Magnetic switch and uses thereof in wellbores

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9771778-B2
Application number	US-201414254408-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2014
Priority date	Apr 16, 2014
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

In one aspect, an apparatus for use in a wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment includes a string for placement in the wellbore and a switch on an outside of the string, wherein the switch includes a plurality of magnetic elements that provide a continuous electrical when the plurality of magnetic elements are aligned by an externally applied magnetic field. In one embodiment, the switch includes a channel that houses the plurality of magnetic elements that remain unaligned until the magnetic elements are aligned by the externally applied magnetic field.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising:
a string for placement in the wellbore; and
at least one switch on an outside of the string, the switch including a ring having a circumferential channel on its outer periphery and a plurality of magnetic elements within the channel that provide a continuous electrical connection when the plurality of magnetic elements are aligned along a center of a channel by a magnetic field.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the channel houses the plurality of magnetic elements and electrical terminals, wherein aligned plurality of magnetic elements in the center of the channel form the continuous electrical connection between the electrical terminals.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of magnetic elements align when the magnetic field is applied to the plurality of magnetic elements and unalign when the magnetic field is removed or reduced to an insufficient level.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the channel is selected from a group consisting of: a v-channel with a cover; and a u-channel with a cover.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a running tool configured to be conveyed inside the string, the running tool including at least one magnet configured to align the plurality of magnetic element to provide the continuous electrical connection.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
the at least one switch includes at least three spaced apart switches, wherein each such switch includes a plurality of magnetic elements that when are aligned provide a continuous electrical connection; and
the running tool includes at least two spaced apart magnets wherein one of such magnets is positioned to align the magnetic elements of one of the switches and the other of such magnets is positioned to align the magnetic elements of another of the switches at the same time.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a circuit coupled to the at least one switch that provides an electrical output when the magnetic elements of the at least one switch are aligned.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the circuit is coupled to the at least three switches and wherein the circuit provides an electrical output when magnetic elements of two of the three switches are aligned and the magnetic elements of the third switch are unaligned.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising at least one device that is operated in the wellbore when the at least one switch provides the electrical output.

10. A magnetic switch comprising:
a circular member having a groove formed around its outer periphery; and
a plurality of magnetic elements that are unaligned until aligned into a bottom of the groove by an external magnetic field, wherein the aligned magnetic elements provide a continuous electrical connection.

11. The switch of claim 10 , wherein the switch further comprises a ring that includes the groove and connection members in the groove at ends of the continuous electrical connection.

12. The switch of claim 11 , wherein the groove is lined with an electrically insulating material and wherein the groove is selected from a group consisting of: a v-groove; and a u-groove.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the groove includes a cover to contain the plurality of magnetic elements with the groove.

14. A method of providing an electrical connection in a wellbore, comprising:
providing a string for placement in the wellbore; and
placing at least one switch on an outside of the string, the switch including a circular member having a channel formed around its outer periphery and a plurality of magnetic elements in the channel that provide a continuous electrical connection when the plurality of magnetic elements are aligned into a center of the channel by an external magnetic field.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
placing the string in the wellbore; and
aligning the plurality of magnetic elements in the at least one switch by the external magnetic field to provide the continuous electrical connection.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein aligning the plurality of magnetic elements comprises:
conveying inside the string a running tool that includes a magnet that provides sufficient magnetic field to align the magnetic elements; and
aligning the plurality of magnetic elements in the at least one switch with the magnet to provide the continuous electrical connection.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one switch includes a ring with a channel that houses the plurality of magnetic elements, and wherein the plurality of magnetic elements align within the center of the channel when the external magnetic field is applied to the plurality of magnetic elements and wherein at least one of the plurality of magnetic elements falls away from the center of the channel when the external magnetic field is removed or reduced to an insufficient level.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one switch includes at least three spaced apart switches, wherein each such switch includes a plurality of magnetic elements that are unaligned until aligned by a magnetic field to provide a continuous electrical connection, the method further comprising:
conveying a running tool having at least two spaced apart magnets configured to align the magnetic elements of at least two switches at the same time.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:
providing a circuit that includes the at least three switches that is configured to provide an electrical output when magnetic elements of two of the three switches are aligned and the magnetic elements of the third switch are unaligned.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising a circuit coupled to the at least one switch that provides an electrical output when the magnetic elements of the at least one switch are aligned.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising operating a device utilizing the electrical output from the circuit.

Assignees

• O'Connor Keven
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• O'Connor Keven

Classifications

• H01H2036/0086

  Movable or fixed contacts formed by permanent magnets · CPC title

• H01H1/065

  formed by freely suspended particles, e.g. magnetic dust or balls · CPC title

• E21B41/00 Primary

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