Method for controlling a downhole tool with a linearly actuated hydraulic switch

A control system configured for actuating a downhole tool comprising:

• a fluid pressure source split into a bypass line and a switching line;
• a switching assembly communicably coupled to the switching line comprising:
• a switching piston;
• a switching valve comprising a first and second coupling passageway;
• a switching valve housing coupled with the switching valve and configured to be coupled to a first and second operating line, a venting port, and the bypass line;
• wherein the switching piston actuates the switching valve, alternating the coupling of the first and second operating lines with the venting port and the bypass line via the first and second coupling passageways;
• wherein coupling the first operating line with the bypass line configures the control system to actuate the downhole tool in a first manner and coupling the second operating line with the bypass line configures the control system to actuate the downhole tool in a second manner.

A method for controlling a downhole tool coupled to a first operating line and a second operating line comprising the steps of:

• supplying a single source of pressure to a pressure splitting device to produce a first pressure source and a second pressure source;
• actuating a switching device with the first pressure source, thereby altering a communicable coupling between the second pressure source and one of the first operating line or the second operating line;
• actuating the downhole tool with the second pressure source via the one of the first operating line or the second operating line;
• relieving the single source of pressure;
• wherein actuating via the first operating line operates the downhole tool in a first manner, and actuating via the second operating line operates the downhole tool in a second manner,
• wherein actuating the switching device further comprises:
• applying the first pressure source to a switching piston resulting in the switching piston translating along an interior of a switching housing;
• and rotating a ball valve in response to the translation of the switching piston thereby altering the coupling between the second source and one of the first operating line or the second operating line.