Patent Publication Number: US-3876001-A

Title: Kickover tool

Description:
United States Patent Goode 1 Apr. 8, 1975 1 1 KICKOVER TOOL 3.827.490 8/1974 Moore, Jr, 166/1175 75 1 ventor: William B. Goode, Garl nc1,Tex. 1 n a Pr1&#39;mur E.\&#39;am1&#39;11er.|ames A. Leppmk [73] Assignee: Teledyne lnc0rporated,Garland.  
  1571 ABSTRACT [22] Fun}: 1974 A kickover tool for running and retrieving equipment [21] App]. No.: 454,727 from a well in which 11 pivoted tool carrier is moved between a position aligned with the tool and a position misaligned with the tool by action of a key striking a [5%] }J.S.CCI. 166/1175 shoulder on upward movement of the mo] in a WC [5 I If. I l i The pivotal o carrier i lached in p n u ing [58] held of Search 166/ I I running of the tool and is unlatched and latched in the kicked over position upon upward movement of the [56] References C&#39;ted tool upon the operating key engaging a shoulder in the UNITED STATES PATENTS well. The kicked over tool carrier is unlatched and re- 3.561.528 2/1971 Butler 11 166/1175 turned to the latched aligned position by upward 3,610,336 10/1971 Sizer v 1 1 166/1175 movement of the tool through the Well. 3.732.928 5/1973 Sizer 166/1175 171111.397 1/1914 Tcrral. et 11 11 166/1115 11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 17A&#39; J4 /6a C9/ l a J i/ I] .574- l 4.9-, &amp;\ e j;  
 KICKOVER TOOL This invention relates to well tools and more particularly to a kickover tool for running and retrieving equipment from a well.  
  Kickover tools for landing and retrieving equipment from a well are exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos.  
 2.664,]62; 2,679,903; 2,679,904; 2,828.698; 2,942,671; 2,948,341; 2,959,227; 2,964,l l; 2.988.146; 3.075.586; 3.353607; 3,353,608; and  
 3,610,336. A primary disadvantage of-presently known kickover tool designs is that a spring is utilized to move the tool carrier into kicked over position. With highly deviated wells. these springs must be very heavy to move the tool carrier into kickover position when the tool carrier has to lift the tool against the force of gravity. Thus one object of this invention is to eliminate the action of springs in moving the tool carrier to kicked over position and to provide for kicking the tool over with a solid metal force transmission linkage which is activated by pulling up on the tool after the locator key is against the stop shoulder in the well.  
  Another problem with the previous kickover tool designs is their dependence on the kickover spring to hold the tool in kicked over position while the tool is manipulated to either seat or retrieve equipment. Another object of this invention is to eliminate this problem by providing for latching the tool carrier in the kicked over position during operation of the tool to land or retrieve equipment. A corollary object is to provide overriding means for the simple release of the mechanism for latching the kickover tool in kicked over position.  
  The locator keys of the prior art commonly are sheared off when pulling the tool from the hole. To accommodate the sheared keys requires space or some complex mechanism to permit it to remain in the retracted position. An object of this invention is to provide a running tool in which the locator key support is not sheared and the key retracts during upward movement ofthe tool by having its upper end chamfered and the key functions to engage in the well on upward movement by having a shoulder at the upper end of the key which is pinned in position during manipulation of the tool but which is sheared to fall freely about its pivot to an out-of-the-way position when the tool is removed from the well.  
  Another object is to simplify the construction of the tool by providing a single spring for loading the latch mechanism and urging the locator key support or plunger toward its upper position.  
  Another object is to provide a kickover tool in which the tool carrier is latched in both its positions in alignment with the main body of the tool and in its kickover position.  
  Another object is to provide a kickover tool in which a knuckle joint is provided in the tool carrier and while being spring loaded toward aligned position it can rotate to a position in which the tool being landed or retrieved is substantially parallel to the main housing of the tool while the tool carrier arm is in kicked over position.  
  A characteristic of the kickover tools of the prior art is that once the tool carrier is released and kicked to the kickover position it is spring loaded toward this position until the tool is removed from the hole. Another object of this invention is to provide a kickover tool in which after the tool carrier has been moved into misaligned or kicked over position to land or retrieve well equipment, upward movement of the tool results in relatching of the tool carrier in aligned position so that thereafter the entire tool may be freely run up or down in the well. This is of particular advantage in preventing the tool from becoming stuck as it is retrieved from the well. Also, the realignment of the tool carrier reduces wear on the tools as they are retrieved from the well.  
  Another object is to provide a kickover tool which may be redressed after it has been run by replacing a single shear pin.  
  Another object is to provide a housing or housing and upper sub of sufficient length to serve as a guide for the kickover tool.  
  Other objects. features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawings, specification and the claims. In the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts and wherein an illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown:  
  FIG. 1 is a view in cross section through a well tubing and side pocket mandrel showing therein in elevation at kickover tool constructed in accordance with this invention;  
  FIGS. 20 and 2b are a continuation of views in cross section of the kickover tool shown in FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in cross section showing the relationship of the parts when the tool is in kickover relationship.  
  The tubing string has therein a plurality of side pocket mandrels. a fragment of one of which is shown at 11. The portion of the side pocket mandrel which is not shown is conventional in form and the tubing string would normally be run with a number of such mandrels at spaced points along the tubing. The tubing will be in the casing ofa well for producing liquids. The well casing and well are not shown for simplicity of illustration.  
  At the upper end of the side pocket mandrel ll a shoe 12 having a sloped lower surface 13 for orienting the tool is shown. The sloped surface 13 terminates in a vertical slot 14 having a shoulder 15 at the upper end of slot 14. As will appear more fully hereinafter the kickover tool is actuated by engagement of the key 16 with the shoulder 15.  
  The locator key 16 is carried in an elongate housing 17 which is suspended from the wireline sub 20 which is carried on wireline tools 26. The sub is longer than usual and cooperates with the housing 17 to serve as an aligning guide for the tool. If desired, conventional jars may be employed. Pivoted from the elongate housing 17 is the pivot arm 18 which carries on its lower end through a suitable knuckle joint indicated generally at 19 a lower adapter 21. The lower adapter carries a conventional running or retrieving tool indicated generally at 22. In FIG. 1. the tool is shown to be supporting a valve 23. While the tool 22 is of a different form in running and retrieving equipment, the relationship of the valve or other equipment 23 to the remainder of the tool will be the same. As in conventional in this type of equipment, the valve is landed in the valve receiver 24 and a suitable latch cooperates with shoulder 25 to maintain the valve in the side pocket mandrel.  
  Referring now to FIG. 2a. the elongate housing 17 is shown to be tubular in construction and threadedly connected to the wire line sub 20. Within the bore 27 of the elongate housing 17, there is positioned a plunger element 28 which carries the locator key 16 and provides a non-elastic means for kicking over the pivot arm 18.  
  To carry out the kickover function, the lower end of the plunger 28 has an abutment surface 29 thereon. which engages a complimentary abutment surface 31 on the upper end of the pivot arm 18. it will be noted that the surface 31 is spaced laterally from the pivot 32 on which the pivot arm 18 is supported. Thus downward movement of the plunger 28 will result in rotation of the pivot arm 18 from its position in alignment with the elongate housing 17, as shown in FIG. 2a to a position of misalignment or the kickover position as shown in FIG. 3.  
  In order to provide for downward movement of the plunger 28 relative to the elongate housing 17, the locator and orienting key 16 is provided. This key is pivoted about pin 33 and urged to an extended position by the spring 34. The key 16 is chamfered on its upper and lower ends as shown at 16a and 16h. An abutment member 35 is carried by the key 16 and is rotatable about pin 36. 1t is held in the position shown in FIG. 2:1 by a shear pin such as brass pin 37. In running the tool downwardly into the tubing 10, the chamfer 16a of key 16 will ride over any obstructions in the well and permit free movement of the kickover tool downwardly into the well to the desired level. Thereafter upward movement of the kickover tool will result in the shoulder member 35 of the key 16 engaging the orientating surface 13 (FIG. 1) and directing the key upwardly into slot 14 until it engages the shoulders 15. Further upward movement ofthe tool will result in upward movement ofthe elongate housing 17 relative to the plunger 28 as upward movement ofthe plunger will be arrested. thus resulting in rotation of the pivot arm about pivot 32.  
  After the tool has been utilized to land or retrieve a well tool. the kickover tool is returned to the position shown in FIG. 1, in which the key again engages shoulder ]5. A strong upward jar or pull results in shearing ofpin 37, permitting the member 35 to swing about the pivot 36 into an out-of-the-way position. Thereafter the chamfcr 161) will cause the key 16 to retract as the tool moves upwardly in the well to permit the ready removal of the tool from the well. A stop pin or shoulder 38 is provided to prevent the member 35 from swinging to the left of the position shown in FIG. 2a.  
  Latch means are provided for maintaining the pivot arm in both its aligned position during running of the tool, and in its kicked over position while the well tool is being landed or retrieved from the side pocket. A pair of confronting shoulders provides the latch means to hold the pivot arm 18 in alignment with the elongate housing 17, during running of the tool. A finger 39 on the pivot arm extends upwardly beyong the pivot pin 32. This finger is provided with a projecting shoulder 41. which cooperates with the shoulder 42 on the plunger. As shown in FIG. 2a, these cooperating shoul ders confront each other and prevent rotation of the pivot arm from aligned to kickover position. Rotation of the pivot arm in the opposite direction is prevented by confronting shoulders 43 on the lower end of the elongate housing 17 and 44 on the pivot arm 18.  
  The latch provided by the confronting shoulders 41 and 42 is released by movement of finger 39 upwardly with the housing 17 relative to plunger 28 to a position in which the shoulder 41 extends into a groove 45 in the plunger 28, thus permitting rotation of the pivot arm 18 about the pivot 32 to the position shown in FIG. 3. It will be appreciated that at any time that the key 16 is inoperative to prevent upward movement of the plunger and the pivot arm 18 has been returned to its position in alignment with elongate housing 17, that the plunger 28 is free to move upwardly under the influence of spring 46 and permit reengagement of the shoulders 41 and 42 to again lock the pivot arm in a position in alignment with the housing 17.  
  As noted above, latch means is also provided to latch the pivot arm in its kickover position in which it is rotated or misaligned relative to the elongate housing 17. This latch means is provided by a latch shoulder 47 on the finger 39, which cooperates with a latch member 48 carried by the plunger 28. The latch 48 is pivotally supported on the plunger 28 by pivot 49. The latch 48 has a downwardly extending portion which provides the shoulders 51 and 52. The upper end 53 of finger 39 abuts the downwardly facing shoulder 52 of the latch 48 and holds the latch in disengaged position while the pivot arm is in alignment with the housing 17. However, when the pivot arm is rotated about the pivot 32 by upward movement of the elongate housing 17 rela tive to the plunger 28, the shoulder 51 passes over the end of finger 39 and the latch member 48 drops down to the position shown in FIG. 3 in which the shoulders 51 and 47 are in register, and prevents return of the pivot arm 18 to its aligned position.  
  The latch member 48 is urged into the down or latched position by the spring 46, acting through the spring guide 54 and the spring guide head 55 which bears against the upper surface of the latch 48. The latch pivot 49 is spaced longitudinally of the housing from the point of contact of shoulders 47 and 51. This results in a moment arm equal to the distance of the pivot above the point of contact ofshoulders 47 and 51 through which force is applied in a counter clockwise direction when the arm 18 is urged toward aligned position. It will be noted that when the surfaces 51 and 47 are in engagement to retain the pivot arm in kickover position (see FIG. 3), these surfaces preferably diverge in an upwardly direction, that is, in a direction toward the main body of the plunger 28 and key 16 to provide a line contact between surfaces 47 and 51. Thus, the shoulder 47 acts as a ramp along which the lower ex tremity of shoulder 5] slides, and by exerting a force on the pivot arm sufficient to overcome the force of spring 46, the latch member 48 will be forced upwardly to permit the pivot arm to realign itself with elongate housing 17 for removal of the tool from the hole.  
  The knuckle joint shown in FIG. 2b is provided to hold the equipment being run into the hole in align ment with the pivot arm while the tool is being run or retrieved but at the same time providing for a rotation of the lower adapter 21 to a position approximately paralleling the elongate housing 17 as shown in FIG. 1 in response to the equipment such as valve 23 being in engagement with the side-pocket mandrel 11. The lower adapter 21 is pivoted to the pivot arm 18 by a pivot member 56. The upper surface 57 of the lower adapter 21 is formed at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the lower adapter 21. The lower surface 58 of the pivot arm is formed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pivot arm. The pivot 56 is offcenter. and on the short side (at 19) of the assembly relative to the pivot 56. The surfaces 57 and 58 are in engagement to hold the lower adapter in alignment with the pivot arm and prevent further rotation in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2b. The parts are urged into this relationship by a spring 59, acting on ball 61, which is in engagement with the surface 570. When the arm 18 is kicked over and a well tool engages the side pocket wall. the lower adapter 21 may rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG. 212 against the force of spring 59 until the surfaces 57a and 58 come into engagement on the long side of the lower adapter relative to the pin 56, and limit movement in a clockwise direction to a relatinship in which the longitudinal axis of the lower adapter 21 is approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate housing 17.  
  In operation, the tool is dressed by inserting a new pin 37 in the key 16 and shoulder member 35. Assuming that a well tool is to be run a suitable adapter is provided and secures the well tool to the lower sub 21. The several parts will be in the relationships shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The tool is run into the well on the wire-line, or ifdesired, with suitable pump down equipment until the tool is positioned below the orienting shoe 12. Reverse force is then applied to raise the tool until the key [6 slides along the orienting surface 13 and up through slot 14 into engagement with shoulder 15. Further upward pull results in upward movement of the housing 17 relative to the plunger 28 to disengage the shoulders 41 and 42 of the latch means and rotate the pivot arm [8 in a counter-clockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 3. At this time. the latch 48 will drop down under the force of spring 46 and engage shoulder 47 to latch the pivot arm in the kickover position. The well tool being run will have engaged the side wall of the side pocket mandrel, and have rotated the lower adapter against the force of spring 59 (FIG. 2b) to the position shown in FIG. 1. As the pivot arm is held in this position. the entire tool may be lowered to seat the well tool without the application of substantial side forces to the tool being landed.  
  After the well tool is landed, the attaching means is released in the conventional manner and the tool is moved upwardly in the mandrel. After the key 16 has again engaged shoulder 15, a substantial jar force is exerted on the tool to shear the pin 37 and release the shoulder member 35, thus permitting the upper chamfer 16b to be effective and retract the key as the tool is pulled up the hole. When the pivot arm 18 comes into contact with the upper section of the side pocket and the orienting sleeve 12. a force is exerted on the pivot arm 18 which overcomes the effect of spring 46 and straightens out the pivot arm and returns it to its latched position in alignment with housing 17. As the pivot arm 18 is straightened out. the shoulder 47 on the upper end of finger 3) acts to force the latch arm 48 up until it is in an inoperative or ineffective position and permit the pivot arm to rotate to full alignment with the housing 17. At this time the lower end of the shoulder member 41 clears the groove 45 to permit the plunger to move upwardly again under the force of spring 46 and again bring into the confronting positions the surfaces 41 and 42. At this time the pivot arm 18 and lower sub 21 are again secured in alignment with the housing 17 and the tool may be pulled from or lowered through the hole without dragging the pivot arm or the tool that may be on the end thereof against the well tubing all the way to the surface.  
  The operation is the same in retrieving a tool, except that a different attachment is secured on the lower adapter 21 and is run into a position in which it is secured to the upper end of a well tool in the side-pocket mandrel.  
  It will be appreciated that as the entire tool has all of its parts in an aligned position and the key 16 is chamfered on both its upper and lower end that the tool may be moved upwardly or downwardly in the hole at any time by the operator. Thus, if difficulty is encountered in pulling the tool from the hole, it may be lowered to a position below the obstruction without fear of the tool becoming caught in any portion of the tubing to give the operator freedom of movement of the tool to assist in retrieving the tool from the well.  
  The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
 What is claimed is:  
  l. A kickover tool for running and retrieving well equipment comprising.  
 an elongate main housing.  
 a pivot arm pivoted to said main housing and having an actuating shoulder offset laterally from said pivot.  
 means carried by said pivot arm for releasably secur ing thereto well equipment to be run or retrieved.  
 a plunger in the main housing engageable with said actuating shoulder,  
 a retractable key pivotally carried by the plunger and operable when moved longitudinally relative to the main housing to move the plunger into engagement with the shoulder and rotate the pivot arm, and  
 latch means for releasably latching said pivot arm in a first position in which the main housing and pivot arm are in an aligned relationship and in a second position in which they are in nonaligned relationship, said latch means being released by movement of the plunger toward the pivot arm and by a selected force moving the pivot arm from nonaligned toward aligned position.  
 2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the plunger provides a nonresilient connection between the key and activating shoulder.  
  3. The tool of claim 1 wherein the projecting edge of said key is chamfered at its upper and lower extremity and an abutment member secured to the upper end of the key by a pivot pin and a shear pin provides an upwardly facing shoulder engageable with a shoulder in the well.  
  4. The tool of claim 1 wherein the means for securing well equipment to the pivot arm includes a lower adapter pivoted to the pivot arm.  
 abutment surfaces on the pivot arm and lower adapter limiting relative rotation therebetween in each direction to relationships in which the lower housing is substantially parallel to the main housing in each of said latched positions. and  
 resilient means urging the lower adapter into alignment with the pivot arm.  
 5. A kickover tool for running and retrieving well equipment comprising,  
 an elongate main housing,  
 a pivot arm pivoted to said main housing and having an actuating shoulder offset laterally from said pivot,  
 means carried by said pivot arm for releasably securing thereto well equipment to be run or retrieved,  
 a plunger in the main housing engageable with said actuating shoulder.  
 a retractable key pivotally carried by the plunger and operable when moved longitudinally relative to the main housing to move the plunger into engagement with the shoulder and rotate the pivot arm,  
 a latch finger on the pivot arm,  
 means preventing rotation of the pivot arm relative to the housing in one direction beyond the aligned position,  
 co-engaging shoulders on the latch finger and plunger latching the pivot arm against the rotation in the other direction beyond aligned position;  
 said ctr-engaging shoulders movable into disengaged position with movement of the plunger into engagement with the actuating shoulders;  
 a latch member pivotally carried by the plunger,  
 a means on the latch finger cooperative with the latch member to latch the pivot arm in nonaligned position upon rotation of the pivot arm by the plunger and to release the pivot arm in response to a selected force being applied to the pivot arm moving it toward aligned position, and  
 resilient means urging the latch member toward latch position.  
  6. The tool of claim wherein the resilient means is carried by the plunger and urges the plunger away from the pivot arm.  
  &#39;7. The tool ofclaim 5 wherein the means for securing well equipment to the pivot arm includes a lower adapter pivoted to the pivot arm.  
 abutment surfaces to the pivot arm and lower adapter limiting relative rotation therebetween in each direction to relationships in which the lower housing is substantially parallel to the main housing in each of said latched positions, and  
 resilient means urging the lower adapter into alignment with the pivot arm.  
 8. A kickover tool for running and retrieving well equipment comprising,  
 an elongate main housing,  
 a pivot arm pivoted to said main housing and having an actuating shoulder offset laterally from said pivot.  
 means carried by said pivot arm for releasably secur ing thereto well equipment to be run or retrieved,  
 a plunger in the main housing engageable with said actuating shoulder,  
 a retractable key pivotally carried by the plunger and operable when moved longitudinally relative to the main housing to move the plunger into engagement with the shoulder and rotate the pivot arm.  
 a latch finger on the pivot arm,  
 meanspreventing rotation of the pivot arm relative to the housing in one direction beyond aligned position,  
 co-engaging shoulders on the latch finger and plunger latching the pivot arm against rotation in the other direction beyond aligned position,  
 a slot in one of the plunger and the latch finger movable into alignment with the shoulder on the other of the plunger and latch finger with movement of the plunger into engagement with the actuating shoulder to release the pivot arm,  
 a latch member pivotally carried by the plunger,  
 means on the latch finger holding the latch member in unlatched position while the pivot arm is in alignment with the housing and releasing the latch arm when the pivot arm is rotated from said aligned position,  
 said latch member and finger having cooperating shoulders which are engaged when the latch mem ber is released to latch the pivot arm in kicked over position.  
 said cooperating shoulders spaced longitudinally of the plunger from the latch member pivot and permitting release of the latch member in response to a selected force being applied to the pivot arm to move it toward aligned position, and  
 resilient means urging the latch member toward said finger.  
  9. The tool of claim 8 wherein the means for securing well equipment to the pivot arm includes a lower adapter pivoted to the pivot arm, abutment surfaces on the pivot arm and lower adapter limiting relative rotation therebetween in each direction to relationships in which the lower housing is substantially parallel to the main housing in each of said latched positions, and  
 resilient means urging the lower adapter into alignment with the pivot arm.  
  10. The tool of claim 8 wherein the resilient means urges the plunger away from the pivot arm.  
  ll. A kickover tool for running and retrieving well equipment comprising,  
 an elongate housing,  
 a pivot arm pivoted to the housing,  
 means carried by the pivot arm for releasably securing thereto equipment to be run or retrieved,  
 means in the housing including means for engaging a shoulder in a well for pivoting said pivot arm from a position aligned with the housing to a position of nonalignment with the housing,  
 latching means for latching said pivot arm in nonaligned position,  
 and means for releasing said latching means in response to upward movement of said tool in a well.