A hydraulic drive signal generating device and control method thereof

Abstract

This article provides a hydraulic drive signal generating device and control method thereof, wherein a controller is configured to control a hydraulic pump to pump hydraulic oil to a solenoid valve. The controller is also configured to control the opening of the first and second ports of the solenoid valve and the closing of the third port during a first time period to allow hydraulic oil to flow into the first cylinder, and to control the opening of the first and third ports and the closing of the second port during a second time period to allow hydraulic oil to flow into the second cylinder, thereby causing the hydraulic piston to reciprocate within the hydraulic cylinder. The signal generating mechanism includes a swing valve connected to the hydraulic cylinder and a fixed valve connected to the piston rod. A transmission conversion structure converts the linear reciprocating motion of the piston rod into rotational motion of the swing valve relative to the fixed valve in a first direction during the first time period and in a second direction during the second time period. The swing valve in this invention responds quickly to starting, braking, and reversing, and achieves precise control of its rotation, thereby improving the stability of signal generation and transmission.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of drilling equipment, in particular to a hydraulic drive signal generating device and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the advancement of petroleum engineering, several parameter sensors for formation evaluation have been added to the existing Measurement While Drilling (MWD) system, such as compensated dual-lateral resistivity, natural gamma, azimuthal neutron density, acoustic waves, and compensated neutron density. Systems comprised of these instruments are often referred to as Logging While Drilling (LWD). MWD and LWD are key technologies for acquiring, interpreting, and making on-site decisions in high-angle and horizontal well drilling, as well as guiding geo-steering drilling. By integrating multiple disciplines, including logging, well logging, drilling, and reservoir characterization, they simplify drilling procedures, reduce costs, improve drilling accuracy, facilitate adjustments to drilling designs, and enhance oil recovery, becoming an essential component of drilling operations.

[0003] Downhole information is transmitted through several methods, including mud pulses, electromagnetic waves, acoustic waves, drill string, and vibration. Positive mud pulse transmission is the most widely used. While positive pulse transmission is relatively stable, its transmission rate is low, and the amount of data transmitted per unit time is small, limiting the number of downhole instruments that can be connected. Consequently, valve-type mud pulsers, which can generate positive pulses and continuous wave pulse signals, are gaining increasing attention. While the continuous wave capability improves signal transmission rates, valve-type mud pulsers face significant challenges in structural sealing, design reliability, and the performance and lifespan of their swing valves, all of which are severely tested by the high-temperature, high-pressure working environment downhole. Loss of rotation of the swing valve can lead to signal loss, compromising signal transmission quality.

[0004] In view of this, this paper aims to provide a hydraulic drive signal generating device and a control method thereof, which can improve the stability of signal transmission while increasing the signal transmission rate. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above problems in the prior art, the purpose of this article is to provide a hydraulic drive signal generating device and a control method thereof to solve the problem in the prior art that signal transmission efficiency and transmission stability cannot be achieved at the same time.

[0006] In order to solve the above technical problems, the specific technical solutions of this article are as follows:

[0007] On the one hand, this article provides a hydraulic drive signal generating device, including a hydraulic drive mechanism and a signal generating mechanism;

[0008] The hydraulic drive mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic piston, a piston rod, a controller, and a solenoid valve and a hydraulic pump electrically connected to the controller. The hydraulic piston is arranged in the hydraulic cylinder and divides the hydraulic cylinder into a first cylinder body and a second cylinder body; one end of the piston rod is connected to the hydraulic piston, and the other end of the piston rod extends out of the hydraulic cylinder and is connected to the signal generating mechanism; the solenoid valve includes a first port connected to an oil tank, a second port connected to the first cylinder body, and a third port connected to the second cylinder body. The controller is used to control the hydraulic pump to pump hydraulic oil from the oil tank to the solenoid valve. The controller is also used to control the first and second ports to open and the third port to close during a first time period so that the hydraulic oil flows into the first cylinder body, and to control the first and third ports to open and the second port to close during a second time period so that the hydraulic oil flows into the second cylinder body, so that the hydraulic piston reciprocates in the hydraulic cylinder, and the first time period and the second time period are set at intervals.

[0009] The signal generating mechanism includes a swing valve and a fixed valve, the fixed valve is fixedly connected to the hydraulic cylinder, and the swing valve is connected to the piston rod via a transmission conversion structure. The transmission conversion structure is used to convert the linear reciprocating movement of the piston rod into a rotational movement of the swing valve relative to the fixed valve in a first direction within a first time period and a rotational movement in a second direction within a second time period.

[0010] Specifically, the hydraulic drive mechanism further includes a first directional control valve and a second directional control valve;

[0011] The first directional control valve and the second directional control valve are both electrically connected to the controller, the first directional control valve is arranged between the first cylinder body and the second port, and the second directional control valve is arranged between the second cylinder body and the third port; the controller is used to control the first directional control valve to work and the second directional control valve to not work during a first time period to prevent the hydraulic oil in the first cylinder body from flowing back to the solenoid valve; the controller is also used to control the first directional control valve to not work and the second directional control valve to work during a second time period to prevent the hydraulic oil in the second cylinder body from flowing back to the solenoid valve.

[0012] Furthermore, the hydraulic drive mechanism further includes a pressure relief valve;

[0013] The pressure relief valve is electrically connected to the controller and is arranged on the oil circuit between the oil tank and the hydraulic cylinder. The pressure relief valve is used to detect the oil pressure of the oil circuit and send it to the controller; the controller is also used to control the pressure relief operation of the pressure relief valve to allow the hydraulic oil in the oil circuit to flow back to the oil tank when the oil pressure exceeds a preset pressure threshold.

[0014] Furthermore, the hydraulic drive mechanism further includes a reset structure;

[0015] The reset structure is arranged in the first cylinder body and / or the second cylinder body.

[0016] Preferably, the reset structure is a reset spring, one end of the reset spring is connected to the hydraulic piston, and the other end of the reset spring is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the hydraulic cylinder.

[0017] Specifically, a connecting guide portion is formed on a side of the hydraulic cylinder close to the signal generating mechanism. The connecting guide portion is provided with a through hole for the piston rod to pass through. The hydraulic cylinder and the fixed valve are connected via the connecting guide portion.

[0018] Furthermore, the fixed valve is provided with a cavity for accommodating the transmission conversion structure, and an opening is provided at one end of the fixed valve away from the connecting guide portion, the opening is communicated with the cavity, and the transmission conversion structure at least partially extends from the opening and is fixedly connected to the swing valve; the fixed valve is also provided with a limiting structure, and the limiting structure is used to limit the movement of the transmission conversion structure.

[0019] Preferably, a sealing structure is further provided between the fixed valve and the connecting guide portion.

[0020] Specifically, one end of the piston rod connected to the transmission conversion structure is a screw rod, and the transmission conversion structure is provided with a self-locking structure; the self-locking structure cooperates with the screw rod to convert the linear reciprocating movement of the piston rod into the rotational movement of the swing valve in a unidirectional manner.

[0021] In a second aspect, this article further provides a control method, which is applied to a hydraulic drive signal generator provided by the above technical solution, and the method comprises:

[0022] generating a start signal to the hydraulic pump to control the hydraulic pump to pump the hydraulic oil stored in the oil tank to the solenoid valve;

[0023] A start signal is sent to the solenoid valve to control the first port and the second port to open and the third port to close within a first time period so that the hydraulic oil flowing to the solenoid valve flows into the first cylinder, and to control the first port and the third port to open and the second port to close within a second time period so that the hydraulic oil flowing to the solenoid valve flows into the second cylinder, so that the hydraulic piston reciprocates in the hydraulic cylinder and the swing valve rotates in a first direction relative to the fixed valve within the first time period and in a second direction within the second time period.

[0024] By adopting the above-mentioned technical solution, the hydraulic drive signal generating device and the control method thereof described in this article can be powered by the hydraulic drive mechanism, with a large output torque, so that the swing valve can start, brake and reverse quickly and achieve precise control of the swing valve rotation, which is beneficial to improving the stability of signal generation and transmission.

[0025] In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of this article more obvious and easy to understand, the following specifically cites preferred embodiments and provides detailed descriptions in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this article or the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this article. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a hydraulic drive signal generating device provided in an embodiment of this invention is shown;

[0028] Figure 2 A control logic diagram of a hydraulic drive signal generating device provided in an embodiment of this invention is shown;

[0029] Figure 3 A structural diagram of a hydraulic drive mechanism is shown;

[0030] Figure 4 shows a signal generated by a hydraulic drive signal generating device provided in an embodiment of this invention;

[0031] Figure 5 Shows a structural schematic diagram of another hydraulic drive mechanism;

[0032] Figure 6 A partial structural diagram of a hydraulic drive signal generating device provided in an embodiment of this invention is shown;

[0033] Figure 7 A flow chart showing the steps of a control method provided in an embodiment of this invention is shown;

[0034] Figure 8 A schematic structural diagram of a control device provided in an embodiment of this invention is shown;

[0035] Figure 9 A schematic structural diagram of a computer device provided in an embodiment of this invention is shown.

[0036] Description of the accompanying symbols:

[0037] 10. Hydraulic drive mechanism;

[0038] 11. Hydraulic cylinder;

[0039] 111, first cylinder;

[0040] 112, second cylinder;

[0041] 113. Connecting guide;

[0042] 114, through hole;

[0043] 12. Hydraulic piston;

[0044] 121, piston rod;

[0045] 122, screw;

[0046] 13. Solenoid valve;

[0047] 14. Hydraulic pump;

[0048] 15. Fuel tank;

[0049] 16. First directional control valve;

[0050] 17. Second directional control valve;

[0051] 18. Pressure relief valve;

[0052] 19. Reset structure;

[0053] 20. Signal generating mechanism;

[0054] 21. Swing valve;

[0055] 22. Fixed valve;

[0056] 221, limit structure;

[0057] 222, opening;

[0058] 23. Transmission conversion structure;

[0059] 30. Controller;

[0060] 40. Drill collar jacket;

[0061] 51. Connecting sleeve;

[0062] 52. Locking ring;

[0063] 53. Anti-rotation key;

[0064] 81. First start signal sending module;

[0065] 82. Second start signal sending module;

[0066] 902. Computer equipment;

[0067] 904, processor;

[0068] 906. Memory;

[0069] 908, driving mechanism;

[0070] 910, input / output module;

[0071] 912. Input devices;

[0072] 914. Output device;

[0073] 916. Presentation equipment;

[0074] 918. Graphical User Interface;

[0075] 920, network interface;

[0076] 922, communication link;

[0077] 924. Communication bus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this document. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this document, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this document, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this document.

[0079] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," and the like in the specification and claims herein and in the accompanying drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a particular order or precedence. It should be understood that the terms used in this manner are interchangeable where appropriate so that the embodiments of the present invention described herein can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein. In addition, the terms "including" and "having," as well as any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, apparatus, product, or device comprising a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not explicitly listed or that are inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0080] The existing valve-plate mud pulser can generate continuous wave pulses, and although the signal transmission efficiency is high, under the influence of factors such as the high temperature and high pressure working environment underground, its swing valve can easily lose its rotation under the impact of mud, resulting in signal loss, making the signal transmission stability low, and its structural sealing performance and structural design reliability requirements are also high.

[0081] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem of poor signal transmission stability, the embodiments of this article provide a hydraulic drive signal method device and a control method thereof, which can improve the stability of its signal transmission while ensuring that the signal generating device has high signal transmission efficiency. Figure 1 is a structural diagram of a hydraulic drive signal generating device provided in an embodiment of this invention, specifically, Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the hydraulic drive signal generating device includes a hydraulic drive mechanism 10 and a signal generating mechanism 20;

[0082] The hydraulic drive mechanism 10 includes a hydraulic cylinder 11, a hydraulic piston 12, a piston rod 121, a controller 30, and a solenoid valve 13 and a hydraulic pump 14 electrically connected to the controller. The hydraulic piston 12 is arranged in the hydraulic cylinder 11 and divides the hydraulic cylinder 11 into a first cylinder body 111 and a second cylinder body 112; one end of the piston rod 121 is connected to the hydraulic piston 12, and the other end of the piston rod 121 extends out of the hydraulic cylinder 11 and is connected to the signal generating mechanism 20; the solenoid valve 13 includes a first port, a second port and a third port, the first port is connected to the oil tank 15 via the hydraulic pump 14, and the second port is connected to the first The first and second ports are connected to the first cylinder 111, and the third port is connected to the second cylinder 112; the controller 30 is used to control the hydraulic pump 14 to pump hydraulic oil from the oil tank 15 to the solenoid valve 13, and the controller 30 is further used to control the first and second ports to open and the third port to close during a first time period to allow the hydraulic oil to flow into the first cylinder 111, and to control the first and third ports to open and the second port to close during a second time period to allow the hydraulic oil to flow into the second cylinder 112, thereby causing the hydraulic piston 12 to reciprocate in the hydraulic cylinder 11; the first time period and the second time period are set at intervals;

[0083] The signal generating mechanism 20 includes a swing valve 21 and a fixed valve 22. The fixed valve 22 is fixedly connected to the hydraulic cylinder 11. The swing valve 21 is connected to the piston rod 121 via a transmission conversion structure 23. The transmission conversion structure 23 is used to convert the linear reciprocating movement of the piston rod 121 into rotational movement of the swing valve 21 relative to the fixed valve 22 in a first direction within a first time period and in a second direction within a second time period. The first direction is opposite to the second direction.

[0084] The oil tank 15 is used to store hydraulic oil. When receiving the start command from the controller 30, the hydraulic pump 14 works and pumps the hydraulic oil in the oil tank 15 to the solenoid valve 13 at a fixed flow rate. Under the control of the controller 30, the solenoid valve 13 controls the first port to be normally open and the second port and the third port to be opened alternately, so that the hydraulic oil flows alternately into the first cylinder 111 and the second cylinder 112, so that the reciprocating motion of the hydraulic piston 12 drives the swing valve 21 to rotate alternately in the first direction and the second direction, and then cooperates with the fixed valve 22 to continuously and stably output a force to the mud in the wellbore, and finally obtains a continuous and stable signal.

[0085] In addition, the present specification provides a hydraulic drive signal generating device, which is powered by the hydraulic drive mechanism, has a large output torque, and responds quickly to starting, braking and reversing, and can achieve precise control of the rotation of the swing valve, thereby helping to improve the quality of signal generation and transmission.

[0086] It should be noted that, during the first time period, the hydraulic oil in the second cylinder 112 does not pass through the third port of the solenoid valve when flowing back to the oil tank 15; similarly, during the second time period, the hydraulic oil in the first cylinder 111 does not pass through the second port of the solenoid valve 13 when flowing back to the oil tank 15.

[0087] like Figures 3 and 4 As shown, the hydraulic drive signal generating device provided by the embodiment of this specification, wherein the hydraulic drive mechanism 10 further includes a first directional control valve 16 and a second directional control valve 17;

[0088] The first directional control valve 16 and the second directional control valve 17 are both electrically connected to the controller 30. The first directional control valve 16 is disposed between the first cylinder 111 and the second port, while the second directional control valve 17 is disposed between the second cylinder 112 and the third port. The controller 30 is configured to control the first directional control valve 16 to operate and the second directional control valve 17 to deactivate during a first time period to prevent hydraulic oil in the first cylinder 111 from flowing back into the solenoid valve 13. The controller 30 is also configured to control the first directional control valve 16 to deactivate and the second directional control valve 17 to operate during a second time period to prevent hydraulic oil in the second cylinder 112 from flowing back into the solenoid valve 13. In other words, the first and second directional control valves 16, 17 do not operate simultaneously under the control of the controller 30. The first and second directional control valves 16, 17 ensure the stability and reliability of the power output of the hydraulic drive mechanism.

[0089] like Figure 3As shown in (a), when the second port is opened and the third port is closed, the hydraulic oil flows into the first cylinder 111, and the first directional control valve 16 operates under the control of the controller so that the hydraulic oil in the first cylinder 111 does not flow back to the solenoid valve 13; and the second directional control valve 17 does not operate so that the hydraulic oil continuously injected into the first cylinder 111 also acts to promote the discharge of the hydraulic oil in the second cylinder 112, and the hydraulic oil in the second cylinder 112 flows back to the oil tank 15; a pressure difference is formed between the first cylinder 111 and the second cylinder 112, and the hydraulic piston 12 moves from the direction of the first cylinder 111 to the direction of the second cylinder 112.

[0090] Optionally, in the embodiment of this specification, the first cylinder 111 is located on the side of the second cylinder 112 away from the signal generating mechanism 20 (of course, the positions of the first cylinder and the second cylinder can be swapped, and this specification is based on this relative position relationship for explaining the working principle). Therefore, when the hydraulic oil is injected into the first cylinder 111, the hydraulic piston 12 will push the piston rod 121 to move toward the side close to the signal generating mechanism 20, that is, Figure 3 The movement of the piston rod 121 drives the swing valve 21 of the signal generating mechanism 20 to rotate, thereby forming a relative motion with the fixed valve 22, thereby generating a force on the mud in the wellbore.

[0091] Similarly, Figure 3 As shown in (b), when the second port is closed and the third port is opened, the hydraulic oil flows into the second cylinder 112. At the same time, the controller controls the second directional control valve 17 to work while the first directional control valve 16 does not work, so that the hydraulic oil in the first cylinder 111 can smoothly flow back to the oil tank 15. The pressure in the second cylinder 112 is greater than the pressure in the first cylinder 111, which will drive the hydraulic piston 12 to move to the left and drive the piston rod 121 to move to the left. At this time, the movement direction of the piston rod 121 is the same as that of the first cylinder 111. Figure 3 The piston rod 121 in (a) moves in the opposite direction, so that the rotation direction of the swing valve 21 is also opposite to that of the Figure 3 The swing valve 21 rotates in the opposite direction to the direction of piston rod movement in (a). Consequently, the swing valve 21 rotates in a first direction (e.g., clockwise) during a first time period and in a second direction (e.g., counterclockwise) during a second time period, and so on, continuously exerting force on the mud in the wellbore to generate a periodic, continuous signal. This ensures signal transmission speed and helps increase the number of downhole instruments that can be connected.

[0092] It should be noted that, in the hydraulic drive signal generating device provided in the embodiments of this specification, when the transmission ratio between the piston rod 121 and the swing valve 21 remains unchanged, the greater the movement distance of the piston rod 121, the greater the rotation angle of the swing valve 21, and the greater the amplitude of the generated signal. Therefore, the amplitude of the generated signal can be adjusted by adjusting the size of the travel of the piston rod 121. The travel of the piston rod 121 can be achieved by adjusting the output power of the hydraulic pump 14. For example, the more hydraulic oil the hydraulic pump 14 pumps into the first cylinder 111 during the first time period, the greater the travel of the piston rod 121.

[0093] Furthermore, in the embodiments of this specification, the frequency of the generated pulse signal can also be adjusted. Specifically, this can be achieved by adjusting the lengths of the first time period and the second time period. When the first time period and the second time period are shorter, the switching between them is more frequent, and the frequency of the signal is higher.

[0094] It should be noted that in the embodiment of this specification, the duration of the first time period and the second time period may be equal or unequal, that is, the embodiment of this specification does not specifically limit the relative size relationship between the duration of the first time period and the duration of the second time period.

[0095] When the first time period is equal to the second time period and the output power of the hydraulic pump 14 is constant, the hydraulic oil flow rate alternately pumped into the first cylinder 111 and the second cylinder 112 by the hydraulic pump is equal, and the angle of rotation of the swing valve 21 in the first direction and the angle of rotation in the second direction are equal, which will produce the following Figure 4 The periodic, symmetrical signal shown. Figure 4 In the graph, the ordinate is the amplitude of the mud pressure fluctuation signal detected by the standpipe and other detection devices, and the abscissa is time.

[0096] When the first time period and the second time period are selected to be unequal in length, and / or the output power of the hydraulic pump 14 is unequal in the first time period and the second time period, a periodic signal may be generated in which the positive half-cycle and the negative half-cycle are unequal, and / or the amplitude of the positive half-cycle and the amplitude of the negative half-cycle are unequal. Of course, the relationship between the first time period and the second time period and the output power of the hydraulic pump can be set according to specific actual usage conditions.

[0097] In summary, the hydraulic drive signal generating device improved in the present application can simply and conveniently adjust the frequency and amplitude of the generated continuous wave signal, overcoming the defect of the previous mud pulser output signal being difficult to adjust.

[0098] In some feasible embodiments, a bidirectional oil circuit is provided between the second directional control valve 17 and the first directional control valve 16. Figure 5As shown in (a), when the second port is open and the third port is closed, hydraulic oil flows into the first cylinder 111, while the first directional control valve 16 is controlled to operate and the second directional control valve 17 is controlled to be inoperative. This prevents the hydraulic oil in the first cylinder 111 from flowing back, allows the hydraulic oil in the second cylinder 112 to flow out smoothly, and moves the hydraulic piston 12 toward the signal generating mechanism 20. At this time, the hydraulic flow in the second cylinder 112 is allowed to at least partially flow into the first cylinder 111 through the first directional control valve 16. In other words, only the oil flow from the second directional control valve 17 to the first directional control valve 16 in the bidirectional oil circuit is open.

[0099] Similarly, Figure 5 As shown in (b), when the second port is closed and the third port is opened, the hydraulic oil is driven to flow into the second cylinder 112, the second directional control valve 17 is controlled to operate, and the first directional control valve 16 is deactivated, so that the hydraulic oil in the first cylinder 111 can flow out smoothly, driving the hydraulic piston 12 to move away from the signal generating mechanism 20. At this time, the oil circuit in the direction from the first directional control valve 16 to the second directional control valve 17 in the two-way oil circuit is opened, allowing the hydraulic oil in the first cylinder 111 to at least partially flow into the second cylinder 112 through the second directional control valve 17.

[0100] The above-mentioned setting of the two-way oil circuit is conducive to shortening the circulation circuit of the hydraulic oil and improving the response rate of the reciprocating movement of the piston rod; moreover, the total amount of hydraulic oil circulating in the entire hydraulic drive mechanism can be greatly reduced, thereby reducing the volume and capacity of the oil tank and saving equipment space.

[0101] like Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, the hydraulic drive mechanism 10 further includes a pressure relief valve 18;

[0102] The pressure relief valve 18 is electrically connected to the controller 30. The pressure relief valve 18 is arranged on the oil circuit between the oil tank 15 and the hydraulic cylinder 11. The pressure relief valve 18 is used to detect the oil pressure of the oil circuit and send it to the controller 30. The controller 30 is also used to control the pressure relief operation of the pressure relief valve 18 to allow the hydraulic oil in the oil circuit to flow back to the oil tank 15 when the oil pressure exceeds a preset pressure threshold.

[0103] For example, when the first directional control valve 16, the second directional control valve 17, the solenoid valve 13, or other components malfunction, the pressure relief valve 18, under the control of the controller 30, can relieve pressure and force the hydraulic oil in the oil circuit to flow back to the oil tank 15, thereby preventing damage to the oil circuit and other components and reducing losses. When the pressure relief valve 18 detects an oil pressure failure and transmits it to the controller 30, the controller 30 can also send the failure information and the cause of the failure analyzed based on the failure information to on-site workers and device maintenance personnel, so that on-site inspection and construction can be suspended and the hydraulic drive signal generator can be promptly inspected and repaired, thereby extending the life of the hydraulic drive signal generator.

[0104] like Figure 1 As shown, the hydraulic drive mechanism 10 further includes a reset structure 19; the reset structure 19 may be disposed within the first cylinder 111 and / or the second cylinder 112. The reset structure 19 can be used to help the hydraulic piston 12 return to its initial position. In the embodiments of this specification, the initial position refers to the position of the hydraulic piston 12 when the swing valve 21 switches between the first and second directions.

[0105] Preferably, the reset structure 19 is arranged in the second cylinder body 112. The reset structure 19 can avoid hard damage caused by excessive pressure on the swing valve 21 and the transmission conversion structure 23 when the hydraulic piston 12 drives the piston rod 121 to move toward the maximum process close to the signal generating mechanism 20.

[0106] In some feasible embodiments, the reset structure 19 may be a reset spring, one end of which is connected to the hydraulic piston 12; the other end of the reset spring is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the hydraulic cylinder 11, for example, to the inner wall of the second cylinder body 112 near the signal generating mechanism 20. The piston rod 121 may pass through the reset spring, so that the expansion and contraction direction of the reset spring is consistent with the movement direction of the piston rod 121, thereby facilitating the reciprocating movement of the hydraulic piston 12.

[0107] like Figure 6 As shown, a connecting guide portion 113 is formed on the side of the hydraulic cylinder 11 close to the signal generating mechanism. The connecting guide portion 113 is provided with a through hole 114 for the piston rod 121 to pass through. The hydraulic cylinder 11 is connected to the fixed valve 22 through the connecting guide portion 113.

[0108] Specifically, if Figure 6As shown, the device also includes a connecting sleeve 51, a locking ring 52, and an anti-rotation key 53. The fixed valve 22 is connected to the connecting guide 113 via the connecting sleeve 51, and the connecting guide 113 is threadedly connected to the connecting sleeve 51. The fixed valve 22 is threadedly connected to the locking ring 52. A stepped mounting and positioning structure is formed between the locking ring 52 and the connecting sleeve 51. The anti-rotation key 53 is disposed between the connecting sleeve 51 and the locking ring 52 to prevent relative rotation between the hydraulic cylinder 11 and the fixed valve 22.

[0109] like Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the fixed valve 22 is provided with a cavity for accommodating the transmission conversion structure 23. An opening 222 is provided at one end of the fixed valve 22, distal from the connecting guide portion 113, communicating with the cavity. The transmission conversion structure 23 can at least partially extend from the opening 222 to be fixedly connected to the swing valve 21. The fixed valve 22 is also provided with a limiting structure 221, which is used to restrict the movement of the transmission conversion structure 23. When the piston rod 121 reciprocates linearly relative to the fixed valve 22, the transmission conversion structure 23, constrained by the limiting structure 221, only undergoes rotational motion, without displacement along the axis of the piston rod 121. Consequently, the transmission conversion structure 23 transmits stable rotational power to the swing valve 21 without axial force, generating a stable, interference-free pulse signal.

[0110] In the embodiment of this specification, the end of the piston rod 121 connected to the transmission conversion structure 23 is a screw, also known as a lead screw, which can convert linear motion into rotational motion with minimal frictional resistance, thereby significantly reducing power loss. The transmission conversion structure 23 is a nut, and a threaded hole is provided axially on the transmission conversion structure 23 to cooperate with the lead screw. The threaded hole cooperates with the lead screw to convert linear motion into rotational motion and also serves to guide the movement direction of the piston rod 121. In addition, the through hole 114 in the connecting guide portion 113 also serves to provide auxiliary guidance for the reciprocating movement of the piston rod 121.

[0111] In some preferred embodiments, a buffer structure, such as a cushion, may be provided at the bottom of the screw hole to prevent the piston rod 121 from excessively impacting the nut when the piston rod 121 moves to its maximum travel, thereby protecting the transmission conversion structure 23. In some feasible embodiments, the swing valve 21 may also be integrally formed with the transmission conversion structure 23.

[0112] It should be noted that in the embodiments of this specification, the transmission conversion structure 23 is equipped with a self-locking structure; this self-locking structure cooperates with the screw rod to unidirectionally convert the linear reciprocating movement of the piston rod 121 into the rotational motion of the swing valve 21. Specifically, when mud in the wellbore exerts a reaction force on the swing valve 21, the swing valve 21 is unable to convert the rotational force into a linear driving force on the piston rod 121. Instead, the driving force of the piston rod 121 is stably output to the swing valve 21, driving the swing valve in stable forward and reverse rotation. This prevents the swing valve 21 from losing its rotation due to mud impact, which could result in signal loss, and effectively ensures the stability of the generated signal.

[0113] In some preferred embodiments, a sealing structure is further provided at the connection between the fixed valve 22 and the guide portion 113 of the hydraulic cylinder 11 , and the sealing structure may be a sealing ring.

[0114] The hydraulic drive signal generating device further includes a drill collar outer shell 40 , and the hydraulic drive mechanism 10 and the signal generating mechanism 20 are both disposed in the drill collar outer shell 40 .

[0115] The embodiment of this specification provides a hydraulic drive signal generating device, in which the hydraulic drive mechanism is capable of high output torque, excellent starting, braking and reversing response performance, and realizes precise control of the rotation of the swing valve, thereby improving the stability of signal transmission on the basis of ensuring a higher signal transmission rate; by adjusting the movement distance of the piston rod, the rotation amplitude (angle) of the swing valve is adjusted, and the amplitude (intensity) of the generated signal can be adjusted simply and conveniently; the self-locking of the screw rod and the transmission conversion structure at the end of the piston rod can prevent the swing valve from losing rotation under mud impact, thereby avoiding signal loss.

[0116] like Figure 7 As shown, the embodiment of this specification also provides a control method suitable for the hydraulic drive signal generating device. It should be noted that this specification provides method operation steps as described in the embodiment or flow chart, but based on conventional or non-creative work, more or fewer operation steps may be included. The order of steps listed in the embodiment is only one way of executing the steps among many, and does not represent the only execution order. When the actual system or device product is executed, it can be executed in sequence or in parallel according to the method shown in the embodiment or the accompanying drawings. Specifically, as Figure 7 As shown, the method may include:

[0117] S710: Sending a start signal to the hydraulic pump to control the hydraulic pump to pump the hydraulic oil stored in the oil tank to the solenoid valve;

[0118] S720: Send a start signal to the solenoid valve to control the first port and the second port to open and the third port to close within a first time period so that the hydraulic oil flowing to the solenoid valve flows into the first cylinder, and to control the first port and the third port to open and the second port to close within a second time period so that the hydraulic oil flowing to the solenoid valve flows into the second cylinder, so that the hydraulic piston moves back and forth in the hydraulic cylinder and the swing valve rotates in the first direction relative to the fixed valve within the first time period and rotates in the second direction within the second time period.

[0119] The control method provided in the embodiments of this specification is suitable for a hydraulically driven signal generating device. Under the control of this control method, the swing valve is caused to alternately perform rotational motion in a first direction and a second direction relative to the fixed valve, thereby continuously and stably outputting a force to the mud in the wellbore, thereby obtaining a continuous and stable mud pulse signal; and the control method uses hydraulic drive to enable the swing valve to start, brake and reverse quickly, thereby achieving precise control of the swing valve rotation and further improving the stability of signal generation and transmission.

[0120] The method may further comprise:

[0121] Receive start and stop signals from the user.

[0122] The user can send a start / stop signal during or before the method is run. The start / stop signal can be a timed start, timed brake, or immediate start, immediate brake signal, so that the controller can start or stop the control of components such as the hydraulic pump and solenoid valve at a scheduled time or at any time.

[0123] Furthermore, the control method further includes:

[0124] A start signal is sent to the first directional control valve and the second directional control valve, so that the first directional control valve works and the second directional control valve does not work during a first time period; and the first directional control valve does not work and the second directional control valve works during a second time period.

[0125] When the first directional control valve is working, it is used to prevent the hydraulic oil in the first cylinder from flowing back to the solenoid valve; when the second directional control valve is working, it is used to prevent the hydraulic oil in the second cylinder from flowing back to the solenoid valve, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the power output of the hydraulic drive mechanism.

[0126] Furthermore, the method may further include:

[0127] receiving the oil pressure of the oil circuit between the oil tank and the hydraulic cylinder sent by the pressure relief valve;

[0128] determining whether the oil pressure is greater than a preset pressure threshold;

[0129] When the oil pressure is greater than a preset pressure threshold, the pressure relief valve is controlled to perform pressure relief operation so that the hydraulic oil in the oil circuit flows back to the oil tank.

[0130] When a component fails and causes the oil pressure in the oil circuit to be too high, it can prevent the subsequent collapse of the oil circuit and other components, thereby reducing losses.

[0131] like Figure 8 As shown, a control device is also provided, the control device comprising:

[0132] a first start signal sending module 81 for sending a start signal to the hydraulic pump to control the hydraulic pump to pump the hydraulic oil stored in the oil tank to the solenoid valve;

[0133] The second start signal sending module 82 is used to send a start signal to the solenoid valve to control the opening of the first port of the solenoid valve connected to the hydraulic pump, the alternating opening of the second port connected to the first cylinder body of the hydraulic cylinder and the third port connected to the second cylinder body of the hydraulic cylinder, so that the hydraulic oil flowing to the solenoid valve flows into the first cylinder body or the second cylinder body, so that the hydraulic piston that separates the hydraulic cylinder into the first cylinder body and the second cylinder body moves back and forth in the hydraulic cylinder, and the swing valve connected to the piston rod rotates relative to the fixed valve fixedly connected to the hydraulic cylinder.

[0134] The beneficial effects achieved by the device provided in the embodiments of this specification are consistent with the beneficial effects achieved by the above-mentioned method and will not be repeated here.

[0135] like Figure 9 As shown, a computer device provided in an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The computer device 902 may include one or more processors 904, such as one or more central processing units (CPUs), each of which may implement one or more hardware threads. The computer device 902 may also include any memory 906 for storing any type of information, such as code, settings, data, etc. For example, without limitation, the memory 906 may include any one or more combinations of the following: any type of RAM, any type of ROM, a flash memory device, a hard disk, an optical disk, etc. More generally, any memory may use any technology to store information. Furthermore, any memory may provide volatile or non-volatile retention of information. Furthermore, any memory may represent a fixed or removable component of the computer device 902. In one embodiment, when the processor 904 executes associated instructions stored in any memory or combination of memories, the computer device 902 may perform any operation of the associated instructions. The computer device 902 also includes one or more drive mechanisms 908, such as a hard disk drive mechanism, an optical disk drive mechanism, etc., for interacting with any memory.

[0136] The computer device 902 may also include an input / output module 910 (I / O) for receiving various inputs (via input devices 912) and for providing various outputs (via output devices 914). A specific output mechanism may include a presentation device 916 and an associated graphical user interface (GUI) 918. In other embodiments, the input / output module 910 (I / O), input devices 912, and output devices 914 may not be included, and the computer device 902 may simply be a computer device in a network. The computer device 902 may also include one or more network interfaces 920 for exchanging data with other devices via one or more communication links 922. One or more communication buses 924 couple the components described above together.

[0137] The communication link 922 may be implemented in any manner, for example, via a local area network, a wide area network (e.g., the Internet), a point-to-point connection, etc., or any combination thereof. The communication link 922 may include any combination of hardwired links, wireless links, routers, gateway functions, name servers, etc., governed by any protocol or combination of protocols.

[0138] Corresponding to Figure 9 The method shown in the embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the steps of the above method are executed.

[0139] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a computer readable instruction, wherein when the processor executes the instruction, the program causes the processor to execute the following Figure 9 The method shown.

[0140] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of this document, the size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this document.

[0141] It should also be understood that in the embodiments herein, the term "and / or" merely describes an association between associated objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, "A and / or B" could represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. Furthermore, the character " / " in this document generally indicates an "or" relationship between the associated objects.

[0142] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of the two. In order to clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, the above description has generally described the composition and steps of each example according to function. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this document.

[0143] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0144] In the several embodiments provided herein, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices, or units, or can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms of connection.

[0145] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the embodiments herein.

[0146] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments herein may be integrated into a single processing unit, each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0147] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this article is essentially or the part that contributes to the existing technology, or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of this article. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0148] This article uses specific embodiments to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this article. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the methods and core ideas of this article. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, based on the ideas of this article, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be understood as a limitation to this article.

Claims

1. A hydraulic drive signal generating device, characterized in that: include: Hydraulic driving mechanism and signal generating mechanism; The hydraulic drive mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic piston, a piston rod, a controller, and a first directional control valve, a second directional control valve, a solenoid valve and a hydraulic pump electrically connected to the controller. The hydraulic piston is arranged in the hydraulic cylinder and divides the hydraulic cylinder into a first cylinder body and a second cylinder body; a connecting guide is formed on the side of the hydraulic cylinder close to the signal generating mechanism, the connecting guide is provided with a through hole for the piston rod to pass through, and the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the fixed valve through the connecting guide; one end of the piston rod is connected to the hydraulic piston, and the other end of the piston rod extends out of the hydraulic cylinder and is connected to the signal generating mechanism; the solenoid valve includes a first port connected to the oil tank, a second port connected to the first cylinder body and a third port connected to the second cylinder body, the controller is used to control the hydraulic pump to pump hydraulic oil from the oil tank to the solenoid valve, and the controller is also used to control the hydraulic oil within a first time period. The first and second ports are controlled to be open and the third port is controlled to be closed so that the hydraulic oil flows into the first cylinder, and the first and third ports are controlled to be open and the second port is controlled to be closed during a second time period so that the hydraulic oil flows into the second cylinder, so that the hydraulic piston reciprocates in the hydraulic cylinder, and the first time period and the second time period are set at intervals; the first directional control valve is arranged between the first cylinder and the second port, and the second directional control valve is arranged between the second cylinder and the third port; the controller is used to control the first directional control valve to operate and the second directional control valve to not operate during the first time period to prevent the hydraulic oil in the first cylinder from flowing back to the solenoid valve; the controller is also used to control the first directional control valve to not operate and the second directional control valve to operate during the second time period to prevent the hydraulic oil in the second cylinder from flowing back to the solenoid valve; The signal generating mechanism includes a swing valve and a fixed valve, the fixed valve is fixedly connected to the hydraulic cylinder, the fixed valve is provided with a cavity for accommodating a transmission conversion structure, the fixed valve is provided with an opening at one end away from the connecting guide portion, the opening is communicated with the cavity, the transmission conversion structure at least partially extends from the opening and is fixedly connected to the swing valve; the fixed valve is also provided with a limiting structure, the limiting structure is used to limit the movement of the transmission conversion structure; the swing valve is connected to the piston rod through a transmission conversion structure, and the transmission conversion structure is used to convert the linear reciprocating movement of the piston rod into a rotational movement of the swing valve relative to the fixed valve in a first direction within a first time period and a rotational movement in a second direction within a second time period.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The hydraulic drive mechanism further includes a pressure relief valve; The pressure relief valve is electrically connected to the controller and is arranged on the oil circuit between the oil tank and the hydraulic cylinder. The pressure relief valve is used to detect the oil pressure of the oil circuit and send it to the controller; the controller is also used to control the pressure relief operation of the pressure relief valve to allow the hydraulic oil in the oil circuit to flow back to the oil tank when the oil pressure exceeds a preset pressure threshold.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The hydraulic drive mechanism also includes a reset structure; The reset structure is arranged in the first cylinder body and / or the second cylinder body.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that The reset structure is a reset spring, one end of the reset spring is connected to the hydraulic piston, and the other end of the reset spring is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the hydraulic cylinder.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that A sealing structure is further provided between the fixed valve and the connecting guide portion.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that One end of the piston rod connected to the transmission conversion structure is a screw rod, and the transmission conversion structure is provided with a self-locking structure; the self-locking structure cooperates with the screw rod to convert the linear reciprocating movement of the piston rod into the rotational movement of the swing valve in a unidirectional manner.

7. A control method, characterized in that: Applied to the hydraulic drive signal generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the method comprises: sending a start signal to the hydraulic pump to control the hydraulic pump to pump the hydraulic oil stored in the oil tank to the solenoid valve; A start signal is sent to the solenoid valve to control the first port and the second port to open and the third port to close within a first time period so that the hydraulic oil flowing to the solenoid valve flows into the first cylinder, and to control the first port and the third port to open and the second port to close within a second time period so that the hydraulic oil flowing to the solenoid valve flows into the second cylinder, so that the hydraulic piston reciprocates in the hydraulic cylinder and the swing valve rotates in a first direction relative to the fixed valve within the first time period and in a second direction within the second time period.

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