Launching tool for objects downhole

A tool for delivering any object into a tubular, comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one object movable in said housing while selectively locked against dropping from said housing by a locking member mounted thereon;
• an actuating piston in said housing operably connected to said object to move said object a sufficient amount to defeat said locking member;
• said locking member comprises a biased pin held in a depression in said piston whereupon when said pin is moved sufficiently, it can be forced out of said depression to release said object.

A tool for delivering any object into a tubular, comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one object movable in said housing while selectively locked against dropping from said housing by a locking member mounted thereon;
• an actuating piston in said housing operably connected to said object to move said object a sufficient amount to defeat said locking member;
• said piston retained against movement until at least one predetermined force is applied to it, whereupon its subsequent movement is at a predetermined regulated rate.

A tool for delivering any object into a tubular, comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one object movable in said housing while selectively locked against dropping from said housing by a locking member mounted thereon;
• an actuating piston in said housing operably connected to said object to move said object a sufficient amount to defeat said locking member;
• said at least one object comprises at least two wiper plugs mounted, one above the other, the lowermost plug selectively locked in said housing to said plug above, which plug is also selectively locked in said housing to said actuating piston so that said plugs can move in tandem for sequential release.

A tool for delivering any object into a tubular, comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one object movable in said housing while selectively locked against dropping from said housing by a locking member mounted thereon;
• an actuating piston in said housing operably connected to said object to move said object a sufficient amount to defeat said locking member;
• said piston defining a fluid cavity in said housing with a selectively sealed outlet;
• said outlet on said cavity selectively sealed by a first rupture disc;
• at least one pressure-balanced floating piston in said cavity having a bore therethrough selectively obstructed by a second rupture disc;
• whereupon at least two discrete regulated movements of said actuating piston are accomplished as said first rupture disc breaks and said floating piston bottoms in said cavity and when said second rupture disc breaks due to said floating piston no longer being in pressure balance, allowing further volume reduction in said cavity as said actuating piston makes it second movement at a regulated rate.

A wiper plug-launching apparatus, comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one wiper plug selectively locked in said housing;
• an actuating piston operatively connected to said wiper plug;
• said actuating piston, when displaced in a fluid damped manner, moves said wiper plug sufficiently so that said selective locking is defeated.

A wiper plug-launching apparatus, comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one wiper plug selectively locked in said housing;
• an actuating piston operatively connected to said wiper plug;
• said actuating piston, when displaced, moves said wiper plug sufficiently so that said selective locking is defeated;
• said wiper plug is retained in said housing and released when moved at least in part out of said housing;
• said displacement of said actuating piston is fluid-damped.