Claims
- 1. A well tool, comprising:a body having a longitudinal bore; an actuating mechanism including an engagement section; the actuating mechanism adapted to be mechanically activated from within the longitudinal bore by the selective engagement of an activating tool to the engagement section of the actuating mechanism; a protective member disposed within the longitudinal bore and adapted to slide with respect to the actuating mechanism to prevent equipment being passed through the longitudinal bore from inadvertently activating the actuating mechanism, the protective member, while in a first position, being adapted to substantially cover the actuating mechanism while leaving the engagement section exposed to the longitudinal bore; and the protective member adapted to enable the activating tool to selectively engage the engagement section of the actuating mechanism.
- 2. A tool as in claim 1, wherein the engagement section is a profile defined on the actuating mechanism.
- 3. A tool as in claim 2, wherein the profile is exposed to the longitudinal bore.
- 4. A tool as in claim 1, wherein the protective member includes a first end proximate the engagement section.
- 5. A tool as in claim 1, wherein:the actuating mechanism is intermediate the body and the protective member; and the engagement section is exposed to the longitudinal bore.
- 6. A tool as in claim 1, wherein the protective member is concentric to the longitudinal bore.
- 7. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the tool comprises a packer.
- 8. The well tool of claim 7, wherein the engagement section of the actuating mechanism is engaged to set the packer.
- 9. The well tool of claim 7, wherein the engagement section of the actuating mechanism is engaged to release the packer.
- 10. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the protective member is adapted to slide to a second position to cover the engagement section in response to a frictional force exerted on the protective member by the equipment.
- 11. A well tool, comprising:a body having a longitudinal bore; an actuating mechanism having a profile defined thereon; the actuating mechanism adapted to be mechanically activated from within the longitudinal bore by the selective engagement of an activating tool to the profile of the actuating mechanism; a sleeve adapted to slide with respect to the actuating mechanism to prevent equipment being passed through the longitudinal bore from inadvertently activating the actuating mechanism and being disposed within the longitudinal bore, the sleeve, while in a first position, being adapted to substantially cover the actuating-mechanism while leaving the profile exposed to the longitudinal bore; and the sleeve adapted to enable the activating tool to selectively engage the profile of the actuating mechanism.
- 12. A tool as in claim 11, wherein the profile is exposed to the longitudinal bore.
- 13. A tool as in claim 11, wherein:the actuating mechanism is intermediate the body and the sleeve; and the profile is exposed to the longitudinal bore.
- 14. A tool as in claim 11, wherein the sleeve is concentric to the longitudinal bore.
- 15. A tool as in claim 11, wherein:the sleeve includes a first end; and the sleeve has a first position in which the sleeve first end is proximate the profile.
- 16. A tool as in claim 15, further comprising a biasing mechanism biasing the sleeve to the first position.
- 17. A tool as in claim 16, wherein:the biasing mechanism comprises a spring; and the spring is disposed between a first longitudinal bore shoulder and a sleeve extension.
- 18. A tool as in claim 17, wherein the sleeve extension abuts a second longitudinal bore shoulder when the sleeve is in the first position.
- 19. A tool as in claim 18, wherein:the sleeve includes a second end distal the profile; and the sleeve has a section position in which the sleeve section end abuts a third longitudinal bore shoulder.
- 20. A tool as in claim 15, wherein:the sleeve includes an inner surface; the sleeve is concentric with the longitudinal bore; and the cross-sectional diameter of the sleeve inner surface is slightly larger than the cross-sectional diameter of the longitudinal bore.
- 21. The well tool of claim 11, wherein the sleeve is adapted to slide to a second position to cover the actuating mechanism in response to a frictional force exerted on the protective member by the equipment.
- 22. A method comprising:providing a protective member that is slidable with respect to the actuating mechanism to prevent equipment being passed through a longitudinal bore of a well tool from inadvertently mechanically activating an actuating mechanism of the well tool; substantially covering the actuating mechanism with the protective member while leaving an engagement section of the actuating mechanism exposed to the longitudinal bore; and ensuring that the linear length of the engagement section of the actuating mechanism is relatively smaller than the linear length of the equipment.
- 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising slidably disposing the protective member within the longitudinal bore.
- 24. The method of claim 22, further comprising concentrically aligning the protective member with the longitudinal bore, with the cross-sectional diameter of the protective member inner surface being slightly larger than the cross-sectional diameter of the longitudinal bore.
- 25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:sliding the protective member to cover the engagement section in response to a frictional force exerted on the protective member by the equipment.
- 26. A well tool usable with a subterranean well comprising:a main body having a passageway; an actuating mechanism having an engagement profile and adapted to respond to an activating tool engaging the engagement profile from within the passageway; and a protective member to slide with respect to the actuating mechanism, to the member substantially covering the actuating mechanism while in a first position, leaving the engagement profile exposed to the passageway.
- 27. The well tool of claim 26, wherein the passageway comprises a longitudinal bore of the tool.
- 28. The well tool of claim 26, wherein the tool comprises a packer.
- 29. The well tool of claims 28, wherein the profile of the actuating mechanism is engaged to set the packer.
- 30. The well tool of claim 28, wherein the profile of the actuating mechanism is engaged to release the packer.
Parent Case Info
This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/162,379 filed by Jackson, Whitsitt, and Mandeville on Oct. 29, 1999.
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|
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|
60/162379 |
Oct 1999 |
US |