Mobile ball launcher with free-fall ball release and method of making same
US11208863B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 17, 2019 |
| Grant date | Dec 28, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 17, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B33/068
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A ball launcher and method for actuating wellsite equipment at a wellsite is disclosed. The wellsite has wellhead equipment positioned at an inlet of a wellbore. The ball launcher includes a housing, a ball release, and a housing extension. The housing has a passage for receiving balls. The ball is release positionable about the housing. The ball release includes a feeder to selectively and sequentially release the balls from the housing. The housing extension includes a hopper tube and a feed tube. The hopper tube has an inlet to receive the balls from the housing, the feed tube extending at an angle from the hopper tube. The feed tube has an exit a distance above the wellhead equipment to release the balls therethrough whereby the balls are dropped into and activates the wellsite equipment in the wellbore.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.