Downhole tools including fastening assemblies, and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10156099-B2
Application number	US-201614994793-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2016
Priority date	Jan 13, 2016
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

A downhole tool includes a fastening assembly securing one component to another component. The fastening assembly may include a threaded fastener located in an aperture of one component and a locking mechanism located in a cavity proximate the aperture. The threaded fastener may include a flange including mutually spaced holes located circumferentially within an outer periphery of the flange. The locking mechanism may include a spring and a dowel member. The locking mechanism may be positioned within a hole of the flange and may be configured to retain the threaded fastener in a fixed position relative to one component. Methods include using a depressor ring including teeth corresponding to the holes of the flange to depress the locking mechanism into the cavity while tightening the threaded fastener.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A downhole tool, comprising:
an assembly comprising at least two components;
at least one fastening assembly securing one of the at least two components to another of the at least two components, the at least one fastening assembly comprising: a threaded fastener having a longitudinal portion within an aperture in the one of the at least two components and a threaded segment of the longitudinal portion engaged with a cooperatively threaded bore extending at least into the other component, the threaded fastener including a flange integrally formed with the threaded fastener, the flange extending laterally from the longitudinal portion substantially abutting an adjacent surface of the one component, the flange comprising a plurality of mutually spaced holes located circumferentially within an outer periphery of the flange and extending parallel to the longitudinal portion; and at least one locking mechanism including a spring located in a cavity of the one of the at least two components proximate the aperture and a dowel member biased outwardly with a portion extending into one of the holes of the flange and a second portion within the cavity.

2. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the one of the at least two components comprises a formation-engaging assembly and the other of the at least two components comprises an earth-boring tool body.

3. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the one of the at least two components comprises a cover and the other of the at least two components comprises a tubular body having an aperture over which the cover is secured.

4. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the assembly further comprises a nozzle assembly affixed to a bit body.

5. The downhole tool of claim 1 , further comprising a stop feature configured to retain at least a portion of the dowel member of the at least one locking mechanism within the cavity of the one of the at least two components.

6. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking mechanism comprises a plurality of locking mechanisms positioned in the plurality of holes of the flange.

7. The downhole tool of claim 6 , wherein a circumferential angle between the plurality of holes of the flange is less than a circumferential angle between at least two locking mechanisms of the plurality of locking mechanisms.

8. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the threaded fastener having a longitudinal portion further comprises a threaded portion on at least a part of the longitudinal portion and a head portion opposite the longitudinal portion, and wherein the flange is located between the longitudinal portion and the head portion.

9. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking mechanism including a spring and a dowel member includes at least one of the spring being separate from the dowel member or the spring being integral with the dowel member.

10. A fastening system for a downhole tool, comprising:
at least one component configured to attach to a body of the downhole tool, the at least one component comprising at least one cavity and at least one adjacent aperture;
at least one spring-loaded locking mechanism located in the at least one cavity;
a threaded fastener located in the at least one aperture, the threaded fastener comprising a head portion, a threaded portion and a flange including a plurality of holes positioned in vertical alignment with the at least one cavity; and
a removable depressor ring including a plurality of teeth positioned to insert into the plurality of holes of the flange, the removable depressor ring being configured to depress the at least one spring-loaded locking mechanism during tightening of the threaded fastener, a portion of the at least one spring-loaded locking mechanism configured to slide into a hole of the plurality of holes once the removable depressor ring has been removed and the flange of the threaded fastener is in locked position against an adjacent surface of the at least one component.

11. The fastening system of claim 10 , wherein the threaded fastener comprises a threaded bolt and wherein the flange of the threaded fastener is permanently affixed to the threaded fastener.

12. The fastening system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one spring-loaded locking mechanism further comprises a dowel member and a spring located in the at least one cavity.

13. The fastening system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one spring-loaded locking mechanism comprises a plurality of spring-loaded locking mechanisms positioned in the plurality of holes of the flange, and wherein a circumferential angle between the plurality of holes of the flange is less than or greater than a circumferential angle between at least two spring-loaded locking mechanisms of the plurality of spring-loaded locking mechanisms.

14. The fastening system of claim 10 , further comprising a stop feature located within the plurality of holes or located within the at least one cavity, the stop feature positioned and configured to retain the at least one spring-loaded locking mechanism within the at least one cavity of the at least one component when a portion thereof is received with a hole of the flange.

15. The fastening system of claim 14 , wherein each hole of the plurality of holes further comprises a stop feature including an upper aperture and a lower aperture, and wherein each of the cross-sectional diameter of the lower aperture and the cross-sectional diameter of the at least one spring-loaded locking mechanism is greater than a cross-sectional diameter of the upper aperture.

16. A method of fastening a component to a downhole tool body, the method comprising:
inserting at least one locking mechanism into a cavity of the component against an outward biasing force;
providing a threaded fastener including a flange, the flange comprising a plurality of holes;
installing a depressor ring onto the threaded fastener, the depressor ring including a plurality of teeth corresponding to and received within the plurality of holes of the flange;
inserting the threaded fastener into an aperture of the component adjacent the cavity and tightening the threaded fastener with a tool abutting the depressor ring to cause the flange and teeth to depress the at least one locking mechanism into the cavity; and
removing the depressor ring to permit a portion of the at least one locking mechanism to enter a hole of the flange under the biasing force.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising torqueing the threaded fastener into a position to permit a portion of the at least one locking mechanism to enter a hole.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein inserting the at least one locking mechanism into the cavity of the component against an outward biasing force further comprises inserting at least one dowel member and at least one spring into the cavity of the component.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising retaining the at least one locking mechanism with a stop feature located within each hole of the plurality of holes of the flange or within the cavity of the component.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein inserting the threaded fastener into an aperture of the component and tightening the threaded fastener with a tool further comprises attaching at least one of a formation-engaging assembly to an earth-boring tool, a nozzle to a bit body, or a cover to a tubular body.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Do Do Van

Classifications

• E21B10/20 Primary

  characterised by detachable or adjustable parts, e.g. legs or axles · CPC title

• E21B10/62 Primary

  characterised by parts, e.g. cutting elements, which are detachable or adjustable (E21B10/64 takes precedence; for roller bits E21B10/20; for augers E21B10/44) · CPC title

• F16B39/06

  with a pin or staple parallel to the bolt axis · CPC title

• E21B10/00

  Drill bits (specially adapted for deflecting the direction of boring {E21B7/064}; with means for collecting substances E21B27/00) · CPC title