Apparatus for installing and removing flow control units

Claim 2

A flow control unit handling apparatus adapted for use in placing a flow control unit in a selected offset seat in a well tubing and for removing said unit therefrom comprising, a housing adapted to support a flow control unit, supporting means for raising and lowering the housing in the well tubing, a pivoting connection between the supporting means and the housing for allowing the housing to pivot towards the seat, an elongated guide means adapted to be lowered through the well tubing and bypass said seat, said elongated guide means pivotally supported from the housing, releasing engaging means coacting between the guide means and the housing for holding the guide means longitudinally aligned with the housing thereby preventing the housing from engaging an offset seat as the housing is lowered in the well tubing, means for releasing the engaging means including a shoulder protruding upwardly and adapted to contact a shoulder in the tubing when the housing is raised in the tubing for actuating the releasing means, and means for shifting the housing about the pivoting connection and away from the guide means and toward the offset seat when the engaging means is released.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 including, a second pivoting connection in the supporting means.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the releasing means includes, a movable body connected to the upwardly protruding shoulder and longitudinally carried by the housing and initially engaging and holding the guide means longitudinally aligned with the housing.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distance from the pivoting connection to the free end of the guide means is such that the apparatus may pass through a curved tubing of a pump-down tubing.

Claim 6

A flow control unit handling apparatus adapted for use in placing a flow control unit in the selected offset seat in a well tubing having a guide sleeve with a downwardly directed stop shoulder and for removing said unit therefrom comprising, an elongate rigid housing adapted to support a flow control unit, supporting means for raising and lowering the housing in the well tubing, a pivoting connection between the supporting means and the housing for allowing the housing to pivot toward the seat, an elongated guide means adapted to be lowered through the well tubing and bypass said seat, said elongated guide means pivotally supported from the housing, a longitudinally movable body carried by the housing, spring means yieldably urging said movable body upwardly in the housing, a locating key pivotably connected to the body and having an upwardly dirEcted shoulder for coacting with the guide sleeve and stop shoulder, releasable engaging means coacting between the guide means and the movable body for initially holding the guide means longitudinally aligned with the housing thereby preventing the housing from engaging an offset seat as the housing is lowered in the well tubing, but which is disengaged when the locating key shoulder engages the stop shoulder and the body is moved relative to the guide means, and means for shifting the housing about the pivoting connection and away from the guide means and toward the offset seat when the engaging means is released.

Claim 7

A flow control unit handling apparatus adapted for use in placing a flow control unit in the selected offset seat in a well tubing having a guide sleeve with a downwardly directed stop shoulder and for removing said unit therefrom comprising, an elongate rigid housing adapted to support a flow control unit, supporting means for raising and lowering the housing in the well tubing, a pivoting connection between the supporting means and the housing for allowing the housing to pivot toward the seat, an elongated guide means adapted to be lowered through the well tubing and bypass said seat, said elongated guide means pivotally supported from the housing, a longitudinally movable body carried by the housing, spring means yieldably urging said movable body upwardly in the housing, a locating key pivotably connected to the body and having an upwardly dirEcted shoulder for coacting with the guide sleeve and stop shoulder, releasable engaging means coacting between the guide means and the movable body for initially holding the guide means longitudinally aligned with the housing thereby preventing the housing from engaging an offset seat as the housing is lowered in the well tubing, but which is disengaged when the locating key shoulder engages the stop shoulder and the body is moved relative to the guide means, and means for shifting the housing about the pivoting connection and away from the guide means and toward the offset seat when the engaging means is released.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 including, a second pivoting connection in the supporting means.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the distance from the pivoting connection to the free end of the guide means is such that the apparatus may pass through a curved tubing of a pump-down tubing.