Downhole tool actuation devices and methods

Abstract

According to one or more embodiments of the invention, a downhole tool includes one or more actuator apparatuses to facilitate actuation of the downhole tool. The actuation apparatus includes a piston that is dynamically coupled to a tool actuator by an actuator connector in a manner that the piston and the tool actuator necessarily move in unison in response to movement of the piston in a first direction and the piston and the tool actuator do not necessarily move in unison in response to movement of the piston in the second direction.

1 . An actuator apparatus for a downhole tool, the actuator apparatus comprising:
 a piston moveable in a first direction and a second direction;   a tool actuator; and   an actuator connector dynamically coupling the piston and the tool actuator, wherein the piston and the tool actuator necessarily move in unison in response to movement of the piston in the first direction and the piston and the tool actuator do not necessarily move in unison in response to movement of the piston in the second direction.   
     
     
         2 . The actuator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator connector is permanently fixedly coupled to only one of the piston and the tool actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The actuator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator connector comprises a first portion adapted to fixedly engage a portion of the piston and a second portion adapted to fixedly engage a portion of the tool actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The actuator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator connector is permanently fixedly connected to only one of the piston and the tool actuator and the actuator connector is temporarily fixedly connected to the other of the piston and the tool actuator in response to movement of the piston in the first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The actuator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator connector comprises a tubular member adapted to be positioned around the tool actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The actuator apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the actuator connector is permanently fixedly connected to only one of the piston and the tool actuator and the actuator connector is temporarily fixedly connected to the other of the piston and the tool actuator in response to movement of the piston in the first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The actuator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator connector comprises:
 a yoke;   a tubular member adapted to be positioned about the tool actuator; and   an elongated member connected between the yoke and the tubular connector, wherein the yoke is axially separated from the tubular connector by the elongated member.   
     
     
         8 . The actuator apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator connector is permanently fixedly connected to only one of the piston and tool actuator and the actuator connector is temporarily fixedly connected to the other of the piston and the tool actuator in response to movement of the piston in the first direction. 
     
     
         9 . The actuator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator connector comprises a first yoke separated from a second yoke by an elongate member. 
     
     
         10 . The tool actuator of  claim 9 , wherein the actuator connector is permanently fixedly connected to only one of the piston and tool actuator and the actuator connector is temporarily fixedly connected to the other of the piston and the tool actuator in response to movement of the piston in the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . A subsurface valve, the valve comprising:
 a piston movable in a first direction and a second direction;   a flow tube;   a valve closure member actuated to one of an open position and a closed position in response to movement of the flow tube in one of the first direction and the second direction; and   an actuator connector connected between the piston and the flow tube, wherein the piston, the actuator connector and the flow tube necessarily move in unison in response to movement of the piston in a first direction and wherein the piston and the flow tube do not necessarily move in unison in response to movement of the piston in the second direction.   
     
     
         12 . The valve of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator connector is permanently fixedly connected to only one of the piston and the flow tube and temporarily fixedly connected to the other of the piston and the flow tube in response to movement of the piston in the first direction. 
     
     
         13 . The valve of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator connector comprises a tubular member positioned around the flow tube. 
     
     
         14 . The valve of  claim 13 , wherein the actuator connector is permanently fixedly connected to only one of the piston and the flow tube and the actuator connector is temporarily fixedly connected to the other of the piston and the flow tube in response to movement of the piston in the first direction. 
     
     
         15 . The valve of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator connector comprises:
 a yoke;   a tubular member positioned about the flow tube; and   an elongated member connected between the yoke and the tubular connector, wherein the yoke is axially separated from the tubular connector by the elongated member.   
     
     
         16 . The valve of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator connector comprises a first yoke separated from a second yoke by an elongate member. 
     
     
         17 . The valve of  claim 16 , wherein the elongated member is positioned substantially parallel to the piston and laterally offset from the piston. 
     
     
         18 . A method of actuation a downhole tool, comprising:
 moving a piston in a first direction in response to an applied signal;   moving a tool actuator in the first direction in unison with the first piston in response to the moving the piston in the first direction;   moving the piston in a second direction; and   releasing a fixed connection between the tool actuator and the piston in response to the moving the piston in the second direction.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising dynamically connecting the piston and the tool actuator with an actuator connector. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the actuator coupler is permanently fixedly connected to only one of the piston and tool actuator and the actuator connector is temporarily fixedly connected to the other of the piston and the tool actuator in response to movement of the piston in the first direction.