Patent ID: 10914136

Abstract:
A downhole tool for sand fall-back prevention can include a sand bridge inducer configured to be mounted in a flow path through a housing in a downhole tool. The sand bridge inducer can define a longitudinal axis and having a main opening therethrough, wherein the sand bridge inducer includes one or more angled passageways defined through a wall of the sand bridge inducer that are oblique relative to the longitudinal axis. The sand bridge inducer can be segmented with a respective upper segment and lower segment at each respective one of the one or more angled passageways, wherein the respective upper and lower segments are connected to one another across the respective angled passageway for movement along the longitudinal axis relative to one another to enlarge the respective angled passageway for accommodating passage of larger particles and/or relieving pressure differentials caused by high flow rates and/or solids restricting flow.