# US 2014/0190682 A1 · Downhole Tool Apparatus with Slip Plate and Wedge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190682 A1 - Document ID: US20140190682A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/737,068 - Filed: 2013-01-09 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09 - Inventors: Donald J. Greenlee; Donald R. Greenlee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190682A1 ## CPC - E21B 33/13: Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like - E21B 33/1216: {Anti-extrusion means, e.g. means to prevent cold flow of rubber packing} - E21B 33/134: Bridging plugs - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A downhole tool that is used to seal a well bore. The downhole tool has at least one of a nose cap coupled to a slip means for converting shear forces into compression forces, a pultrusion rod, and a butterfly ring. The pultrusion rod extends the full length of the center mandrel. The butterfly ring includes a plurality of wedges configured to remove the extrusion gap when the tool is expanded to prevent failure of a sealing member over increased well bore diameters. The downhole tool includes a pressure equalization port to equalize pressure between a first and a second fluid volume during removal of the tool from the well bore. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A downhole tool for use in a well bore, comprising a center mandrel; a slip means configured to grippingly engage the well bore when activated, the slip means being slidingly disposed around the center mandrel; and a nose cap in communication with the slip means, the nose cap being configured to remove shear from the slip means and to place the slip means in compression when activated. wherein the downhole tool is a configured to sealingly engage the well bore to divide fluid within the well bore into at least two distinct fluid volumes, an upper fluid volume and a lower fluid volume. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the nose cap is at least one of aluminum and brass. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the nose cap is bonded to the slip means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The downhole tool of claim 1, further comprising: a pressure equalization port configured to automatically equalize pressure between the upper fluid volume and the lower fluid volume during removal of the downhole tool from the well bore. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The downhole tool of claim 4, wherein the pressure equalization port is located within a pultrusion rod. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The downhole tool of claim 5, wherein the pultrusion rod extends the length of the mandrel and is configured to provide internal support to a muleshoe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The downhole tool of claim 6, further comprising: a butterfly ring configured to prevent extrusion and failure of a sealing member, the sealing member is configured to sealingly engage the well bore when activated. ### Claim 8 A downhole tool for use in a well bore, comprising: a center mandrel; a slip means configured to grippingly engage the well bore when activated, so as to prevent movement of the downhole tool within the well bore; a sealing member configured to sealingly engage the well bore to divide fluid within the well bore into at least two distinct fluid volumes, an upper fluid volume and a lower fluid volume; and a pressure equalization port configured to automatically equalize pressure between the upper fluid volume and the lower fluid volume during removal of the downhole tool from the well bore. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The downhole tool of claim 8, wherein the pressure equalization port is located within a pultrusion rod, the pultrusion rod being located within the center mandrel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The downhole tool of claim 9, wherein the pultrusion rod extends the length of the center mandrel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The downhole tool of claim 8, further comprising: a pultrusion rod extending the full length of the center mandrel, the pultrusion rod being located internally within the center mandrel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The downhole tool of claim 11, wherein the center mandrel is formed around the pultrusion rod during manufacture of the center mandrel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The downhole tool of claim 11, wherein the pultrusion rod is configured to prevent the center mandrel from splintering under pressure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The downhole tool of claim 8, further comprising: a butterfly ring configured to reduce an extrusion gap of the sealing member. ### Claim 15 A downhole tool for use in a well bore, comprising: a slip means configured to grippingly engage the well bore when activated, so as to prevent movement of the downhole tool within the well bore; a sealing member configured to sealingly engage the well bore when activated, so as to divide fluid within the well bore into at least two distinct fluid volumes, an upper fluid volume and a lower fluid volume; and a butterfly ring configured to eliminate an extrusion gap formed during expansion when the sealing member is activated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The downhole tool of claim 15, wherein the butterfly ring is configured to surround a center mandrel in communication with the sealing member, the butterfly ring including: a plurality of outer wedges configured to separate in a radial manner when activated, the separation of the plurality of outer wedges forming the extrusion gap; and a plurality of internal wedges in sliding engagement with the plurality of outer wedges, the plurality of internal wedges being configured to bridge the extrusion gap when activated. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The downhole tool of claim 15, wherein the butterfly ring is configured to prevent extrusion and failure of the sealing member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The downhole tool of claim 15, further comprising: a nose cap in communication with the slip means, the nose cap being configured to remove shear from the slip means and to place the slip means in compression when activated. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The downhole tool of claim 18, wherein the nose cap is adhesively bonded to the slip means. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The downhole tool of claim 18, wherein the slip means are held together in a pre-set state with a metallic wire configured to break upon activation.