The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 23, 2025
Filed:
Jun. 05, 2024
Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US);
James Edward Atkins, Aberdeen, GB;
Seweryn Wrozyna, Aberdeen, GB;
SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, Sugar Land, TX (US);
Abstract
A ball catcher tool for catching and retaining drop balls in a tool string includes a body having a central bore extending therethrough and a first channel that extends within the central bore. The first channel has an opening that is configured to receive at least one ball for retention in the first channel. The tool further includes a retractable ball retainer with a retainer element configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position by movement of a ball past the retainer element. The retainer element includes a front surface and a rear surface that are configured in the extended position to extend into the first channel with the front surface extending at an acute angle relative to an inside surface that forms the first channel and away from the opening of the first channel. The acute angle of the front surface can limit erosion of the retractable ball retainer due to high velocity fluid flow through the tool.