Counting sliding sleeve and components thereof

Abstract

A sliding sleeve is provided that includes a housing, a spinner sleeve, an inner sleeve, a collet, an actuator, and an indexer. An object passing through the interior of the sliding sleeve is caught by the actuator forcing the indexer to move linearly downward. The linear downward movement causes the indexer to rotate one halfstep at which point the object is released. The indexer, biased towards the upward position, is returned to the upper position while at the same time is again rotated half a step. Once the pre-set number of steps is reached the indexer moves upward to support the collet. With the collet supported the next object passing through the interior of the sliding sleeve is retained by the collet which in turn forces the inner sleeve to move downward. With the inner sleeve moved to the down position a flow path is opened through the sleeve from the interior to the exterior of the sliding sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool for downhole use comprising:
 a housing, an indexer, a collet, an actuator, and an inner sleeve,   the actuator is coupled to the indexer, and
 wherein linear movement of the actuator induces linear and or rotational movement of the indexer, 
   the indexer is coupled to the inner sleeve,
 wherein upon a preset amount of rotation by the indexer allows the indexer to linearly move the inner sleeve. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, the collet has a first end and a second end wherein either the first end or the second end is unsupported. 
     
     
         3 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 2  wherein, and end of the collet is supported by the inner sleeve after the inner sleeve linearly moves such that a subsequent object is retained by the collet. 
     
     
         4 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, at least a portion of the actuator extends into an interior passage of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 4  wherein, the portion of the actuator extending into an interior passage of the housing is allowed to move radially outward after the actuator moves a preset linear distance. 
     
     
         6 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, the collet has circumferential gaps between the collet fingers, wherein the circumferential gaps are partially filled with an elastomeric material 
     
     
         7 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, the indexer is coupled to a biasing device wherein the biasing device induces linear and/or rotational movement in the indexer. 
     
     
         8 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, a torsional spring biases the indexer for rotational movement. 
     
     
         9 . A method of actuating a downhole tool comprising,
 pumping an object into a downhole tool,   applying a linearly downward force to an actuator, wherein the actuator is coupled to an indexer,   moving the indexer linearly and or rotationally at least twice, wherein the indexer is coupled to an inner sleeve,   moving the inner sleeve a linear distance wherein an end of the inner sleeve supports an end of a collet,   retaining a second object in the collet, and   applying a force through the second object to the collet.   
     
     
         10 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 9  wherein, at least a portion of the actuator extends into an interior passage of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 10  wherein, the portion of the actuator extending into an interior passage of the housing is allowed to move radially outward after the actuator moves a preset linear distance. 
     
     
         12 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 9  wherein, the collet has circumferential gaps between the collet fingers, wherein the circumferential gaps are partially filled with an elastomeric material 
     
     
         13 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 9  wherein, the indexer is coupled to a biasing device wherein the biasing device induces linear and/or rotational movement in the indexer. 
     
     
         14 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 9  wherein, a torsional spring biases the indexer for rotational movement. 
     
     
         15 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 9  further comprising releasing the actuator to move radially outward after moving a preset linear distance.