Adaptive tractor wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11047190-B2
Application number	US-201816343714-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2018
Priority date	Jul 2, 2018
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

Provided are tractor wheels for a downhole tractor. An example tractor wheel comprises a series of continuous springs disposed on the circumference of the tractor wheel, wherein the individual continuous springs in the series of continuous springs are separated by a gap, and a void disposed on the interior of the tractor wheel and that is continuous about the circumference of the tractor wheel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tractor wheel for a downhole tractor, the tractor wheel comprising:
a series of continuous springs disposed on the circumference of the tractor wheel, wherein the individual continuous springs in the series of continuous springs are separated by a gap,
a void disposed on the interior of the tractor wheel and that is continuous about the circumference of the tractor wheel, and
a series of discontinuous springs disposed on the interior of the tractor wheel; wherein each discontinuous spring is discontinuous in that it comprises two separate members that face each other.

2. The tractor wheel of claim 1 , wherein the void is a first void; and wherein the tractor wheel further comprises a second void disposed between the series of continuous springs and the series of discontinuous springs.

3. The tractor wheel of claim 2 , wherein the first void is filled with a filler material comprising a rubber or a rubber and metal composite.

4. The tractor wheel of claim 1 , wherein the void is filled with a filler material comprising a rubber or a rubber and metal composite.

5. The tractor wheel of claim 1 , wherein the individual continuous springs in the series of continuous springs alternate with the individual discontinuous springs in the series of discontinuous springs; wherein at least a portion of the continuous springs are coupled to a body of the tractor wheel.

6. The tractor wheel of claim 5 , wherein the void is filled with a filler material comprising a rubber or a rubber and metal composite.

7. The tractor wheel of claim 1 , further comprising a tread comprising a series of alternating forward-facing raised curves and backward-facing raised curves having terminal ends; wherein the terminal ends of each forward-facing raised curve is disposed in the open bend of each adjacent backward-facing raised curve; wherein the terminal ends of each backward-facing raised curve is disposed in the open bend of each adjacent forward-facing raised curve.

8. The tractor wheel of claim 1 , further comprising a tread comprising a continuous serpentine-shaped raised curve with raised posts disposed in each open bend.

9. A method for tractoring in a wellbore, the method comprising:
providing a downhole tractor comprising a tractor wheel comprising:
a series of continuous springs disposed on the circumference of the tractor wheel, wherein the individual continuous springs in the series of continuous springs are separated by a gap,
a void disposed on the interior of the tractor wheel and that is continuous about the circumference of the tractor wheel; and
a tread comprising a series of alternating forward-facing raised curves and backward-facing raised curves having terminal ends; wherein the terminal ends of each forward-facing raised curve is disposed in the open bend of each adjacent backward-facing raised curve; and wherein the terminal ends of each backward-facing raised curve is disposed in the open bend of each adjacent forward-facing raised curve;

introducing the downhole tractor into the wellbore; and
propelling the downhole tractor in the wellbore.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the wellbore comprises a conduit; wherein the tractor wheel contacts the surface of the conduit; wherein the conduit comprises an open hole portion of the wellbore, a casing, or a tubing.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the tractor wheel further comprises a series of discontinuous springs disposed on the interior of the tractor wheel; wherein each discontinuous spring is discontinuous in that it comprises two separate members that face each other; wherein the void is a first void; and wherein the tractor wheel further comprises a second void disposed between the series of continuous springs and the series of discontinuous springs.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the tractor wheel further comprises a series of discontinuous springs; wherein the individual continuous springs in the series of continuous springs alternate with the individual discontinuous springs in the series of discontinuous springs; and wherein at least a portion of the continuous springs are coupled to a body of the tractor wheel.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the void is filled with a filler material comprising a rubber or a rubber and metal composite.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising a tread comprising a continuous serpentine-shaped raised curve with raised posts disposed in each open bend.

15. A system for tractoring in a wellbore, the system comprising:
a downhole tractor comprising a tractor wheel comprising:
a series of continuous springs disposed on the circumference of the tractor wheel, wherein the individual continuous springs in the series of continuous springs are separated by a gap, and
a void disposed on the interior of the tractor wheel and that is continuous about the circumference of the tractor wheel;
a tread comprising a series of alternating forward-facing raised curves and backward-facing raised curves having terminal ends; wherein the terminal ends of each forward-facing raised curve is disposed in the open bend of each adjacent backward-facing raised curve; and wherein the terminal ends of each backward-facing raised curve is disposed in the open bend of each adjacent forward-facing raised curve; and

a conduit disposed in the wellbore; wherein the tractor wheel is configured to contact the surface of the conduit; wherein the conduit comprises an open hole portion of the wellbore, a casing, or a tubing.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the tractor wheel further comprises a series of discontinuous springs disposed on the interior of the tractor wheel; wherein each discontinuous spring is discontinuous in that it comprises two separate members that face each other; wherein the void is a first void; and wherein the tractor wheel further comprises a second void disposed between the series of continuous springs and the series of discontinuous springs.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the tractor wheel further comprises a series of discontinuous springs; wherein the individual continuous springs in the series of continuous springs alternate with the individual discontinuous springs in the series of discontinuous springs; and wherein at least a portion of the continuous springs are coupled to a body of the tractor wheel.

18. The tractor wheel of claim 4 , wherein the rubber and metal composite is a wire mesh.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the rubber and metal composite is a wire mesh.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the void is filled with a filler material comprising a rubber or a rubber and metal composite.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Saint Germain Jean G
• Herrera Adan
• Chinwanawich Tanest

Classifications

• B60C7/143

  having a lateral extension disposed in a plane parallel to the wheel axis · CPC title

• E21B41/00

  Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00 · CPC title

• B60C2200/00

  Tyres specially adapted for particular applications · CPC title

• B60C2011/0386

  Continuous ribs · CPC title

• B60C11/11

  in which the raised area of the pattern consists only of isolated elements, e.g. blocks (B60C11/12, B60C11/13 take precedence) · CPC title