Spline insert for a downhole tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10190367-B2
Application number	US-201514797341-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2015
Priority date	Jul 15, 2014
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

An expandable tool includes a body and a recess extending at least partially through the body from an outer radial surface of the body. A spline insert may be at least partially positioned in the recess and coupled to the body. The spline insert may include a single spline or multiple splines. A cutter block or other expandable member may be at least partially positioned in the recess. The cutter block or other expandable member may include a spline on a side surface thereof, which spline may be engaged with the one or more splines of the spline insert. Engagement between one or more splines of the spline insert and spline of the cutter block or other expandable member may allow the expandable member to move radially outward from a retracted position to an expanded position, and vice versa.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An expandable tool, comprising:
a body having a recess therein;
a spline insert coupled to the body adjacent or at least partially within the recess, the spline insert including at least one spline, the spline insert further including first and second wings circumferentially offset from one another with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body, the at least one spline of the spline insert including:
a first spline on the first wing; and
a second spline on the second wing;

a first expandable member at least partially positioned in the recess and configured to move radially between a retracted position and an expanded position, the first expandable member including a spline on a side surface, the spline of the first expandable member being engaged with the first spline on the first wing of the spline insert to facilitate radial movement of the expandable member relative to the body; and
a second expandable member having a spline engaged with the second spline on the second wing of the spline insert.

2. The expandable tool of claim 1 , the spline insert including at least two separate spline inserts engaged with the spline of the first expandable member.

3. The expandable tool of claim 1 , the spline insert including at least two splines sharing a common base.

4. The expandable tool of claim 1 , the spline insert being configured to be removed from the body and replaced with another spline insert.

5. A method, comprising:
removing a first spline insert from within a recess in a body of a downhole tool having at least two expandable members configured to expand radially between retracted and expanded positions, the first spline insert including first and second wings circumferentially offset from one another with respect to a longitudinal axis of the downhole tool, the first spline insert including a first spline on the first wing engaged with a first one of the at least two expandable members a second spline on the second wing engaged with a second one of the at least two expandable members; and
inserting a second spline insert at least partially into the recess in the body, the second spline insert including at least one spline configured to engage the first one of the at least two expandable members.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
engaging the at least one spline of the second spline insert with a spline of the second one of the at least two expandable members.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein inserting the second spline insert at least partially into the recess in the body further includes coupling a base of the second spline insert to the body using an interlocking connection or a mechanical fastener.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising at least one of:
re-facing at least a portion of a first surface of the at least one spline of the second spline insert after the at least one spline of the second spline insert is damaged, thereby forming a new, undamaged spline surface; or
forming an additional spline on each of opposing inner side surfaces of the second spline insert after the downhole tool has been used in a wellbore.

9. A downhole tool, comprising:
a body having a recess formed in an outer surface thereof;
at least two cutter blocks within the recess in the body, each of the at least two cutter blocks including at least one spline configured to be used to radially expand and retract the at least two cutter blocks relative to the body; and
at least one spline insert replaceably coupled to the body, the at least one spline insert engaging at least one spline of each of the at least two cutter blocks, the at least one spline insert including first and second wings circumferentially offset from one another with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body, the at least one spline including:
a first spline on the first wing engaged with the at least one spline of a first cutter block of the at least two cutter blocks; and
a second spline of the second wing engaged with the at least one spline of a second cutter block of the at least two cutter blocks.

10. The downhole tool of claim 9 , the at least one spline insert including a plurality of splines coupled to a common base.

11. The downhole tool of claim 9 , the body including a slot configured to receive the at least one spline insert therein.

12. The downhole tool of claim 9 , the at least one spline insert engaging at least one spline on a single side surface of the first cutter block.

13. The downhole tool of claim 9 , the at least one spline insert including a plurality of splines having first and second outer surfaces oriented at an angle between 45° and 135° relative to one another.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Barnhouse James A
• Mahajan Manoj D
• Salvo Vincente S
• Burdett Timothy A
• Burhan Yuri Y
• Hora Kenneth D

Classifications

• B23P15/46

  reaming tools · CPC title

• E21B10/32 Primary

  with expansible cutting tools · CPC title