Abstract: A fluid control valve for use in retaining well treatment fluids above a circulating valve and packer in a tool string. The fluid control valve comprises a ball seat with a seating surface thereon, a sealing ball for sealingly engaging the sealing surface, and a push rod. The ball seat and push rod are relatively movable so that as the packer is set and the circulating valve is moved toward a closed position, the push rod is brought into engagement with the ball so that it is moved off the ball seat, allowing fluid flow thereby. A ball cage extends from the ball seat for guiding the ball and limiting radial movement thereof when the circulating valve is open. A retrieving neck may be connected to the fluid control valve so that the fluid control valve may be retrieved while leaving the rest of the tool string in the well bore.

Abstract: An annulus pressure operated ratchet device for use in a well bore. A mandrel includes an upwardly-directed elastomeric cup which is slidingly received over the mandrel. A sleeve is slidingly received over the mandrel beneath the cup and a ratchet disposed between the sleeve and the mandrel permits only downward movement of the sleeve. An elastomeric packer is received about the mandrel between the sleeve and an upwardly-directed shoulder. Annulus pressure urges the cup and sleeve downwardly to compress the packer thereby sealingly engaging it with the casing. The shoulder beneath the packer is threadably engaged with the mandrel by a left-hand thread. Right-hand mandrel rotation unthreads the connection thereby releasing the packer.