US 6,202,746 B1Granted

Fail-safe coupling for a latch assembly

AssigneeDresser Industries, Inc.

InventorsElis Vandenberg, Ian G. Gillis, Laurier E. Comeau

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Abstract

A fail-safe tubular receiving member for use in combination with a latch assembly to longitudinally support and rotationally orient the latch assembly in a wellbore. The latch assembly includes at least one outwardly biased, radially movable latch member which is receivable within a bore of the receiving member. A first recessed area and a second recessed area, accessible from the first recessed area, are defined by the bore. The first recessed area defines a first increased radial distance and is configured so that upon longitudinal alignment of the latch member and the first recessed area, the latch member moves radially outward for receipt in the first recessed area to support the latch assembly longitudinally such that longitudinal movement of the latch assembly relative to the receiving member further downhole is prevented. The second recessed area defines a second increased radial distance, greater than the first increased radial distance, and is configured so that upon rotational alignment of the latch member and the second recessed area, the latch member moves radially outward for receipt in the second recessed area to orient the latch assembly rotationally such that rotation of the latch assembly relative to the receiving member is inhibited.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A fail-safe tubular receiving member for use in combination with a latch assembly to longitudinally support and rotationally orient the latch assembly in a wellbore at a location beneath the surface, the latch assembly comprising at least one outwardly biased, radially movable latch member having an external surface and the tubular receiving member defining a bore having an internal surface for receiving the latch assembly therein and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, wherein the improvement comprises:

(a) a first contour defined by the external surface of the latch member;
(b) a first recessed area defined by the internal surface of the bore of the receiving member, wherein the first recessed area defines a first increased radial distance between the longitudinal axis of the receiving member and the first recessed area and wherein the first recessed area is configured so that upon longitudinal alignment of the latch member and the first recessed area, the latch member moves radially outward and is received in the first recessed area to support the latch assembly longitudinally and wherein the first recessed area is compatible with the first contour such that longitudinal movement of the latch member relative to the receiving member in a downward direction away from the surface is prevented when the latch member is received in the first recessed area;
and
(c) a second recessed area defined by the internal surface of the bore of the receiving member and accessible by the latch member from the first recessed area, wherein the second recessed area defines a second increased radial distance between the longitudinal axis of the receiving member and the second recessed area which is greater than the first increased radial distance and wherein the second recessed area is configured so that upon rotational alignment of the latch member and the second recessed area, the latch member moves radially outward and is received in the second recessed area to orient the latch assembly rotationally such that rotation of the latch assembly relative to the receiving member is inhibited.

1 more element

A fail-safe apparatus for longitudinally supporting and rotationally orienting a well tool in a wellbore at a location beneath the surface, comprising:

(a) a latch assembly for connection with the tool, the latch assembly comprising at least one outwardly biased, radially movable latch member having an external surface and wherein the external surface is comprised of a first contour;
(b) a tubular receiving member for containing within the wellbore at the location beneath the surface, wherein the tubular receiving member defines a bore for receiving the latch assembly therein, wherein the bore defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and wherein the bore has an internal surface;
(c) a first recessed area defined by the internal surface of the bore of the receiving member, wherein the first recessed area defines a first increased radial distance between the longitudinal axis of the receiving member and the first recessed area and wherein the first recessed area is configured so that upon longitudinal alignment of the latch member and the first recessed area, the latch member moves radially outward and is received in the first recessed area to support the latch assembly longitudinally and wherein the first recessed area is compatible with the first contour such that longitudinal movement of the latch member relative to the receiving member in a downward direction away from the surface is prevented when the latch member is received in the first recessed area;
and
(d) a second recessed area defined by the internal surface of the bore of the receiving member and accessible by the latch member from the first recessed area, wherein the second recessed area defines a second increased radial distance between the longitudinal axis of the receiving member and the second recessed area which is greater than the first increased radial distance and wherein the second recessed area is configured so that upon rotational alignment of the latch member and the second recessed area, the latch member moves radially outward and is received in the second recessed area to orient the latch assembly rotationally such that rotation of the latch assembly relative to the receiving member is inhibited.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.