Tool Trap Systems and Methods

Abstract

A linkage assembly for a tool trap of a wireline pressure control equipment (PCE) stack includes a first linkage member and a keyed shaft positioned within an opening of the first linkage member. The first linkage member and the keyed shaft are configured to rotate together to transfer a force generated by an actuator to adjust a plate of the tool trap from a closed position to an open position. One or more gaps exist within the opening between the first linkage member and the keyed shaft to enable relative motion between the first linkage member and the keyed shaft to enable the tool to drive the plate from the closed position to the open position without back driving the actuator during withdrawal of the tool across the tool trap.

1 . A linkage assembly for a tool trap of a wireline pressure control equipment (PCE) stack, comprising:
 a first linkage member; and   a keyed shaft positioned within an opening of the first linkage member, wherein the first linkage member and the keyed shaft are configured to rotate together to transfer a force generated by an actuator to adjust a plate of the tool trap from a closed position to an open position, and wherein one or more gaps exist within the opening between the first linkage member and the keyed shaft to enable relative motion between the first linkage member and the keyed shaft to enable the tool to drive the plate from the closed position to the open position without back driving the actuator during withdrawal of the tool across the tool trap.   
     
     
         2 . The linkage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the keyed shaft is non-rotatably coupled to an output shaft of the actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The linkage assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the keyed shaft is configured to be in a neutral position while the plate is in the closed position, and the keyed shaft is configured to remain in the neutral position while the tool drives the plate from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         4 . The linkage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the keyed shaft comprises a body portion and a key portion that extends from the body portion, the key portion is positioned within a key receiving portion of the opening, and the key portion is smaller than the key receiving portion of the opening to form the one or more gaps. 
     
     
         5 . The linkage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the keyed shaft comprises a central body portion and at least two key portions extending from the central body portion. 
     
     
         6 . The linkage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the keyed shaft comprises a first portion and a second portion that extends radially outward from the first portion, the first portion extends about approximately 25 percent of a circumference of the keyed shaft, and the second portion extends about approximately 75 percent of the circumference of the keyed shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The linkage assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the opening comprises a first opening portion and a second opening portion having a diameter greater than the first opening portion, and the first opening portion and the second opening portion each extend about approximately 50 percent of an opening circumference of the opening. 
     
     
         8 . The linkage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises a plurality of bar-like linkage members rotatably coupled to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The linkage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises a plurality of gears. 
     
     
         10 . The linkage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the keyed shaft is included on or coupled to a pivot bar that is non-rotatably coupled to the plate. 
     
     
         11 . A tool trap for a wireline pressure control equipment (PCE) stack, comprising:
 a housing;   a bar extending through the housing;   a plate positioned in the housing and non-rotatably coupled to the bar; and   a linkage assembly coupled to the housing and configured to transfer a force generated by an actuator to the bar to drive a plate from a closed position to an open position, wherein the linkage assembly comprises a keyed shaft that enables the linkage assembly to transfer the force from the actuator to the bar to drive the plate from the closed position to the open position and that enables the tool to drive the plate from the closed position to the open position without back driving the actuator during withdrawal of the tool across the tool trap.   
     
     
         12 . The tool trap of  claim 11 , wherein the keyed shaft is non-rotatably coupled to an output shaft of the actuator, the keyed shaft is configured to be in a neutral position while the plate is in the closed position, and the keyed shaft is configured to remain in the neutral position while the tool drives the plate from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         13 . The tool trap of  claim 11 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises a first linkage member having an opening, the keyed shaft is positioned within the opening, and one or more gaps exist within the opening between the first linkage member and the keyed shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The tool trap of  claim 13 , wherein the keyed shaft comprises a body portion and a key portion that extends from the body portion, the key portion is positioned within a key receiving portion of the opening, and the key portion is smaller than the key receiving portion of the opening to provide the one or more gaps to enable the first linkage member to rotate relative to the keyed shaft as the tool drives the plate from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a tool trap of a wireline pressure control equipment (PCE) stack, comprising:
 controlling an actuator to adjust a plate of the tool trap from a closed position to an open position; and   driving the plate from the closed position to the open position via contact between the tool and the plate as the tool is withdrawn through the tool trap without back driving the actuator.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising transferring, using a linkage assembly having a keyed shaft, a force generated by the actuator to the plate to adjust the plate of the tool trap from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising rotating a first linkage member of the linkage assembly and the keyed shaft together as the actuator adjusts the plate of the tool trap from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising rotating the first linkage member of the linkage assembly relative to the keyed shaft as the plate is driven from the closed position to the open position via contact between the tool and the plate as the tool is withdrawn through the tool trap. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising rotating the keyed shaft from a neutral position to an actuated position as the actuator is controlled to adjust the plate of the tool trap from the closed position to the open position, and maintaining the keyed shaft in the neutral position as the plate is driven from the closed position to the open position via contact between the tool and the plate as the tool is withdrawn through the tool trap. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising rotating the keyed shaft in a first direction from the neutral position to the actuated position as the actuator is controlled to adjust the plate of the tool trap from the closed position to the open position, and rotating a first linkage member of the linkage assembly in the first direction and relative to the keyed shaft as the plate is driven from the closed position to the open position via contact between the tool and the plate as the tool is withdrawn across the tool trap.