Device and method for retaining probe exterior wear sleeve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10641081-B2
Application number	US-201615550113-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2016
Priority date	Feb 24, 2015
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

Abstract

A device and method for retaining a sacrificial wear sleeve on the exterior of an in-pipe device such as an electronics package or probe. In one embodiment, the retention mechanism comprises a ring having a protuberance or lip extending parallel to and against the end of the sleeve, thus pressing the end of the sleeve against the external surface of the device. This has the advantage, in situations where fluids are flowing through the pipe and around the device, of reducing the risk of fluids moving beneath the sleeve and damaging it and/or the underlying device external surface. In another embodiment, the retention mechanism is of unitary construction with the device itself and comprises a protuberance or lip extending parallel to and against the end of the sleeve, thus pressing the end of the sleeve against the external surface of the device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising a wear assembly and a downhole probe, the downhole probe for positioning within an interior space of a conduit, the apparatus comprising:
a downhole probe having an external surface;
a wear member comprising a deformable sacrificial sleeve of a plastic material sized and configured for slip-fit engagement with the external surface of the downhole probe; and
a retention member comprising at least one projection extending adjacent the sacrificial sleeve, the retention member configured to press against at least a portion of an outer surface of the sacrificial sleeve such that an inner surface of the sacrificial sleeve is pressed against the external surface of the probe.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one projection comprises a lip extending in a downstream direction, the lip configured to press a portion of an upstream end of the sacrificial sleeve against the external surface of the probe.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one projection comprises a circumferential lip extending around the probe and generally parallel to the external surface of the probe, the circumferential lip configured to press a portion of the upstream end of the sacrificial sleeve against the external surface of the probe.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the probe comprises an electronics package.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retention member is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of beryllium copper and stainless steel.

6. An apparatus comprising a wear assembly and a downhole probe, the probe for positioning within an interior space of a conduit, the apparatus comprising:
a downhole probe having an external surface;
a deformable sacrificial sleeve of a plastic material sized and configured for slip-fit engagement with the external surface of the probe; and
at least one retention member;
the at least one retention member comprising at least one protuberance for securing an upstream end of the sleeve against the external surface of the probe.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the sleeve is composed of a plastic material, the plastic material deformable when fluid flowing through the conduit flows under the upstream end of the sleeve, the protuberance sized and configured to retain the upstream end of the sleeve against the external surface of the probe to reduce the flow of the fluid under the upstream end of the sleeve.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the probe comprises an electronics package.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the at least one retention member is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of beryllium copper and stainless steel.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the conduit comprises a gap sub assembly and the sleeve is composed of an electrically insulative material.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the electrically insulative material is selected from the group consisting of polyphenylene sulfide, polyethylene terephthalate and polyether ether ketone.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the at least one protuberance comprises a circumferential lip adjacent the sleeve.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the probe comprises a shoulder for abutting engagement with the upstream end of the sleeve.

14. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising at least one downstream retention member for securing a downstream end of the sleeve against the external surface of the probe.

15. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:
the sacrificial sleeve comprises upstream and downstream sleeves sized and configured for slip-fit engagement with the external surface, the upstream and downstream sleeves configured for positioning adjacent one another; and
further comprising downstream and central retention members;
the at least one retention member for securing an upstream end of the upstream sleeve against the external surface, the downstream retention member for securing a downstream end of the downstream sleeve against the external surface, and the central retention member for securing both a downstream end of the upstream sleeve and an upstream end of the downstream sleeve against the external surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:
the downstream retention member comprises at least one protuberance for securing the downstream end of the downstream sleeve against the external surface, and
the central retention member comprises at least two protuberances, one for securing each of the downstream end of the upstream sleeve and the upstream end of the downstream sleeve against the external surface.

17. A gap sub for insertion in a drill string, the gap sub comprising:
a male member;
a female member;
an electrically insulative gap member configured for positioning between the male and female members;
the male and female members and the gap member when connected forming an interior space;
an electronics package for positioning partially within the interior space, the electronics package having an external surface;
a deformable sacrificial sleeve of a plastic material for slip-fit engagement with the external surface; and
at least one retention member sized and configured to secure an upstream end of the sleeve against the external surface and reduce introduction under the sleeve of fluid flowing through the gap sub.

18. The gap sub of claim 17 wherein the at least one retention member comprises at least one protuberance for bearing against the upstream end of the sleeve to press the upstream end against the external surface.

19. The gap sub of claim 18 wherein the protuberance comprises a circumferential lip.

Assignees

• Evolution Engineering Inc

Inventors

• Stack Luke Anthony
• Logan Aaron William
• Logan Justin Christopher

Classifications

• E21B47/011 Primary

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• E21B47/017 Primary

  Protecting measuring instruments · CPC title