Electromagnetic well bore robot conveyance system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10385657-B2
Application number	US-201615251838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2016
Priority date	Aug 30, 2016
Publication date	Aug 20, 2019
Grant date	Aug 20, 2019

Abstract

A well bore robot is configured to travel along an magnetic track element. The magnetic track element includes a plurality of track magnets. The well bore robot includes a robot body and at least one robot magnet. The robot magnet is disposed within the robot body and configured to magnetically and alternatingly engage and disengage with the track magnets. Alternating engagement and disengagement of the robot magnet with the track magnets conveys the well bore robot along the magnetic track element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A well bore robot conveyance system comprising:
a magnetic track element comprising a plurality of track magnets, at least one power transfer line configured to energize and de-energize said plurality of electromagnets, a latch configured to cease conveyance of said well bore robot at a predetermined location, and at least one data transfer line configured to receive data transferred from said at least one data transfer brush;
a well bore robot comprising a robot body, at least one robot magnet with a constantly alternating polarity disposed within said robot body, said at least one robot magnet configured to magnetically and alternatingly engage and disengage with said plurality of track magnets, wherein alternating engagement and disengagement of said at least one track magnet with said plurality of track magnets conveys said well bore robot along said magnetic track element, and at least one data transfer brush disposed within said robot body, said at least one data transfer brush configured to transfer data collected by said well bore robot; and
a power source, said power source and said at least one power transfer line are configured to energize and de-energize said plurality of electromagnets, wherein said latch comprises at least one cantilever configured in an open position when said power source and said at least one power transfer line are not coupled in electrical communication with said plurality of electromagnets.

2. The well bore robot conveyance system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said latch comprises at least one cantilever configured in a closed position when said power source and said at least one power transfer line are coupled in electrical communication with said plurality of electromagnets.

3. The well bore robot conveyance system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said well bore robot further comprises at least one brush positioned on an outer surface of said robot body, said at least one brush configured to clean a well.

4. The well bore robot conveyance system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said well bore robot further comprises at least one data collection module disposed within said robot body, said at least one data collection module configured to collect data.

5. The well bore robot conveyance system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said well bore robot further comprises at least one data storage module disposed within said robot body and coupled in data transfer communication with said at least one data collection module, said at least one data storage module configured to store data collected by said at least one data collection module.

6. The well bore robot conveyance system in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said well bore robot further comprises at least one battery disposed within said robot body, said at least one battery configured to power said at least one data collection module and said at least one data storage module.

7. The well bore robot conveyance system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said well bore robot further comprises at least one control unit, said at least one control unit comprises at least one of a chip, an integrated circuit, or a plurality of electronic circuits configured to process data, said at least one control unit configured to control at least one of said least one data collection module, said at least one data storage module, said at least one data transfer brush, or said at least one battery.

8. The well bore robot conveyance system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said well bore robot further comprises at least one wheel coupled to said robot body, said at least one wheel configured to convey said well bore robot along the magnetic track element.

9. The well bore robot conveyance system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said well bore robot further comprises at least one retrieval flap, said at least one retrieval flap configured to assist the plurality of track magnets and at least one robot magnet to convey said well bore robot in a first direction along the magnetic track element.

10. The well bore robot conveyance system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said robot body defines at least one of a spherical shape, a cylindrical shape, a capsule shape, a cubical shape or an annular shape.

11. The well bore robot conveyance system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said magnetic track element further comprises a computer configured to receive data transferred from said at least one data transfer line.

12. The well bore robot conveyance system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said robot magnet comprises an electromagnet and said plurality of track magnets comprises a plurality of permanent magnets.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Nuryaningsih Lily
• Sharber Dustin Michael
• Joshi Mahendra Ladharam
• Xuele Qi
• Potts Jeffrey Robert
• George Matthew Landon

Classifications

• Y10S901/19

  Drive system for arm · CPC title

• F16L2101/30

  Inspecting, measuring or testing · CPC title

• Y10S901/01

  Mobile robot · CPC title

• F16L55/30

  of the propulsion means, e.g. towed by cables · CPC title

• E21B23/14 Primary

  for displacing a cable or a cable-operated tool, e.g. for logging or perforating operations in deviated wells · CPC title