Motion Activated Ball Dropping Tool

摘要

A ball is retained behind a circular array of collet fingers to be pushed out through the collets with a spring biased piston that is initially locked when run in the hole. The lock mechanism is a link that holds a potential force in the main spring. One end of the link is held by an acceleration or deceleration responsive retainer. The retainer has a conforming stop surface to a stop surface on the link. Sudden relative movement caused by acceleration of the housing allows the retainer that is flanked by opposed springs to move away from the stop surface or surfaces on the link. The link is an array of spaced fingers that can radially flex. The radial flexing combines with the power of the main spring to propel the piston against the ball for a release of the ball. A fracturing operation then ensues.

主权项

1. A releasable lock assembly for use with a subterranean tool, comprising:
a housing further comprising a potential energy force selectively contained by a lock assembly; a retainer in said housing responsive to acceleration or deceleration of said housing to release said lock assembly thereby allowing release of said potential energy force which initiates relative movement of an actuating member mounted to said housing for operation of the subterranean tool.