Spline insert for a downhole tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10450803-B2
Application number	US-201916244365-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2019
Priority date	Jul 15, 2014
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 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 between a first inner side surface of the body and a second inner side surface of the body, wherein a distance between the first inner side surface of the body and the second inner side surface of the body is greater nearer a longitudinal axis of the body than an outer radial surface of the body;
a spline insert coupled to the body adjacent or at least partially within the recess, the spline insert including:
a first outer side surface being proximate the first inner side surface of the body;
a second outer side surface being proximate the second inner side surface of the body;
an opening therein between opposing first and second inner side surfaces of the spline insert;
at least one spline, including a first spline formed on the first inner side surface of the spline insert and a second spline formed on the second inner side surface of the spline insert; and

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

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

3. The expandable tool of claim 1 , wherein each spline of the at least one spline comprises first and second outer surfaces oriented at an angle between 45° and 135° relative to one another.

4. A method, comprising:
removing a first spline insert from within a recess in a body of a downhole tool having at least a first expandable member configured to expand radially between retracted and expanded positions; and
inserting a second spline insert at least partially into the recess in the body, the first and second spline inserts each including a spline configured to engage the first expandable member, wherein inserting the second spline insert at least partially into the recess in the body includes coupling the second spline insert to the body using a mechanical fastener inserted through a bore in the body and a bore in the second spline insert.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
engaging the spline of the second spline insert with a spline of the first expandable member.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein inserting the second spline insert at least partially into the recess in the body further includes coupling the second spline insert to the body using an interlocking connection or a mechanical fastener.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein inserting the second spline insert at least partially into the recess in the body further includes:
moving the second spline insert through an axial bore in the body; and
moving the second spline insert radially outward from the axial bore at least partially into the recess.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the splines of the first and second spline inserts comprise first and second outer surfaces oriented at an angle between 45° and 135° relative to one another.

9. A downhole tool, comprising:
a body having a recess formed in an outer surface thereof;
a cutter block within the recess in the body, the cutter block including opposing sides and at least one spline on each of the opposing sides thereof, the at least one spline on each opposing side of the cutter block being configured to be used to radially expand and retract the cutter block relative to the body; and
at least one spline insert replaceably coupled to the body, the at least one spline insert engaging the at least one spline on each of the opposing sides of the cutter block, wherein the at least one spline insert includes an opening between opposing inner side surfaces coupled to a base of the at least one spline insert, and the opening extends fully through the base.

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

13. The downhole tool of claim 9 , a first outer side surface of the at least one spline insert being proximate a first inner side surface of the body and a second outer side surface of the at least one spline insert being proximate a second inner side surface of the body, a distance between the first and second outer side surfaces being greater nearer a longitudinal axis of the body than an outer radial surface of the body.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B23P15/46

  reaming tools · CPC title

• E21B10/32 Primary

  with expansible cutting tools · CPC title