# US 2021/0277742 A1 · Mechanical stepper > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0277742 A1 - Document ID: US20210277742A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/811,156 - Filed: 2020-03-06 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-06 - Assignees: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC - Inventors: James Christopher Doane - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210277742A1 ## CPC - E21B 34/06: in wells - E21B 34/14: operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools {(E21B34/066 takes precedence)} - E21B 2200/06: Sleeve valves - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A mechanical stepper and method of incrementally actuating a device. An insert is placed within a housing. The housing has a cavity and a stepper sleeve located within the cavity. The stepper sleeve includes a first stop member having an equilibrium position defined by a first equilibrium diameter and a second stop member having an equilibrium position defined by a second equilibrium diameter less than the first equilibrium diameter. The insert including a first protrusion. The insert moves through the housing, and motion of the insert through the housing is incrementally restricted by changing a diameter of the first stop member and a diameter of the second stop member via the first protrusion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of incrementally actuating a device, comprising: placing an insert within a housing, the housing having a cavity and a stepper sleeve located within the cavity, the stepper sleeve including a first stop member having an equilibrium position defined by a first equilibrium diameter and a second stop member having an equilibrium position defined by a second equilibrium diameter less than the first equilibrium diameter, the insert including a first protrusion; moving the insert through the housing; and incrementally restricting a motion of the insert through the housing by changing a diameter of the first stop member and a diameter of the second stop member via the first protrusion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein incrementally moving the insert through the housing further comprises: forming a first contact between the first protrusion and the second stop member with the stepper sleeve in a first position within the cavity; moving the insert in a first direction to move the stepper sleeve from a first position to a second position within the cavity via the first contact; moving the insert in the first direction to move the first protrusion past the second stop member; moving the insert in the first direction to move the first protrusion to contact the first stop member; moving the insert in a second direction to move the stepper sleeve back to the first position via a second contact between the first protrusion and the second stop member; and moving the insert in the first direction to move the first protrusion past the first stop member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein moving the stepper sleeve to the second position collapses the first stop member from its equilibrium position and moving the stepper sleeve to the first position allows the first stop member to expand back to its equilibrium position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the cavity further comprises an expanded region and a restricted region, wherein the first stop member is in the expanded region when the stepper sleeve is in the first position and is in the restricted region when the stepper sleeve is in the second position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein moving the first protrusion past the first stop member places a second protrusion into contact with the second stop member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising rotating the first stop member and the second stop member out of alignment with the first protrusion to move the insert without moving the stepper sleeve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the insert due to a force applied to the insert. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein moving the insert with respect to the housing opens a port to a flow passage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein movement of the stepper sleeve and of the first stop member and the second stop member causes a motion of the insert. ### Claim 10 A mechanical stepper, comprising: a housing having a cavity on an inner diameter surface; a stepper sleeve within the cavity, the stepper sleeve including a first stop member having an equilibrium position defined by a first equilibrium diameter and a second stop member having an equilibrium position defined by a second equilibrium diameter less than the first equilibrium diameter; and an insert within the housing and movable with respect to the housing, the insert including a protrusion; wherein the insert moves incrementally through the housing via interaction between the protrusion on the insert and the first stop member and the second stop member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The mechanical stepper of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first stop member and the second stop member is a C-ring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The mechanical stepper of claim 10, wherein the first stop member is in its equilibrium position when the stepper sleeve is in a first position within the cavity and is in a collapsed position when the stepper sleeve is in a second position within the cavity. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The mechanical stepper of claim 12, wherein the cavity further comprises a expanded region and a first restricted region, wherein the first stop member is in the expanded region when the stepper sleeve is in the first position and is in the first restricted region when the stepper sleeve is in the second position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The mechanical stepper of claim 13, wherein the cavity further comprises a second restricted region, wherein the second stop member is in the second restricted region when the stepper sleeve is in the first position and is in the expanded region when the stepper sleeve is in the second position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The mechanical stepper of claim 10, wherein the insert further comprises a grooved track for rotating the first stop member and the second stop member out of alignment with the protrusion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The mechanical stepper of claim 10, wherein the housing includes a port, wherein a force applied to the insert moves the insert with respect to the housing to uncover the port. ### Claim 17 A mechanical stepper, comprising: a housing having a protrusion on an inner diameter surface; an insert within the housing and movable with respect to the housing, the insert including a cavity on its outer surface; and a stepper sleeve within the cavity, the stepper sleeve including a first stop member having an equilibrium position defined by a first equilibrium diameter and a second stop member having an equilibrium position defined by a second equilibrium diameter greater than the first equilibrium diameter; wherein the insert moves incrementally through the housing via interaction between the protrusion on the housing and the first stop member and the second stop member.