System and method for controlling linear movement using a tapered MR valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9982532-B2
Application number	US-201514921160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2015
Priority date	May 9, 2012
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

A tapered magnetorheological (MR) valve includes a first fixed housing that remains in a fixed position along a central axis of the tapered MR valve. The first fixed housing defines a first surface of a MR fluid channel that is at an angle with respect to the central axis of the tapered MR valve. A second housing moves linearly along the central axis of the tapered MR valve. The second housing defines a second surface of the MR fluid channel that is at the angle with respect to the central axis of the tapered MR valve. The first fixed housing and the second housing together define a first MR fluid chamber and a second MR fluid chamber interconnected by the MR fluid channel. The second housing moves linearly between a first position and a second position along the central axis of the tapered MR valve. The distance between the first surface of the MR fluid channel and the second surface of the MR fluid channel has a first value at the first position and a second value greater that the first value at the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tapered magnetorheological (MR) valve, comprising:
a first fixed housing that remains in a fixed position along a central axis of the tapered MR valve, the first fixed housing defining a first surface of a MR fluid channel that is at an angle with respect to the central axis of the tapered MR valve;
a second housing that moves linearly along the central axis of the tapered MR valve, the second housing defining a second surface of the MR fluid channel that is at the angle with respect to the central axis of the tapered MR valve;
wherein the first fixed housing and the second housing together define a first MR fluid chamber and a second MR fluid chamber interconnected by the MR fluid channel; and
wherein the second housing moves linearly between a first position and a second position along the central axis of the tapered MR valve, the distance between the first surface of the MR fluid channel and the second surface of the MR fluid channel having a first value at the first position and a second value greater that the first value at the second position.

2. The tapered MR valve of claim 1 further comprising:
a coil wire for generating a magnetic field responsive to a received signal, the magnetic field altering a viscosity of MR fluid; and
wherein the first fixed housing further defines at least one slot for containing the coil wire.

3. The tapered MR valve of claim 2 , wherein the received signal is applied to the coil wire when the second housing is in the first position when the distance within the MR fluid channel is the first value.

4. The tapered MR valve of claim 2 , wherein the received signal is not applied to the coil and the second housing is allowed to move to the second position when more rapid flow of the MR fluid through the MR fluid channel is required.

5. The tapered MR valve of claim 1 , wherein the second housing further includes:
a first seal carrier forming a first seal between the second housing and the first fixed housing to maintain MR fluid within the first MR fluid chamber; and
a second seal carrier forming a second seal between the second housing and the first fixed housing to maintain the MR fluid within the second MR fluid chamber.

6. The tapered MR valve of claim 1 , wherein the first fixed housing comprises a first annular fixed housing and the second housing comprises a second annular housing.

7. The tapered MR valve of claim 1 , wherein the second housing defines an opening along the central axis of the tapered MR valve for receiving a rotating drive shaft.

8. A system, comprising:
a movement mechanism configured to use mechanical energy provided by a mechanical energy source to enable translational movement of a first surface relative to a second surface to allow the first surface to repeatedly impact the second surface to produce a plurality of vibration beats;
a tapered MR valve to selectively control the impact of the first surface with the second surface, the tapered MR valve comprising:
a first fixed housing that remains in a fixed position along a central axis of the tapered MR valve with respect to the movement mechanism, the first fixed housing defining a first surface of a MR fluid channel that is at an angle with respect to the central axis of the tapered MR valve;
a second housing that moves linearly along the central axis of the tapered MR valve along with the first surface, the second housing defining a second surface of the MR fluid channel that is at the angle with respect to the central axis of the tapered MR valve;
wherein the first fixed housing and the second housing together define a first MR fluid chamber and a second MR fluid chamber interconnected by the MR fluid channel; and
wherein the second housing moves linearly between a first position and a second position along the central axis of the tapered MR valve along with the first plate, the distance between the first surface of the MR fluid channel and the second surface of the MR fluid channel having a first value at the first position and a second value greater that the first value at the second position.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:
a coil wire for generating a magnetic field responsive to a received signal, the magnetic field altering a viscosity of MR fluid; and
wherein the first fixed housing further defines at least one slot for containing the coil wire.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the received signal is applied to the coil wire when the second housing is in the first position when the distance within the MR fluid channel is the first value to prevent the first surface from impacting the second surface.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the received signal is not applied to the coil and the second housing is allowed to move to the second position when more rapid flow of the MR fluid through the MR fluid channel is required to increase the impact between the first face and the second face.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second housing further includes:
a first seal carrier forming a first seal between the second housing and the first fixed housing to maintain MR fluid within the first MR fluid chamber; and
a second seal carrier forming a second seal between the second housing and the first fixed housing to maintain the MR fluid within the second MR fluid chamber.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first fixed housing comprises a first annular fixed housing and the second housing comprises a second annular housing.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second housing defines an opening along the central axis of the tapered MR valve for receiving a rotating drive shaft of a borehole assembly.

15. A method for controlling linear movement of a mechanical device using a tapered magnetorheological (MR) valve, comprising:
maintaining a first fixed housing in a fixed position along a central axis of the tapered MR valve, the first fixed housing defining a first surface of a MR fluid channel that is at an angle with respect to the central axis of the tapered MR valve;
moving linearly along the central axis of the tapered MR valve a second housing to a first position, the second housing defining a second surface of the MR fluid channel that is at the angle with respect to the central axis of the tapered MR valve, a distance between the first surface of the MR fluid channel and the second surface of the MR fluid channel having a first value at the first position to restrict flow through the MR fluid channel between a first MR fluid chamber and a second MR fluid chamber; and
moving linearly along the central axis of the tapered MR valve the second housing to a second position, the distance between the first surface of the MR fluid channel and the second surface of the MR fluid channel having a second value at the second position to facilitate flow through the MR fluid channel between the first MR fluid chamber and the second MR fluid chamber.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising generating a magnetic field responsive to a received signal, the magnetic field altering a consistency of MR fluid.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising applying the received signal to the coil wire when the second housing is in the first position when the distance within the MR fluid channel is the first value to restrict flow through the MR fluid channel.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising de-energizing the coil wire and moving the second housing to the second position when more rapid flow of the MR fluid through the MR fluid channel is required.

Assignees

• Hunt Advanced Drilling Tech Llc
• Hunt Energy Entpr Llc

Inventors

• Benson Todd W
• Ahmed Mohamed Ali
• Hussey Justin

Classifications

• E21B34/066

  electrically actuated · CPC title

• E21B49/003

  by analysing drilling variables or conditions (E21B49/005 takes precedence; systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions E21B44/00) · CPC title

• E21B47/16 Primary

  through the drill string or casing {, e.g. by torsional acoustic waves} · CPC title

• E21B28/00

  Vibration generating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for stimulating production ({for fishing for or freeing objects E21B31/005;} for transmitting measuring-signals E21B47/14; for geophysical measurements G01V1/02) · CPC title

• E21B34/00

  Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells · CPC title