Expandable tool having helical geometry

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10100589-B2
Application number	US-201715445176-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2017
Priority date	Sep 12, 2013
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

An expandable downhole tool for use in an oil well, including a flexible member rolled into a helix and comprising first and second lateral edges on opposing lateral ends of the member. The flexible member is selectively changeable between a compressed configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a first diameter, and an expanded configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a second diameter, the second diameter larger than the first diameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of constructing an expandable tool, the method comprising:
providing a flexible member that, when extended into a planar configuration, defines a parallelogram having a top edge, a bottom edge, and lateral side edges;
wrapping the flexible member so that the lateral side edges align and the flexible member is in a helical configuration;
adjusting the transverse cross-sectional diameter of the helical configuration by sliding the lateral side edges of the flexible member relative to one another, wherein adjusting the transverse cross-sectional diameter of the helical configuration includes changing the flexible member from a compressed configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a first diameter to an expanded configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a second diameter, the second diameter larger than the first diameter; and where
a pitch of each of the lateral side edges change relative to the longitudinal axis as the flexible member changes from the compressed configuration to the expanded configuration.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the upper edge extends between upper terminal ends of the lateral edges and the lower edge extends between lower terminal ends of the lateral edges, the upper edge and the lower edge each having the same length.

3. The method of claim 1 , further including providing a plurality of radial support members attached to the flexible member to maintain the shape of the flexible member, the radial support members positioned at intervals around an inner circumference of the flexible member.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein wrapping the flexible member further includes providing an elongate member extending through the flexible body and slidably attaching the radial support members to the elongate member so that the shape of the flexible body is maintained relative to the elongate member.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a system for adjusting the transverse cross-sectional diameter of the helical configuration including:
a toothed rack attached to and extending along one of the lateral side edges of the flexible member; and
a toothed pinion attached to the other of the lateral side edges of the flexible member and positioned so that the teeth of the pinion engage the teeth of the rack;
wherein when the pinion is rotated, the pinion drives the rack causing the flexible member to expand or contract.

6. A method of constructing an expandable tool, the method comprising:
providing a flexible member that, when extended into a planar configuration, defines a parallelogram having a top edge, a bottom edge, and lateral side edges;
wrapping the flexible member so that the lateral side edges align and the flexible member is in a helical configuration;
adjusting the transverse cross-sectional diameter of the helical configuration by sliding the lateral side edges of the flexible member relative to one another; and
providing a system for adjusting the transverse cross-sectional diameter of the helical configuration including:
a toothed rack attached to and extending along one of the lateral side edges of the flexible member; and
a toothed pinion attached to the other of the lateral side edges of the flexible member and positioned so that the teeth of the pinion engage the teeth of the rack;
wherein when the pinion is rotated, the pinion drives the rack causing the flexible member to expand or contract.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Lastra Rafael Adolfo

Classifications

• E21B29/10

  Reconditioning of well casings, e.g. straightening · CPC title

• E21B17/20 Primary

  Flexible or articulated drilling pipes {, e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables} · CPC title

• E04C3/005

  Girders or columns that are rollable, collapsible or otherwise adjustable in length or height (girders as supporting members for forms E04G11/54) · CPC title

• E21B43/103

  of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like · CPC title

• E04C2003/0447

  circular- or oval-shaped · CPC title