the keys and thus hold the keys in expanded or locking position. Beveled shoulders 36 on the lower end of the flattened surfaces and correspondingly beveled surfaces 37 at the upper ends of the lock surfaces 35 of the keys cooperate to positively move the keys fully outwardly if for any reason the keys have not previously been moved to fully expanded position by the springs.

. Downward movement of the-lock mandrel in the body is limitedby the engagement of the upper edges 38 of the windows 28 of the mandrel with the upper faces of theinternal projections 29 on the keys.

.The Support or stop is thus locked in position in the landing nipple by the lock mandrel and the keys, and neither an upward nor a downward force applied to the body can dislodge it. The running tool is then disengaged from the lock mandrel and removed from the tubing string, leaving the tubing stop in position in the tubing string. a

It willbe noted that the lock mandrel is tubular and has a bore therethrough which permits substantial flow of gases and liquids into the tubingstring.

When it is desired to remove the support or stop, a suitable fishing or retrieving tool is lowered into the tubing string on the flexible line running and-pullingtool assembly to engage the flange 30 at the upper-rend of the lock mandrel. The lock mandrel is then pulled up wardly to disengage the flattened surfaces 34 of the mandrel from between the lock surfaces 35 of the keys and thus free the keys for inward movement. The projections 29, of the key which extend through the windows 28 of the mandrel then engage the lower edges 39 of the windows 28. The upper ends of the keys are relieved at each side to form upwardly facing shoulders 40 which abut downwardly facing shoulders 41 I formed near the upper ends of the slots. Thus further upward movement of the fishing tool and lock mandrel will cause the stop body to move upwardly carrying the keys with it. The upper shoulders of the selector and stop bosses are beveled at 42, and these beveled shoulders, together with the upper beveled shoulders 22 of the guide bosses will then cam the keys inwardly to enable them to pass any obstructions they encounter during upward movement of the stop through the tubing.

It will be obvious that the configiration of the selector and stop bosses and of the guide bosses may be varied and corresponding recesses formed in the internal flange 32 of the nipple 31 so that the bosses of the lock and stop keys will engage in only the corresponding recesses of a selected nipple. The stop may thus be selectively landed and locked in a particular nipple without danger of the keys lodging in recesses of other nipples.

In FIGURES 3 and 4 is illustrated another form of the tubing stop, the stop being designated generally by the numeral 50 and including an elongate tubular body 51. A plurality of stop and lock keys 52 are disposed around a reduced intermediate section 53 of the body. A locking sleeve 54 is slidably mounted on the upper end of the body and has a plurality of dependent resilient fingers 55 which extend downwardly through circumferentially spaced slots 56 in an external flange 57 on the body above the reduced section 53. An outwardly extending and circumferentially enlarged expander head 58 is located on the lower end of each finger for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

A retainer collar 59 is secured around the flange 57 by a set screw 60 to retain the fingers 55 in the slots 56. The engagement of the enlarged expander heads with the flange limits upward movement of the fingers in the slots and also limits upward movement of the sleeve 54 on the body. The keys are spaced radially apart by the downwardly extending fingers and the expander heads thereon. A downwardly extending annular lip 61 on the collar 59 engages an upwardly extending projection 62 on each stop and lock key whereby the keys may move laterally through a limited distance between expanded locking and retracted releasing positions. A retainer band 63 mounted on the body below the reduced section 53 and extending upwardly around the lower end of such reduced section engages a downwardly extending projection 64 on each stop and lock key to similarly limit the lateral movement of the lower ends of the keys. A spring 65 housed in a recess 66 in the inner surface of each key bears against the reduced section of the body to urge the keys outwardly toward expanding locking position.

An outwardly extending boss portion 67 is provided on the lower part of each key and when the keys are moved outwardly by the resiliency of the springs 65, the bosses enter an internal annular stopping and locking recess 68 formed in a landing nipple 69 connected in a tubing string 70.

Laterally extending locking wings 71 are provided on each side of the bosses and are engaged by the expander heads 58 on the sleeve fingers upon dovmward movement of the sleeve relative to the body and the keys, the expander heads moving behind the locking wings to positively hold the keys in expanded position. The lower outer end 72 of each expander head is downwardly and inwardly beveled whereby said shoulders may engage the locking wings to earn the keys outwardly to expanded position in the event that the keys have not moved fully outwardly under the biasing force of the springs.

A packing means 73, shown to be of a plurality of rings of packing of the V-type, is retained on the lower part of the body by a nut 74, said packing means sealing with the wall of the bore of the landing nipple below the recess 68.

The threads 75 on the lower end of the body may also be utilized for attaching thereto a well device (not shown) such as a choke, standing valve, check valve or the like.

In use, the stop is lowered into a tubing string by means of a suitable running tool which engages the external flange 76 on the upper end of the sleeve 54. The sleeve being at its upper limit of travel on the body as shown in FIGURE 3, the stop and lock keys 52 are free to move inwardly against the resistance of the springs 65. The boss portions of the keys have inwardly beveled lower and upper shoulders 78 and 77, respec tively, whereby the keys are cammed inwardly upon meeting obstructions in the tubing string while the stop is being lowered in the tubing string or, as will be hereinafter more fully described, while the stop is being raised therein.

When the tubing stop reaches the landing nipple 69, the keys move outwardly under the urging of the springs to move the boss portions into the recess 68 in said nipple. Downward jarring blows are then imparted to the locking sleeve by means of the customary flexible line operated running and pulling tools to move the locking sleeve downwardly to move the expander heads 58 of the sleeve fingers behind the locking wings 71 of the keys. The expander heads engage the locking wings to prevent inward movement of the keys whereby the stop is positively locked in position in the nipple. The beveled lower outer shoulders 72 of the expander heads will cam the locking lugs of the keys to positively move said keys outwardly if for any reason the keys have not previously been moved to fully expander position by the springs.

The bevel of the lower shoulders 78 of the boss portions of the keys is at a greater angle to the axis of the stop than is the bevel of the lower outer ends 72 of the expander heads 58 whereby the stop will be supported in the nipple by the engagement of the beveled lower shoulders of the key boss portions with the correspondingly beveled lower end 79 of the nipple recess 68 while the locking sleeve is moved downwardly relative to the body and the keys, even in the event that the keys have not previously moved to their fully expanded positions.

With the tubing stop thus locked in position in the landing nipple (FIGURE 4), the running tool is then disengaged from the locking sleeve and removed from the tubing string. It will be noted that, the body of the stop being tubular, substantial flow of gases and liquids therethrough may take place.

When it is desired to remove the stop from its locked position in the landing nipple, a suitable retrieving tool is lowered into the tubing string on the flexible line running and pulling tool assembly to engage the flange 76 at the upper end of the locking sleeve. The sleeve is then pulled upwardly to disengage the expander heads from their position behind the locking wings of the keys, where upon the keys are free to move inwardly against the force of the springs as the stop is moved upwardly in the tubing string, the keys being cammed inwardly by the upper beveled shoulders 77 of the boss portions and by similar beveled shoulders 80' at the upper ends of the keys. The engagement of the expander heads at the lower ends of the fingers of the sleeve with the flange 57 of the body causes the body to be moved upwardly with the sleeve as it is lifted by the retrieving tool.

It will be obvious that the shape and dimensions of the boss portions of the keys and the locking recesses in the landing nipple may be varied whereby the boss portions will enter only a nipple having a recess of corresponding shape and dimensions. The stop may thus be selectively locked in only a selected nipple 69 without risk of inadvertently being landed or locked in a nipple having a differently configurated recess.

A further modified form of the tubing stop, which may be used to position well tools in a selected position in a well casing or in a tubing string, is shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. The stop 150 has a tubular body or mandrel 151 formed with a pair of opposed lateral windows 152 near its upper end. An external retainer sleeve 153 is rigidly secured as by welds around the upper end of the mandrel to extend above and below the windows 152 of the mandrel and such a retainer sleeve has windows 1555 of lesser length than the mandrel windows and aligned with said mandrel windows. A pair of stop dogs 156 are mounted in the mandrel and protrude outwardly through and are laterally movable in the sleeve windows. Outward movement of the stop dogs in the windows is limited by upwardly and downwardly extending fingers 157 and 157a on the upper and lower inner ends of the dogs engaging the retainer sleeve.

A central control member or rod 158 is slidable longitudinally in the mandrel and has a reduced intermediate portion 159 which provides a downwardly and inwardly tapered annular camming shoulder 160 adapted to engage the downwardly and inwardly tapered shoulder 161 at the upper end of the inwardly projecting lock surface 161a on the inner surface of each of the stop dogs to move said dogs outwardly to expanded positions when the control member is moved downwardly relative to the tubular mandrel. The control member is urged resiliently downwardly in the mandrel by a coil spring 162 confined on the lower portion of said control member between a spacer ring 163 bearing against the lower ends of the stop dogs and a retainer ring 164 secured to the control member by a pin 1 65.

A pair of pawls 166 are pivotally secured within the lower bifurcated end of the tubular mandrel by a pin 167, and said pawls are swingable through the opposed longitudinal slots 163 forming the bifurcation at the lower end of the mandrel. A torsion spring '169 has hooks at the lower ends of its arm 170 engaged in holes in the pawls and its coil held in a slot 171 in the lower end of the control member by a pin 172 extending through said coil and control member. A ring 173 is heldon the lower end of the control member by the pin 172 to prevent undue lateral movement of the lower end of said control member.

In use, the control member 158 is raised relative to the mandrel and the stop dogs, against the downward force exerted by the spring 162, until the pawls 166 swing upwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 7. A suitable running tool (not shown) connected to a flexible line running and pulling tool assembly is engaged with an external annular flange 174 at the upper end of the control member, and the stop is lowered in the tubing T by means of said running tool. The pawls 166 engage and ride along the tubing wall under the outward biasing of the torsion spring 169, as shown in FIGURE 7, and thus hold the control member upwardly in the mandrel against the force of the spring 162. With the control member in its raised position, the reduced portion 159 of said member is opposite and between the inner surfaces of the stop dogs and the beveled surfaces 175 at the lower outer edges of said dogs may cam the dogs inwardly toward retracted position upon encountering any restriction or obstruction in the bore of the tubing.

The stop is lowered until it enters the bore of a landing nipple 176 connected by means of a coupling 177 to the lowerend of the tubing string, said nipple being open at its lower end. When the pawls 166 move out of the open lower end of the landing nipple, their free ends swing outwardly and downwardly, being biased outwardly by the spring arms 17%, and the control member is moved downwardly by the coil spring 162, downward movement of the control member moves the cam shoulder 160 on said control member downwardly into engagement with the tapered shoulders 161 on the inner surfaces ofthe stop dogs to cam said dogs outwardly into engagement with the bore wall of the landing nipple. The stop .is lowered further until the stop dogs enter the elongate internal annular locking recess 178 in the bore of the landing nipple, whereupon the coil spring 162 moves the control member 158 further downwardly in the mandrel to expand the dogs into said recess. The control member is moved downwardly until the cam shoulder engages the ring 163, in which position the lock surface 190 above the cam shoulder is disposed between the lock surfaces 161a of the stop dogs below the tapered shoulders 161 in said dogs, thereby preventing the dogs from moving inwardly. With the dogs so expanded into the locking recess and held in such position by the lock surface 190, the stop is locked in the landing nipple at the lower end of the tubing string, and will prevent any well tools or equipment manipulated in said tubing there above from dropping out the open lower end of said tubing.

When it is desired to remove the stop, a suitable retrieving tool is lowered to engage the flange 174 of the control member and move it upwardly. This upward movement of the control member lifts the pin 172 and draws the center portion of the spring 169 upwardly, whereupon the pawls 166 are again swung upwardly in the slots 168 to a retracted position, pivoting about the pin 167 conmeeting them to the mandrel 151. The upward move-. ment of the control member also moves the lock surface 190 upwardly from locking engagement with the dogs and positions the reduced portion 159 of the control mem-. ber between the lock surfaces 161a of the stop dogs so that said dogs are free to move inwardly of the mandrel toward retracted position. A continued upward pull on the control member is transmitted through the torsion spring 169 and the pawls 66 to the pin 167, thereby lifting the mandrel 151 and the dogs 156 carried by said mandrel. The beveled shoulders 179 at the upper outer edges of the dogs engage the beveled annular shoulder 180 at the upper end of the locking recess in the landing nipple upon upward movement of the mandrel and are cammed inwardly to free the tubing stop from said landing nipple for upward movement through the tubing string.

It will be seen that several forms of stops have been illustrated and described for being removably positioned in a well pipe or tubing string at a desired location therein; that all forms of the tubing stop prevent well tools from passing downwardly in the tubing string past said stop, while at the same time permitting relatively unrestricted flow of fluids through the tubing string.

It will also be seen that the stops are readily installable in and removable from position in the tubing string by means of a flexible line operating mechanism, and that, with the stop in locked position in the tubing string, the stop is held against both upward and downward movement in said tubing string.

It will also be seen that the tubing stops are positionable in a landing nipple at a predetermined fixed position in a tubing string.

The stops are of relatively simple form and admit of easy manufacture. Further, their simplicity of construction and operation obviates malfunctioning even under unfavorable condition.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A stop for use in a well conductor comprising: a tubular body; a plurality of lock members on said body mounted for lateral movement thereon; means for biasing said lock members outwardly of said body; means limiting outward movement of said lock members on said body and retaining said lock members on said body; and .a locking means on said body movable from an upper to a lower position thereon and .engageable with said lock members to hold the same in outward locking position; said lock members each having a downwardly facing shoulder engageable with an upwardly facing shoulder in said well conductor to limit downward movement of said body in said conductor; said locking means being movable to said lower position on said body to engage and lock said lock members in expanded position.

2. A Well device of the character set forth in claim 1 and including: sealing means on said body disposed to seal between said body and a well conductor.

3. A well device of the character set forth in claim 1 and including: packing means on the exterior of said tubular body and disposed to engage and seal between said body and a Well conductor.

4. A stop for use in a well conductor comprising: a tubular body; a plurality of lock keys on said body mounted for lateral movement thereon; means supporting and retaining said keys on said body; means biasing said keys outwardly on said body to a projecting locking position; a sleeve on said body slidable longitudinally thereof from an upper to a lower position; and locking means on said sleeve engageable with said keys to hold said keys in such projecting locking position when said sleeve is moved to said lower position, said keys when in such position being engageable with an upwardly facing shoulder in said well conductor to support said stop in said tubing.

5 A stop for use in well tubing comprising: a tubular body having a plurality of lateral apertures; a lock key slidably mounted in each aperture; means biasing said keys outwardly of said apertures; a lock mandrel in said tubular body initially releasably held in an upper position in said body and movable downwardly therein to a lower position engaging said lock keys; lock surfaces on said lock keys disposed to be engaged by said lock mandrel when said mandrel is moved downwardly in said body to hold said lock keys in projecting locking position; and means releasably holding said lock mandrel out of such locking position.

6. A well device including: a tubular body having a longitudinal bore and a lateral aperture intermediate its ends; lock means movable laterally in said aperture; a central member movable longitudinally in the bore of the body and having means engaging said lock means for moving said lock means to a position projecting laterally outwardly of the aperture upon longitudinal movement of said central member in one direction in said body; biasing means in said body engaging said central member for biasing said central member longitudinally in said body toward the position wherein said central member engages and moves said lock means to projecting position; means on said body and said stop means engageable to limit outward movement of said stop means in said aperture; means in said body engaging said central member to limit longitudinal movement of said central member in said body; said central member having an external surface disposed normal to the direction of movement of said lock means and engaging the inner portion of said lock means to provide a stop against inward movement of said lock means in said aperture; and thus holds said lock means in laterally projecting position extending out of said aperture; said central member having a relieved exterior portion movable longitudinally in said body to a position adjacent said lock means permitting said lock means to move inwardly of said aperture to a retracted position; said lock means having an external camming surface projecting from said aperture whereby said lock means is cammed inwardly of said aperture toward retracted position upon encountering obstructions as said well device is moved in a well conductor.

7. A stop and support for well tools adapted to be mounted in a well flow conductor and including: a tubular body having a longitudinal bore and a lateral aperture intermediate its ends; stop means movable laterally in said aperture; a central member movable longitudinally in the bore of the body and having means engaging said stop means for moving said top means to a position projecting laterally outwardly of the aperture upon longitudinal movement of said central member in one direction in said body; resilient means in said body engaging said central member for biasing said central member longitudinally in said body toward the position wherein said central member engages and moves said stop means to projecting position; means on said body and said stop means engageable to limit outward movement of said stop means in said aperture; means in said body engaging said central member to limit longitudinal movement of said central member in said body; said central member having an external lock surface disposed normal to the direction of movement of said stop means and engaging the inner portion of said stop means when said stop means is in expanded outward projecting position to lock said stop means in such position and to provide a stop against inward movement of said stop means in said aperture; said central member having a reduced exterior portion movable longitudinally in said body to a position adjacent said stop means permitting said stop means to move inwardly of said aperture to a retracted position; said stop means having an external camming surface projecting from said aperture whereby said stop means is cammed inwardly of said aperture toward retracted position upon encountering obstructions as said stop device is moved in a well conductor.

8. A well device including: a tubular body having a longitudinal bore and a lateral aperture intermediate its ends; lock means movable laterally in said aperture; a central member movable longitudinally in the bore of the body and having means engaging said lock means for moving said lock means to a position projecting laterally outwardly of the aperture upon longitudinal movement of said central member in one direction in said body; resilient means in said body engaging said central member for biasing said central member longitudinally in said body toward the position wherein said central member engages and moves said lock means to projecting position; means on said body and said stop means engageable to limit outward movement of said stop means in said aperture; means in said body engaging said central member to limit longitudinal movement of said central member in said body; said central member having an external lock surface disposed normal to the direction of movement of said lock means and engaging the inner portion of said lock means to hold said lock means in outward projecting position thus providing a stop against inward movement of said lock means in said aperture; said central member having a reduced exterior portion movable longitudinally in said body to a position adjacent said lock means permitting said lock means to move inwardly of said aperture to a retracted position; said lock means having an external camming surface projecting from said aperture whereby said lock mean is cammed inwardly of said aperture toward retracted position upon encountering obstructions as said well device is moved in a well conductor, said central member extending above and below the aperture in the body for all positions of said central member in said body.

9. A well device including: a tubular body having a longitudinal bore and a lateral aperture intermediate its ends; lock means movable laterally in said aperture; a central member movable longitudinally in the bore of the body and having means engaging said lock means for moving said lock means to a position projecting laterally outwardly of the aperture upon longitudinal movement of said central member in one direction in said body; biasing means in said body engaging said central member for biasing said central member longitudinally in said body toward the position wherein said central member engages and moves said lock means to projecting position; means on said body and said step means engageable to limit outward movement of said stop means in said aperture; means in said body engaging said central member to limit longitudinal movement of said central member in said body; said central member having an external lock surface disposed normal to the direction of movement of said lock means and engaging the inner portion of said lock means to prevent inward movement .of said lock means from outward projecting position and thus providing a lock and a stop against inward movement of said lock means in said aperture; said central member having a relieved exterior portion movable longitudinally in said body to a position adjacent said lock means permitting said lock means to move inwardly of said aperture to a retracted position; said lock means having an external camming surface projecting from said aperture whereby said lock means is cammed inwardly of said aperture toward retracted position upon encountering obstructions as said well device is moved in a well conductor; means releasably holding said central member in a position wherein said relieved exterior portion is disposed adjacent said lock means to permit said lock means to move to retracted position, said means for holding said central member in such position being releasable to permit said member to move longitudinally into engagement with said lock means to hold said lock means in projecting locking position.

10. A device of the character set forth in claim 9 wherein said means releasably holding said central member in said fixed position in said body comprises a pair of pawls pivotally connected to said body and having their outer free ends disposed to ride against the bore wall of a well flow conductor through which the well device is lowered, and means connecting said pawls and said central member whereby said central member is releasably held in said position permitting said lock means to move to retracted position while said pawls ride against the wall of the well conductor, said pawls being adapted upon moving out the lower end of the well conductor to swing downwardly to permit said central member to be moved downwardly relative to said lock means to engage and hold said lock means in projecting locking position.

11. A support for well devices adapted for use in tubing having an internal upwardly facing shouider and an internal downwardly facing shoulder, said shoulders being longitudinally spaced from each other, said support including: a tubular body; said body having stop member receiving means opening outwardly intermediate the ends thereof, said body being insertable in said tubing to position said stop member receiving means adjacent the shoulders in said tubular member; a stop member movably positioned in said stop member receiving means for movement outwardly therefrom to a locking position extending into position to engage said shoulders in said tubing when said stop member receiving means is opposite said shoulders, said stop member being engageable with the shoulders to hold the body against longitudinal movement in the tubing, yieldable means positioned to coact with said body and stop member to yieldingly urge the stop member toward latching position; and means movably mounted on the body and movableinto and out of a locking position to hold said'stop member in locking position.

12. A stop for use in a well conductor comprising: a tubular body; a plurality of stop members on said'body mounted for inward and outward lateral movement thereon; means limiting outward'movement of said stop members on said body and retaining saidstop members on said body; a locking means on said body movable from an upper position to a lower position on saidbody and engageable with the said stop members when in such lower position to hold said stop members in outward position, said stop members each having a downwardly facing shoulder engageable with an upwardly facing shoulder in said well conductor to limit downward movement of .said body in said conductor, said locking means being movable from said lower position to said upper position to release said stop members for movement from expanded position; and yieldable means on said body and positioned to coact with said stop members and said locking means to yieldingly urge said stop members toward and hold said stop members in outward position on said body. p

13. A stop for well tubing including: a tubular body having a plurality of windows; a stop dog movable through each window to expanded position; central control means extending longitudinally of I said tubular body and having means engageable with said stop dogs for moving said stop dogs to expanded positions upon longitudinal move- 'ment of said control means in said tubular member; means biasing said control means for longitudinal movement longitudinally of said tubular body; a lock surface on said control means engageable with said stop dogs upon longitudinal movement of said control means in 'said tubular member to positively hold said stop dogs in expanded positions; means connected with said tubular body and said control means initially preventing longitudinal movement of said control means in said tubular member and engageable with the well tubing, said last-mentioned means being actuatable to permit said longitudinal movement of said control means, said stop dogs engaging an upwardly facing shoulder of said tubing when in expanded position to prevent further downward movement of the stop in said tubing, said means comprising paiwl means pivoted at one end to said tubular bodyaiid having an outer end extending outwardly of the tubular body to engage the tubing, and a spring connected to said pawl means for biasing said pawl means outwardly.

14. A stop for well tubing including: a ttbjular body having a plurality of windows; a stop dog movable through each window to expanded position; a central control member extending through said tubular body and having means engageable with said stop dogs for moving said stop dogs to and holding said stop dogs in expanded positions upon downward movement of said control member in said tubular member; means biasing said control member for downward movement in said tubular body; and means secured to said tubular body and said control member and engageable with the well tubing for preventing downward movement of said control member in said tubular member, said last-mentioned means allowing said downward movement of said control member when said means passes out of the lower open end of said tubing, said stop dogs engaging an upwardly facing shoulder of said tubing when in expanded positions to prevent further downward movement of the stop in said tubing.

15. A stop for tubing comprising: a tubular body having a plurality of lateral apertures, a key in each aperture, means biasing said keys outwardly through said apertures; a lock member slidable in said tubular body releasably held in an upper position; said keys having downwardly facing shoulders engageable with an upwardly facing shoulder provided by an annularrecess of said tubing to limit downward movement of said tubular body in said tubing when said keys move to expanded position in the annular recess of said tubing; said lock member having a'lock surface thereon engageable with said lock keys when in a lower position on said'body to lock said keys in expanded position in said apertures of said body and in said recess of'said tubing; said lock member being movable downwardly to lock said keys in expanded position.

16. A stop for tubing comprising: a tubular body having a plurality of lateral apertures; a key in eachaperture, means biasing said keys outwardly through 'said apertures; a lock mandrel in said tubular body releasably held in an upper position; said keys having downwardly facing shoulders engageable with an upwardly facing shoulder provided by an annular recess of said tubing to limit downward movement of said tubular body in'said tubing when said keys move to expanded position in the 1 l annular recess of said tubing; said lock mandrel being movable downwardly relative to said keys to lock said keys in expanded position when said keys are in expanded position and downward movement of said tubular body is stopped, said lock mandrel having an external lock suring a plurality of lateral apertures; a plurality of keys, one

key in each aperture; means biasing said keys outwardly through said apertures; means on said keys engageable With said tubular body for limiting outward movement of said keys; a lock mandrel in said tubular body releasably held in an upper position; said keys having downwardly facng shoulders engageable with an upwardly facing shoulder provided by an annular recess of said tubing to limit downward movement of said tubular body in said tubing when said keys move to expanded position in the annular recess of said tubing; said lock mandrel being movable downwardly when said keys are in expanded position and downward movement of said lock mandrel is stopped to lock said keys in expanded position; and a lock surface on said lock mandrel engageable with said keys to positively lock said keys in outward expanded position in said apertures of said body when said lock mandrel is in said lower position.

18. A stop for tubing comprising: a tubular body having a plurality of lateral apertures; a plurality of stop keys, one key in each aperture; means biasing said keys outwardly through said apertures; a lock mandrel in said tubular body releasably held in an upper position; said keys having downwardly facing shoulders engageable with an upwardly facing shoulder provided by an annular recess of said tubing to limit downward movement of said tubular body in said tubing when said keys move to expanded position in the annular recess of said tubing;

. said lock mandrel being movable downwardly when said keys are in expanded position and downward movement of said lock mandrel is stopped to lock said keys in expanded position; a lock surface on said lock mandrel engageable with said keys to positively lock said keys in outward expanded position in said apertures of said body when said lock mandrel is in said lower position; and

means limiting upward movement of said lock mandrel in said tubular body whereby said stop may be removed by an upward force exerted on said lock mandrel.

19. in well apparatus the combination with a tubular member adapted to be connected to a well tubing to form a part thereof and having an internal enlargement mediate its ends, of a tubular body having an opening mediate its ends from the interior of the body to the exterior thereof, said body being insertable in said member through said tubing to position said opening opposite said enlargement, latch means movably positioned in said opening for movement to a latching position extending into said enlargement when the opening is opposite the enlargement, said latch means being engageable with said member in said enlargement to hold the body against longitudinal movement in the member, yieldable means positioned to coact with said body and latch means to yieldingly urge the latch means toward latching position and means movably mounted on the body and movable into and out of a position to hold said latch means in latching position.

20. In well apparatus the combination with a tubular member adapted to be connected to a well tubing to form a part thereof and having an internal enlargement mediate its ends of a tubular body having an opening mediate its ends from the interior of the body to the exterior thereof, said body being insertable in said member through said tubing, latch means movably positioned in said opening for movement inwardly and outwardly of the body,

yieldable means positioned to coact with said body and said latch means to yieldingly urge the latch means outwardly, means on said member positioned for engagement with said latch means to arrest downward movement of the body in the member upon outward movement of the latch means when said opening reaches a position opposite said enlargement, said latch means being engageable with the member in said enlargement upon outward movement of the latch means relative to the body when said opening is opposite the enlargement to latch the body against longitudinal movement relative to the body, and means for moving the latch means into latching position.

21. In well apparatus the combination with a tubular member adapted to be connected to a well tubing to form a part thereof, of a tubular body insertable in the member through the tubing and having an opening mediate its ends from the interior of the body to the exterior thereof, latch means movably positioned in the opening for movement inwardly and outwardly of the body, means on the member positioned for engagement with said latch means upon outward movement of the latch means to hold the body against longitudinal movement in the member, yieldable means positioned to coact with the body and latch means to exert a force against said latch means tending to move said latch means outwardly and plunger means movably mounted in the body and movable therein to one position in engagement with said latch means to hold the latch means outwardly of the body and to another position out of engagement with the latch means to permit the latch means to be moved inwardly of the body against the outward force of said yieldable means.

22. In well apparatus the combination with a tubular member adapted to be connected to a well tubing to form a part thereof, of a tubular body insertable in the member through the tubing and having an opening mediate its ends from the interior of the body to the exterior thereof, latch means movably positioned in the opening for movement inwardly and outwardly of the body, yieldable means positioned to coact with the body and latch means to yieldably urge the latch means outwardly, means on the member positioned for engagement with said latch means upon outward movement of the latch means to hold the body against longitudinal movement in the member, plunger means movably mounted in the body and movable therein to one position in engagement with said latch means to hold the latch means in outward position and to another position out of engagement with the latch means to permit the latch means to move inwardly of the body, and means for releasably holding the plunger means out of engagement with said latch means.

23. In well apparatus the combination with a tubular member adapted to be connected to a well tubing to form a part thereof, of a tubular body insertable in the memher through the tubing and having an opening mediate its ends from the interior of the body to the exterior thereof, latch means movably positioned in the opening for movement inwardly and outwardly of the body, yieldable means positioned to coact with the body and latch means to exert a force on said latch means to yieldingly urge the latch means outwardly, means on the member positioned for engagement with said latch means upon outward movement of the latch means to hold the body against longitudinal movement in the member, plunger means in the body movable therein in one direction to engage said latch means to hold the latch means outwardly of the body and in the other direction to disengage the latch means to permit the latch means to move inwardly of the body against the outward force of said yieldable means.

24. In well apparatus the combination with a tubular member adapted to be connected to a well tubing to form a part thereof, of a tubular body insertable in the member through the tubing and having an opening mediate its ends from the interior of the body to the exterior thereof, latch means movably positioned in the opening for movement inwardly and outwardly of the body, means on the member positioned for engagement with said latch means upon outward movement of the latch means to hold the body against longitudinal movement 5 in the member and means for actuating said latch means outwardly of the body, said body having an external longitudinal groove positioned to permit the flow of fluid through the tubing through said member when the body is in the member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Turner Apr. 2, McLaughlin Ian. 21, Gardner July 29, Taylor May 28, Minyard Jan. 23, Baker a- July 7, Minter Dec. 17,

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