Magnetic Key for Operating a Multi-Position Downhole Tool
First Claim
1. A downhole tool for use in a wellbore tubular string, comprising:
- a housing having a bore therethrough forming part of a fluid flowpath through the wellbore tubular string;
a sliding member operable to slide with respect to the housing;
a magnetic reader operable to detect magnetic patterns in the bore of the downhole tool; and
an actuator, wherein the sliding member comprises a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the actuator is operable to move the sliding member from the locked position to the unlocked position, wherein a sliding line is formed by interfacing surfaces of the sliding member and the housing, and wherein the actuator is configured to move the sliding member from the locked position to the unlocked position by moving one or more radial pins so that none of the one or more pins span the sliding line.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A downhole tool for use in a wellbore tubular string comprises a housing having a bore therethrough forming part of a fluid flowpath through the wellbore tubular string, a sliding member operable to slide with respect to the housing, a plurality of magnetic pins, and a corresponding plurality of springs. A sliding line is formed by interfacing surfaces of the sliding member and the housing, and the plurality of pins comprise a locked position and an unlocked position whereby in the locked position at least one pin spans the sliding line to prevent the sliding member from sliding with respect to the housing and in the unlocked position no pins span the sliding line. The plurality of springs biases the pins towards the locked position.
19 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A downhole tool for use in a wellbore tubular string, comprising:
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a housing having a bore therethrough forming part of a fluid flowpath through the wellbore tubular string; a sliding member operable to slide with respect to the housing; a magnetic reader operable to detect magnetic patterns in the bore of the downhole tool; and an actuator, wherein the sliding member comprises a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the actuator is operable to move the sliding member from the locked position to the unlocked position, wherein a sliding line is formed by interfacing surfaces of the sliding member and the housing, and wherein the actuator is configured to move the sliding member from the locked position to the unlocked position by moving one or more radial pins so that none of the one or more pins span the sliding line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 21, 22)
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3. (canceled)
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5. A downhole tool for use in a wellbore tubular string, comprising:
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a housing having a bore therethrough forming part of a fluid flowpath through the wellbore tubular string; a sliding member operable to slide with respect to the housing; a plurality of magnetic pins, wherein the magnetic pins are located and magnetically oriented to form a magnetic pattern; and a plurality of springs corresponding to the plurality of magnetic pins; wherein a sliding line is formed by interfacing surfaces of the sliding member and the housing, wherein the plurality of magnetic pins comprise a locked position and an unlocked position, whereby in the locked position at least one magnetic pin spans the sliding line to prevent the sliding member from sliding with respect to the housing, while in the unlocked position no magnetic pins span the sliding line, wherein the plurality of springs bias the plurality of magnetic pins towards the locked position, and wherein the magnetic pins are operable to move to the unlocked position in response to a corresponding unlocking magnetic pattern in the bore of the downhole tool. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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6. (canceled)
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12. (canceled)
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14-20. -20. (canceled)
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30. A downhole tool for use in a wellbore tubular string, comprising:
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a housing having a bore therethrough forming part of a fluid flowpath through the wellbore tubular string; a sliding member operable to slide with respect to the housing; a plurality of pins, wherein the pins are formed from a ferromagnetic material, and wherein the plurality of pins are located and oriented to respond to a magnetic field spacing; and a plurality of springs corresponding to the plurality of pins, wherein a sliding line is formed by interfacing surfaces of the sliding member and the housing, wherein the plurality of pins comprise a locked position and an unlocked position, whereby in the locked position at least one pin spans the sliding line to prevent the sliding member from sliding with respect to the housing, while in the unlocked position no pins span the sliding line, wherein the plurality of springs bias the plurality of pins towards the locked position, and wherein the pins are operable to move to the unlocked position in response to a corresponding unlocking magnetic pattern in the bore of the downhole tool.
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Specification