Pressure Activated Locking Slot Assembly

Abstract

A locking slot assembly may include a slot, a lug configured to move within the slot, and a lock configured to prevent the lug from moving within the slot until a triggering event occurs. The lock may be further configured to allow the lug to move within the slot after the triggering event has occurred, so long as a predetermined condition is maintained. The triggering event may be the application of a predetermined pressure, and the predetermined condition may be a minimum pressure.

1 . A locking slot assembly comprising:
 a slot;   a lug configured to move within the slot; and   a lock configured to prevent the lug from moving within the slot until a triggering event occurs;   wherein the lock is further configured to allow the lug to move within the slot after the triggering event has occurred, so long as a predetermined condition is maintained.   
   
   
       2 . The locking slot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event is the application of a predetermined pressure, and wherein the predetermined condition is a minimum pressure. 
   
   
       3 . The locking slot assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an inner mandrel disposed at least partially within the lock; and   a fluid chamber disposed between the lock and the inner mandrel;   wherein the fluid chamber is configured to expand upon application of the predetermined pressure, moving the lock and allowing the lug to move within the slot.   
   
   
       4 . The locking slot assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the slot comprises a J-slot. 
   
   
       5 . The locking slot assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the J-slot is a continuous J-slot. 
   
   
       6 . The locking slot assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the lock comprises one or more rupture disks configured to rupture at the predetermined pressure, allowing the lug to move within the slot. 
   
   
       7 . The locking slot assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the lock comprises one or more shear pins configured to shear at the predetermined pressure, allowing the lug to move within the slot. 
   
   
       8 . The locking slot assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the lock is further configured to once again prevent the lug from moving within the slot if the minimum pressure is not maintained. 
   
   
       9 . The locking slot assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined pressure is a hydrostatic pressure. 
   
   
       10 . The locking slot assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the minimum pressure is a hydrostatic pressure. 
   
   
       11 . A downhole tool assembly comprising:
 a sleeve having a slot;   a lug rotator ring configured to move axially relative to the sleeve, the rotator ring having a lug configured to move within the slot; and   a lock configured to prevent the lug from moving within the slot until a predetermined pressure is applied; and   wherein the lock is further configured to allow the lug to move within the slot after the predetermined pressure has been applied, so long as a minimum pressure is maintained.   
   
   
       12 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an inner mandrel disposed at least partially within the lock; and   a fluid chamber disposed between the lock and the inner mandrel;   wherein the fluid chamber is configured to expand upon application of the predetermined pressure, moving the lock and allowing the lug to move within the slot.   
   
   
       13 . The downhole assembly of  claim 1   1 , wherein the slot comprises a J-slot. 
   
   
       14 . The downhole assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the J-slot is a continuous J-slot. 
   
   
       15 . The downhole assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the lock comprises one or more rupture disks configured to rupture at the predetermined pressure, allowing the lug to move within the slot. 
   
   
       16 . The downhole assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the lock comprises one or more shear pins configured to shear at the predetermined pressure, allowing the lug to move within the slot. 
   
   
       17 . The downhole assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the lock is further configured to once again prevent the lug from moving within the slot if the minimum pressure is not maintained. 
   
   
       18 . The downhole assembly of  claim 1   1 , wherein the predetermined pressure is a hydrostatic pressure. 
   
   
       19 . A method of activating downhole tool assembly comprising a sleeve having a slot, a lug rotator ring configured to move axially relative to the sleeve, the rotator ring having a lug configured to move within the slot, and a lock configured to prevent the lug from moving within the slot until a predetermined pressure is applied, the method comprising:
 providing a downhole tool assembly in a well bore;   applying a predetermined pressure to the downhole tool assembly; and   moving the downhole tool assembly upward.   
   
   
       20 . The method of activating a downhole tool assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 moving the downhole tool assembly downward.