IP Library Granted Patent US 9,103,186
Granted Patent B2
US 9,103,186 · App. 13/621,576 · Granted Aug 11, 2015

Sealed jar

Inventors: Jason A. Hradecky (The Woodlands, TX); John Edward Saville (Sugar Land, TX)
Assignee: Impact Selector International, LLC
E21B31/107E21B31/113
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,103,186
App. No.
13/621,576
Granted
Aug 11, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device has a first, lower sub housing, a second, upper sub housing, and an extensible joint connecting the lower sub housing to the upper sub housing. A pressure equalization chamber is attached to the upper sub housing and demarcates an inner zone including an internal mechanism of the extensible joint, and an outer zone open to well bore fluids and pressure. A fluid barrier moves within the pressure equalization chamber in response to changes in well bore pressure to alter a volume of the inner zone to equalize a pressure of the inner zone.

Claims (22)

1. A device, comprising:

first and second sub ends having an extensible joint therebetween containing a latching mechanism that allows the joint to expand from a contracted position to an expanded position in response to a predetermined tensile force on the upper and lower sub ends; and

a sealing chamber isolating the latching mechanism from well bore fluids, the sealing chamber defining a first volume that is exposed to well bore fluids and a second volume that is isolated from well bore fluids by a flexible barrier and is in fluid communication with an internal volume of the extensible joint;

wherein the flexible barrier moves in response to well bore fluid pressure to alter the second volume to equalize pressure inside the internal volume of the extensible joint to the pressure of the well bore fluid; and

wherein the flexible barrier moves in response to extension and contraction of the joint to alter the second volume to equalize pressure inside the internal volume of the extensible joint to the pressure of the well bore fluid.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible barrier comprises an elastomeric bladder that expands and contracts within the sealing chamber to alter the first and second volumes.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the sealing chamber comprises a sub housing.

4. The device of claim 3 , further comprising a conductor passing through the sealing chamber and being contained within the second volume.

5. The device of claim 4 , further comprising a ported shaft within the second volume and surrounding the conductor thereby preventing collapse of the bladder onto the conductor.

6. The device of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of ports defined in a wall of the sub housing allowing the bladder exposure to well bores and pressures.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first sub end defines a plugged port allowing selective fluid access to the second volume.

8. A device, comprising:

an upper sub housing;

a lower sub housing;

an extensible joint allowing the upper sub housing to freely displace a predetermined distance from the lower sub housing in response to a tensile force sufficient to overcome a latching force of an internal latching mechanism; and

a pressure equalization chamber affixed to the upper sub housing defining two volumes demarcated by a flexible barrier;

wherein a first of the two volumes is exposed to well bore fluids;

wherein a second of the two volumes contains the internal latching mechanism;

wherein movement of the flexible barrier altering the first and second volumes allows the first and second volumes to have substantially the same pressure without mixing of fluids contained in the respective volumes.

9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising an electrical conductor passing through a length of the device, the conductor being contained within the second volume.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the flexible barrier comprises an elastomeric bladder.

11. The device of claim 9 , further comprising a ported shaft passing through the pressure equalization chamber and the bladder and surrounding at least a portion of the conductor.

Assignments (6)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2026
From: IMPACT SELECTOR INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 074956/0053 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2024
From: ZIONS BANCORPORATION, N.A. DBA AMEGY BANK
To: IMPACT SELECTOR INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 066395/0004 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 61865650 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 034466 FRAME: 0186. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 12, 2015
From: IMPACT SELECTOR, INC.
To: IMPACT SELECTOR INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 034751/0227 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2014
From: IMPACT SELECTOR INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: AMEGY BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 034651/0383 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2014
From: IMPACT SELECTOR, INC.
To: IMPACT SELECTOR INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 034466/0186 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2012
From: HRADECKY, JASON A.; SAVILLE, JOHN EDWARD
To: IMPACT SELECTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 028979/0766 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61535834 · Sep 16, 2011
Related Publication 20130068533A1 · Mar 21, 2013