Anchoring mechanism for well packer

In an apparatus adapted to be anchored within a subterranean well conduit and the like, a tubular mandrel, housing means disposed in sleeved relationship around said mandrel, and an anchoring mechanism disposed around said mandrel for gripping the wall of said conduit to hold said apparatus in a predetermined position upon relative movement between said mandrel and said housing means, said anchoring mechanism comprising:

• a plurality of slip members spaced apart circumferentially around said mandrel, each slip member, including an exterior gripping surface and interior axially inclined surfaces, extending toward the opposite ends of said slip members;
• first and second opposed relatively axially movable slip cone members, including wedge surfaces cooperable with said inclined surfaces on said slip members to hold said slip members radially outward when said first and second slip cone members have moved relatively towards each other;
• first means comprising brackets extending axially between adjacent spaced apart slip members releasably engageable with said first cone member and connected to said slip members for moving said slip members axially into cooperable engagement with the wedge surface on said second slip cone member, said slip members being free to move radially relative to said first means;
• releasing means for disengaging said first means from said first cone member after radial expansion of said slip members, said first slip cone means then being free to move axially relative to said slip members into supporting relationship to the cooperable inclined surface on said slip members;
• and
• second means interconnecting said slip members with said second slip cone member for moving said slip members radially inwardly as said second slip cone member moves relatively away from said first slip cone member.

In an apparatus incorporable on a first conduit adapted to be anchored within a subterranean well to an exterior conduit, a tubular mandrel and an anchoring mechanism disposed between said mandrel and said exterior conduit for gripping the wall of said exterior conduit to hold said apparatus in a predetermined position, said anchoring mechanism comprising:

• at least one slip member having an exterior gripping surface and interior slip surfaces, inclined relative to said mandrel, extending toward the opposite ends of said slip member;
• first and second opposed relatively axially movable slip cone members, said slip cone members having wedge surfaces inclined relative to said mandrel for cooperation with said slip surfaces to hold said slip members radially outward when said first and second slip cone members have moved relatively towards each other;
• first means releasably engageable with said first slip cone member and forming a slideable connection immediate the center of said member with said slip member, said slideable connection having an inclination relative to said mandrel greater than the inclination of said interior slip surface and said wedge surfaces;
• and
• second means slideably interconnecting said slip member with said second slip cone member, said second means comprising a tongue and groove interconnection having an inclination relative to said mandrel approximately equal to the inclination of said slip surfaces and said wedge surfaces.

In an apparatus adapted to be anchored within a well conduit and the like, a tubular mandrel, housing means disposed in sleeved relationship around said mandrel, and an anchoring mechanism disposed around said tubular mandrel for gripping the wall of said conduit to hold said apparatus in a predetermined position upon relative movement between said mandrel and said housing means, said anchoring mechanism comprising:

• a plurality of slip members spaced apart circumferentially around said mandrel, each slip member, including an exterior gripping surface and interior axially inclined surfaces, extending toward the opposite ends of said slip members;
• first and second opposed relatively axially movable slip cone members, including wedge surfaces cooperable with said inclined surfaces on said slip members to hold said slip members radially outward when said first and second slip cone members have moved relatively towards each other;
• first means releasably engageable with said first cone member and connected to said slip members for moving said slip members axially into and out of cooperable engagement with the wedge surface on said second slip cone member, said slip members being free to move radially relative to said first means;
• second means comprising tongue and groove means for interconnecting said slip members with said second cone member for allowing simultaneous radial and axial movement of said slip members relative to said second slip cone member;
• and
• releasing means for disengaging said first means from said first cone member after said slip members have been radially expanded, permitting said first slip cone member to move axially toward said slip members with the wedge surface on said first slip cone member moving into supporting relationship to the cooperable inclined surface on said slip members.