Ball catcher with retention capability
US8118101B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 29, 2009 |
| Grant date | Feb 21, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 18, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B34/142
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A ball catcher is designed to stop balls that are the same size or different sizes at an inlet on a seat that is connected to a movable biased sleeve. Once the ball or other shaped object lands at the seat the flow around it increases differential pressure on the seat and sleeve and displaces them against the bias. The ball goes into a surrounding annular space and cannot exit. A preferably spiral sleeve guide the movement of the balls in the annular space so that efficient use of the annular space is made to maximize the number of balls that can be captured per unit length of the annular space. As soon as the ball enters the annular space the sleeve shifts back to the original position to stop the next ball at the inlet. Once in the annular space, the balls cannot escape if there is a flow reversal. The central passage remains open to pass other tools and flow.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.