Downhole Tool With Counting Mechanism

Abstract

An object counting mechanism for a downhole tool which includes a tool housing having a central passage and a seat configured to selectively catch an object passing through the central passage. An activating mechanism is configured to move the seat from a first state allowing the object to pass through the seat into a second state for catching the object on the seat. A rotating sleeve causes the activating mechanism to move the seat into the second state after a given degree of rotation of the rotating sleeve. At least one contact surface is spaced apart from the seat and positioned to engage the object passing through the central passage, thereby effecting a limited rotation of the rotating sleeve at each passage of an object.

1 . A sleeve valve comprising:
 a. a tubular valve housing having flow ports and a central passage;   b. a closing sleeve assembly operatively attached to a catch seat assembly;   c. a rotating sleeve acting to initially maintain the catch seat assembly in a pass-through position and releasing the catch seat assembly into a catch position after a given degree of rotation of the rotating sleeve; and   d. a rocker arm spaced apart from the catch seat assembly, the rocker arm positioned to engage an object passing through the central passage and causing a limited rotation of the rotating sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve valve of  claim 1  wherein the rocker arm moves between a first and second position with the passing of the object and causes two discrete angular movements of the rotating sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The sleeve valve of  claim 1  wherein the rocker arm is positioned on the rotating sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The sleeve valve of  claim 3  wherein (i) the closing sleeve assembly includes a counting sleeve having an internal set of indexing teeth engaged by the rocker arm; and (ii) the rotating sleeve is positioned within the counting sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve valve of  claim 1  wherein the catch seat assembly includes (i) a seat base providing first diameter in the central passageway and (ii) a constricting finger sub which selectively engages the seat base to create a second smaller diameter in the central passageway. 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve valve of  claim 5  wherein a ball riding in a race prevents the constricting finger sub from engaging the seat base. 
     
     
         7 . The sleeve valve of  claim 6  wherein the race is formed on the inner surface of the counting sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The sleeve valve of  claim 6  wherein angular movement of the rotating sleeve allows the ball to move into a ball aperture and release the constricting finger sub to engage the seat base. 
     
     
         9 . The sleeve valve of  claim 8  wherein the ball aperture is formed on the inner surface of the counting sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The sleeve valve of  claim 6  wherein the ball rides in a détente formed in a body portion of the constricting finger sub. 
     
     
         11 . The sleeve valve of  claim 1  wherein a spring acts between the constricting finger sub and the rotating sleeve in order to release the catch seat assembly to the catch position. 
     
     
         12 . The sleeve valve of  claim 1  wherein a torsion spring maintains a torque load on the rotating sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The sleeve valve of  claim 5 , wherein the constricting finger sub is fixed against rotation relative to the rotating sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The sleeve valve of  claim 4  wherein a ratchet mechanism allows only one-way rotation of the rotating sleeve relative to the counting sleeve. 
     
     
         15 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . An object counting mechanism for a downhole tool comprising:
 a. a tool housing having a central passage and a closure mechanism for closing the central passage;   b. a shifting sleeve assembly positioned in the tool housing and activating the closure mechanism by axial movement in the tool housing;   c. a rotating sleeve acting to initially hold the shifting sleeve assembly in a first position and releasing the shifting sleeve assembly to a second position after a given degree of rotation of the rotating sleeve; and   d. a radially moving lever spaced apart from the closure mechanism and positioned to engage an object passing through the central passage and effecting a limited rotation of the rotating sleeve at each passage of an object.   
     
     
         21 . The object counting mechanism of  claim 20  wherein the radially moving lever moves into and out of engagement with a set of indexing teeth. 
     
     
         22 . The object counting mechanism of  claim 21  wherein the radially moving lever is a rocker arm having two opposing ends and each end moves alternatively into and out of engagement with a separate set of indexing teeth. 
     
     
         23 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . An object counting mechanism for a downhole tool comprising:
 a. a tool housing having a central passage and a seat configured to selectively catch an object passing through the central passage;   b. an activating mechanism configured to move the seat from a first state allowing the object to pass through the seat into a second state for catching the object on the seat;   c. a rotating sleeve causing the activating mechanism to move the seat into the second state after a given degree of rotation of the rotating sleeve; and   d. at least one contact surface spaced apart from the seat and positioned to engage the object passing through the central passage, thereby effecting a limited rotation of the rotating sleeve at each passage of an object.   
     
     
         37 . The object counting mechanism of  claim 36 , wherein the contact surface is formed on a counting lever. 
     
     
         38 . The object counting mechanism of  claim 36 , wherein activating mechanism is a shifting sleeve assembly positioned in the tool housing and moving the seat to the second state by axial movement of the shifting sleeve assembly.