Patent ID: 9260933
Filing Date: 2016-02-16
CPC Classification: E21B,F16K

Claim Text:
1. A modular ball drop module, comprising: a tubular body having a central passage: a ball retainer mechanism comprising a retainer ball that is rotated by an actuator stem from a ball retention position in which the retainer ball retains at least one frac ball in the central passage to a ball released position in which the at least one frac ball is released from the central passage; and an actuator stem lock mechanism that automatically locks the retainer ball in the ball released position when the retainer ball is rotated from the ball retainer position to the ball released position, the actuator stem comprising a lock bolt that is constantly urged against a side of the actuator stem and is driven through a lock bore in the actuator stem when the retainer ball is moved from the ball retention position to the ball release position.