# US 2019/0170269 A1 · Magnetic Index Positioner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170269 A1 - Document ID: US20190170269A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/323,936 - Filed: 2017-02-10 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-10 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Gary Oulton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170269A1 ## CPC - F16K 31/084: {the magnet being used only as a holding element to maintain the valve in a specific position, e.g. check valves (F16K31/082, F16K31/086 take precedence)} - E21B 23/004: {Indexing systems for guiding relative movement between telescoping parts of downhole tools} - E21B 34/06: in wells - E21B 34/063: {Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc (E21B34/103 takes precedence)} - F16K 31/563: {for rotating or pivoting valves} - E21B 2200/04: Ball valves - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A second mandrel is mounted to a first mandrel and is moveable longitudinally relative to the first mandrel among a plurality of index positions. A first-part magnetic element is coupled to the second mandrel. A plurality of second-part magnetic elements is coupled to the first mandrel at respective positions. The first-part magnetic element is adjacent to a respective one of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements when the second mandrel is at a respective index position. A threshold force F on the second mandrel applied for a threshold time T is required to displace the first-part magnetic element from the respective second-part magnetic element sufficiently that the first-part magnetic element will not return to be adjacent to the respective second-part magnetic element when the force F is removed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a first mandrel; a second mandrel mounted to the first mandrel and moveable longitudinally relative to the first mandrel among a plurality of index positions; a first-part magnetic element coupled to the second mandrel; and a plurality of second-part magnetic elements coupled to the first mandrel at respective positions, such that: the first-part magnetic element is adjacent to a respective one of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements when the second mandrel is at a respective index position, and a threshold force F on the second mandrel applied for a threshold time T is required to displace the first-part magnetic element from the respective second-part magnetic element sufficiently that the first-part magnetic element will not return to be adjacent to the respective second-part magnetic element when the force F is removed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the second mandrel is mounted within the first mandrel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first mandrel is mounted within the second mandrel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements comprises a plurality of magnetic segments arranged in a ring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements comprises a plurality of low carbon segments arranged in a ring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first-part magnetic element comprises a plurality of magnetic segments arranged in a ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first-part magnetic element comprises a plurality of low carbon segments arranged in a ring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first-part magnetic element is coupled to a raised portion of the first mandrel; and one of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements is coupled to a raised portion of the second mandrel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a first of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements establishes a first stop; a second of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements establishes a second stop; the first mandrel is moveable relative to the second mandrel from a first point at which the first-part magnetic element engages the first of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements to a second point at which the first-part magnetic element engages the second of the second-part magnetic elements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: the first mandrel is moveable from the first position by application of a force greater than a first threshold force F1 in a first direction; and the first mandrel is moveable from the second position by application of a force greater than a second threshold force F2 in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: mounting a second mandrel to a first mandrel; moving the first mandrel longitudinally relative to the second mandrel to cause a first-part magnetic element to disengage from a first of a plurality of second-part magnetic elements; and moving the first mandrel longitudinally relative to the second mandrel to cause the first-part magnetic element to engage a second of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein moving comprises applying a force greater than a threshold force F for a threshold time T. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the force F is in a direction D and movement of the first mandrel relative to the second mandrel in direction D is stopped by a magnetic interaction between the first-part magnetic element and the second of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the force F is in a direction D and movement of the first mandrel relative to the second mandrel in direction D is stopped by a mechanical interaction between the first-part magnetic element and the second of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements. ### Claim 15 A system comprising: a first mandrel; a second mandrel mounted to the first mandrel and moveable longitudinally relative to the first mandrel among a plurality of index positions; a first-part magnetic element coupled to the second mandrel; and a plurality of second-part magnetic elements coupled to the first mandrel at respective positions, such that: the first-part magnetic element is adjacent to a respective one of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements when the second mandrel is at a respective index position, and a threshold force F on the second mandrel applied for a threshold time T is required to displace the first-part magnetic element from the respective second-part magnetic element sufficiently that the first-part magnetic element will not return to be adjacent to the respective second-part magnetic element when the force F is removed; and an electromagnetic intervention that adjusts the force F by interacting with a magnetic field of a permanent magnet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein at least one of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements comprises a plurality of permanent magnet segments arranged in a ring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein the electromagnetic intervention comprises an electromagnet located in close proximity to one of the permanent magnet segments. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein a magnetic field generated by the electromagnet powered by an electrical signal of a cancelling magnitude and cancelling polarity modifies the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet segment to which it is in close proximity. ### Claim 19 (canceled) ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein: the electromagnetic intervention has a plurality of electromagnets, each located in close proximity to a respective one of the plurality of permanent magnet segments; and the system further comprises a control system electrically coupled to the plurality of electromagnets to apply power of selectable magnitudes and polarities to each of the plurality of electromagnets. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein one of the plurality of second-part magnetic elements comprises a magnetic ring.