Resettable actuator for downhole tool

1. A downhole tool string component, comprising:

a through bore formed to accommodate a flow of drilling fluid and at least one mechanical actuation device;

a guide channel disposed within the through bore and comprising a geometry shaped to conduct the mechanical actuation device;

a mechanical switch disposed within the guide channel in an original position and actuatable by the mechanical actuation device to a subsequent position; and

a resettable mechanism in contact with the mechanical switch wherein the resettable mechanism returns the switch to its original position.

2. The component of claim 1 , further comprising:

a shaft in mechanical communication with the switch wherein the shaft attains a new position when the switch is actuated; and

a ratcheting device that maintains the shaft in the new position when the switch is reset to its original position.

3. The component of claim 2 , wherein the new position is an axial rotation from the original position.

4. The component of claim 1 , wherein the guide channel comprises a plurality of entries into a receptacle with varying diameter.

5. The component of claim 1 , comprising a funnel disposed within the through bore wherein the mechanical actuation device is funneled into the guide channel.

6. The component of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mechanical actuation device is a ball, a dart, a plunger, a dissolvable object, a crushable object, or a combination thereof.

7. The component of claim 1 , wherein the guide channel sits in a substantially radial orientation.

8. The component of claim 1 , wherein the guide channel sits in a substantially axial orientation.

9. The component of claim 1 , wherein the switch comprises an arm, bar, lever, turnstile, handle or knob.

10. The component of claim 1 , wherein the resettable mechanism comprises a coiled spring, elastic member, compressible element, or a combination thereof.

11. The component of claim 1 , further comprising a receptacle disposed within the through bore comprising a cylindrical trough shaped to accept the mechanical actuation device.

12. The component of claim 1 , further comprising a receptacle disposed within the through bore comprising a bin shaped to accept the mechanical actuation device and stack it upon another mechanical actuation device.

13. The component of claim 1 , further comprising a receptacle disposed within the through bore wherein the mechanical actuation device may be received within the receptacle and the drilling fluid may pass through the receptacle.

14. A method for actuating a downhole tool, comprising:

initiating travel of at least one mechanical actuation device within a through bore of a downhole tool string component;

directing the at least one mechanical actuation device to a switch within a guide channel disposed within the through bore;

actuating a downhole operation by contacting the switch with the mechanical actuation device; and

returning the switch to its original position with a resettable mechanism.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:

providing a shaft in mechanical communication with the switch;

moving the shaft to a new position when the switch is contacted; and

holding the shaft in the new position with a ratcheting device when the switch is reset to its original position.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:

directing a second mechanical actuation device into the guide channel;

actuating a similar downhole operation by contacting the switch with the second mechanical actuation device;

returning the switch to its original position with the resettable mechanism.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of stacking the mechanical actuation devices in a receptacle.