# US 7,743,836 B2 · Apparatus for controlling slip deployment in a downhole device and method of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,836 B2 - Document ID: US7743836B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/369,399 - Filed: 2009-02-11 - Published: 2009-06-11 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-22 - Inventors: Robert Bradley Cook; Glenn Mitchell Walls - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743836B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/129: with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract An apparatus for use in a well. The apparatus comprises a mandrel containing a radial shoulder, a sub member concentrically disposed about the mandrel, and an upper slip, concentrically disposed about the mandrel, for engaging the well. The apparatus further comprises an upper cone abutting an underside of the upper slip, and wherein the upper cone is disposed about the mandrel, and an elastomer operatively associated with the upper cone, and wherein the elastomer is disposed about the mandrel. The apparatus further includes a lower slip, concentrically disposed about the mandrel, for engaging with the internal portion of the well, and lower cone abutting an underside of the lower slip, and wherein the lower cone is disposed about the mandrel, and wherein the lower cone is operatively associated with the elastomer. The apparatus further contains a first alignment member selectively connecting the sub with the upper slip, and wherein the first alignment pin is selected to shear at a first predetermined force. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A downhole tool for use in a well comprising: a mandrel, wherein said mandrel contains a radial shoulder; a first sub member concentrically disposed about said mandrel; an upper slip concentrically disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto, said upper slip having a series of grooves formed thereon; an upper cone means abutting an underside of said upper slip, said upper cone means disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto; an elastomeric member operatively associated with said upper cone means, and wherein said elastomeric member is disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto; a lower slip concentrically disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto, said lower slip having a series of grooves formed thereon; a lower cone means abutting an underside of said lower slip, said lower cone means disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto, and wherein said lower cone means is operatively associated with said elastomeric member; a first plurality of alignment pins selectively connecting said first sub member with said upper slip, wherein said first plurality of alignment pins are selected to shear at a first predetermined force. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The downhole tool according to claim 1 further comprising a stroke limiter means, selectively attached to said mandrel, for allowing a predetermined amount of force to be transferred to said elastomeric member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The downhole tool according to claim 1 wherein said upper slip has a first tapered angle on a first end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The downhole tool according to claim 3 wherein said lower slip has a second tapered angle on a second end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The downhole tool according to claim 4 wherein the first and second tapered angle is between 10 degrees and 45 degrees. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The downhole tool according to claim 1 further comprising a second plurality of alignment pins selectively connecting said radial shoulder with said lower slip, wherein said second plurality of alignment pins are selected to shear at a second predetermined force. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The downhole tool according to claim 6 further comprising a setting tool means for imparting a force in a first direction that is transmitted to said mandrel so that said upper cone means travels in the first direction, which in turn causes said radial shoulder to travel in a first direction which in turn expands said upper slip. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said mandrel includes a lower member and said lower member contains said radial shoulder, said radial shoulder having a radial face abutting said lower slip, said radial face having a curved surface to assist in a rocking movement thereby providing a gradual force to be applied to said second plurality of alignment pins. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first sub member includes a radial face abutting said upper slip, said radial face having a curved surface to assist in a rocking movement thereby providing a gradual force to be applied to said first plurality of alignment pins. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a first control cup assembly including a plurality of control cups disposed about said mandrel in an overlapping arrangement to engage a first end of said elastomeric member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of control cups are formed of a material that is sufficiently flexible to deform when actuated by said first end of said elastomeric member to control and guide an expansion of said elastomeric member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising a second control cup assembly including a plurality of control cups disposed about said mandrel in an overlapping arrangement to engage a second end of said elastomeric member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of control cups are formed of a material that is sufficiently flexible to deform when actuated by said second end of said elastomeric member to control and guide an expansion of said elastomeric member. ### Claim 14 A downhole tool for use in a well comprising: a mandrel containing a radial shoulder; a first sub member concentrically disposed about said mandrel; an upper slip, concentrically disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto, for engaging with an internal portion of said well; an upper cone means abutting an underside of said upper slip, said upper cone means disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto; an elastomeric member operatively associated with said upper cone means, and wherein said elastomeric member is disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto; a lower slip, concentrically disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto, for engaging the with the internal portion of said well; a lower cone means abutting an underside of said lower slip, said lower cone means disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto, and wherein said lower cone means is operatively associated with said elastomeric member; a first alignment member selectively connecting said first sub member with said upper slip, wherein said first alignment member is selected to shear at a first predetermined force. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The downhole tool according to claim 14 further comprising a stroke limiter means, selectively attached to said mandrel, for allowing a predetermined amount of force to be transferred to said elastomeric member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The downhole tool according to claim 14 wherein said upper slip comprises a plurality of radial teeth and a series of longitudinal grooves formed thereon. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The downhole tool according to claim 16 wherein said lower slip comprises a plurality of radial teeth and a series of longitudinal grooves formed thereon. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The downhole tool according to claim 17 wherein said upper slip has a first tapered angle on a first end. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The downhole tool according to claim 18 wherein said lower slip has a second tapered angle on a second end. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The downhole tool according to claim 19 further comprising a second alignment member selectively connecting said radial shoulder with said lower slip, wherein said second alignment member is selected to shear at a second predetermined force. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The downhole tool according to claim 20 further comprising a setting tool means for imparting a force in a first direction that is transmitted to said mandrel so that said upper cone means travels in the first direction, which in turn causes said radial shoulder to travel in a first direction which in turn expands said upper slip. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The downhole tool according to claim 20 wherein the first and second tapered angle is between 10 degrees and 45 degrees. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The downhole tool according to claim 22 wherein said first and second alignment member is a pin having a predetermined shear value. ### Claim 24 A method of setting a packer in a well comprising the steps of: (a) providing the packer on a work string in the well, wherein said packer comprises: a mandrel having a radial shoulder; an upper slip, concentrically disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto, for engaging with an internal portion of said well; an upper cone abutting an underside of said upper slip, said upper cone disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto; an elastomeric member operatively associated with said upper cone, and wherein said elastomeric member is disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto; a lower slip, concentrically disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto, for engaging with the internal portion of said well; a lower cone abutting an underside of said lower slip, said lower cone disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto, and wherein said lower cone is operatively associated with said elastomeric member; a first alignment member selectively connecting a sub member with said upper slip, wherein said first alignment member is selected to shear at a first predetermined force; and a stroke limiter means, selectively attached to said mandrel, for allowing a predetermined amount of force to be applied to said elastomeric member; (b) moving the mandrel in a first direction; (c) engaging the upper cone against said underside of the upper slip; (d) fracturing the upper slip along a series of longitudinal grooves within said upper slip; (e) opening said upper slip in a controlled mode; (f) opening said lower slip in a controlled mode; (g) shearing said first alignment member; (h) anchoring said upper slip against the internal portion of the well; (i) compressing said elastomeric member so that said elastomeric member engages the internal portion of said well; (j) shearing a shear pin in said stroke limiter means; (k) anchoring said lower slip against the internal portion of the well. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24 wherein the upper and lower slips contain tapered angles so that in deployment a set of teeth of said upper and lower slips engage the internal portion of the well only upon full engagement with the upper and lower cone. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25 wherein said first alignment member is a plurality of pins having predetermined shear values. ### Claim 27 A method of setting a packer in a well comprising the steps of: (a) providing the packer on a work string in the well, wherein said packer comprises: a mandrel having a radial shoulder; an upper slip, concentrically disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto, for engaging with an internal portion of said well; an upper cone abutting an underside of said upper slip, said upper cone disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto; an elastomeric member operatively associated with said upper cone, and wherein said elastomeric member is disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto; a lower slip, concentrically disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto, for engaging with the internal portion of said well; a lower cone abutting an underside of said lower slip, said lower cone disposed about said mandrel and positioned directly adjacent thereto, and wherein said lower cone is operatively associated with said elastomeric member; and a first alignment member selectively connecting a sub member with said upper slip, wherein the sub member is disposed about the mandrel, wherein said first alignment member is selected to shear at a first predetermined force; (b) moving the mandrel in a first direction; (c) engaging the upper cone against said underside of the upper slip; (d) fracturing the upper slip along a series of longitudinal grooves within said upper slip; (e) opening said upper slip in a controlled mode; (f) opening said lower slip in a controlled mode; (g) shearing said first alignment member; (h) anchoring said upper slip against the internal portion of the well; (i) compressing said elastomeric member so that said elastomeric member engages the internal portion of said well; and (j) anchoring said lower slip against the internal portion of the well. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27 wherein the upper and lower slips contain tapered angles so that in deployment a set of teeth of said upper and lower slips engage the internal portion of the well only upon full engagement with the upper and lower cone. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28 wherein said first alignment member is a plurality of pins having predetermined shear values.