A fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer

Abstract

This utility model relates to a fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer, including an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a rotation unit, and a battery assembly. The IMU includes a lower protective tube with an end cap fixed at one end and a first connecting tube fixed at the other end. A chip holder and a gyroscope fixed to the chip holder are disposed inside the lower protective tube. Bearings are disposed between the chip holder and the lower protective tube, and between the gyroscope and the lower protective tube. The IMU also includes a drive shaft fixed to the chip holder or the gyroscope. The rotation unit includes a middle protective tube with one end fixed to the first connecting tube and a second connecting tube at the other end. A drive motor is disposed inside the middle protective tube, and the body of the drive motor is fixed inside the middle protective tube. The output shaft of the drive motor is connected to the transmission shaft. The battery assembly includes an upper protective tube with one end fixed to the second connecting tube and a lifting head at the other end. A battery and a circuit board support are disposed inside the upper protective tube. This fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer is easy to assemble and transport and is simple to operate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to inclinometers, and more particularly to a fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer. Background Technology

[0002] Due to variations in rock strata characteristics, drilling techniques, and borehole depths, actual drilling may deviate from the original design requirements. In such cases, it is necessary to measure the borehole curvature to obtain the amount and trajectory of the deviation, and to understand the extent of borehole curvature and azimuth shift. An inclinometer is one of the essential pieces of equipment for accomplishing this task.

[0003] Chinese patent publication number "CN113062725A" discloses a gyro inclinometer, in which the probe core is set inside the pressure-resistant housing of the protective assembly. The pressure-resistant housing also contains a shock absorber. The probe core has an upper end and a lower end, respectively. The probe core includes components such as an electronic compartment, an encoder, an inertial measurement unit, and a rotation mechanism. In this type of gyro inclinometer, the probe core is entirely placed inside the pressure-resistant housing, which results in a long overall instrument, making it inconvenient for operators to install, assemble, and transport. Moreover, during use, it needs to be installed on a wireless drilling instrument and powered by a battery inside the wireless drilling instrument. In addition, during measurement, it needs to be installed on a window opening tool through the wireless drilling instrument and lowered into the well along with the window opening tool to perform the measurement, making its operation quite cumbersome. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides a fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer that is easy to assemble and transport and simple to operate.

[0005] The fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer of this invention includes an inertial measurement unit, a rotation unit, and a battery unit.

[0006] The inertial measurement unit includes a lower protective tube, one end of which is fixedly provided with an end cap, and the other end of which is fixedly provided with a first connecting tube. A chip holder and a gyroscope fixed to the chip holder are provided inside the lower protective tube. Bearings are provided between the chip holder and the lower protective tube and between the gyroscope and the lower protective tube. The inertial measurement unit also includes a drive shaft fixed to the chip holder or the gyroscope.

[0007] The rotating assembly includes a middle protective tube with one end fixed to the first connecting tube, a second connecting tube at the other end of the middle protective tube, a drive motor inside the middle protective tube, the body of the drive motor being fixed inside the middle protective tube, and the output shaft of the drive motor being connected to the transmission shaft.

[0008] The battery assembly includes an upper protective tube with one end fixed to the second connecting tube, a lifting head at the other end of the upper protective tube, and a battery and circuit board support inside the upper protective tube.

[0009] The advantages of this fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer are that it includes an inertial measurement unit, a rotation unit, and a battery unit. The lower protective tube of the inertial measurement unit is fixed to the middle protective tube of the rotation unit through a first connecting tube. The middle protective tube is fixed to the upper protective tube of the battery unit through a second connecting tube. The gyroscope and chip holder are installed inside the lower protective tube. The drive motor for rotating the gyroscope and chip holder is installed inside the middle protective tube. The battery for power supply and the circuit board bracket for mounting the circuit board are installed inside the upper protective tube.

[0010] Compared to existing gyroscopes, this fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer connects the inertial measurement unit, rotation unit, and battery unit via a first and second connecting pipe. This allows operators to assemble and transport the inertial measurement unit, rotation unit, and battery unit separately. Furthermore, the battery unit allows the fiber optic gyroscope to operate independently without an external power supply, and the lifting head design enables it to be lowered into the well for measurements without the need for a window-opening tool, making operation extremely convenient.

[0011] Furthermore, in the fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer of this invention, the drive shaft is a hollow shaft, and a transmission hole communicating with the inner cavity of the rotating shaft is provided on the side wall of the drive shaft.

[0012] The hollow shaft and transmission hole facilitate the electrical connection between the gyroscope, accelerometer, battery, and circuit board.

[0013] Furthermore, in this utility model fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer, the chip holder is a U-shaped holder, the accelerometer is mounted on the surface of the base plate of the U-shaped holder, one end of the gyroscope is fixed to the side plate of the U-shaped holder, and the drive shaft is fixed to the other side plate of the U-shaped holder.

[0014] The U-shaped base facilitates the installation and positioning of the accelerometer, drive shaft, and gyroscope by the operator.

[0015] Furthermore, in this utility model of fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer, a spacer is provided in the middle of the outer circumference of the first connecting tube, and several sealing grooves are provided on both sides of the spacer. One end of the first connecting tube is connected to the lower protective tube by a thread, and the other end is connected to the middle protective tube by a thread. One side of the spacer is in close contact with the end face of the lower protective tube, and the other side of the spacer is in close contact with the middle protective tube.

[0016] The spacer ring facilitates the positioning and installation of the lower and middle protective pipes, while the sealing groove facilitates the installation of the sealing ring, thus achieving a seal on the lower and middle protective pipes.

[0017] Furthermore, in this utility model of fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer, the lower protective tube, middle protective tube, and upper protective tube are all made of stainless steel or aluminum.

[0018] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this utility model. In order to better understand the technical means of this utility model and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, the following describes the embodiments of this utility model in detail. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer, where the lifting head is not shown.

[0020] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of part A in the middle.

[0021] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of part B in the middle.

[0022] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of part C in the middle.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing the fit between the chip holder and the transmission rod.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a 3D view of the battery assembly, with the protective tube not shown.

[0025] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Cross-sectional view of the battery assembly.

[0026] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the rotating assembly, where the protective tube is not shown.

[0027] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the rotating component.

[0028] Figure 10 This is a 3D view of the inertial measurement unit (INS), with its lower protective casing not shown.

[0029] Figure 11 yes Figure 10 A cross-sectional view of the inertial measurement unit.

[0030] Figure 12 This is the main view of the lifting head.

[0031] In the figure, the components are: lower protective tube 1, end cap 2, first connecting tube 3, chip holder 4, gyroscope 5, bearing 6, drive shaft 7, middle protective tube 8, second connecting tube 9, drive motor 10, upper protective tube 11, lifting head 12, battery 13, circuit board bracket 14, bearing seat 15, spacer 16, sealing groove 17, connector assembly 18, circuit board 19, substrate 20, battery sleeve 21, and transmission hole 22. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate this utility model, but are not intended to limit its scope.

[0033] Example 1: See Figures 1 to 12 The fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer of this embodiment includes an inertial measurement unit, a rotation unit, and a battery unit.

[0034] The inertial measurement unit includes a lower protective tube 1, an end cap 2 fixedly installed at one end of the lower protective tube, a first connecting tube 3 fixedly installed at the other end, a chip holder 4 and a gyroscope 5 fixed to the chip holder are installed inside the lower protective tube, and a bearing 6 is installed between the chip holder and the lower protective tube and between the gyroscope and the lower protective tube. The inertial measurement unit also includes a drive shaft 7 fixed to the chip holder or the gyroscope.

[0035] The rotating assembly includes a middle protective tube 8 with one end fixed to the first connecting tube, a second connecting tube 9 at the other end of the middle protective tube, a drive motor 10 inside the middle protective tube, the body of the drive motor being fixed inside the middle protective tube, and the output shaft of the drive motor being connected to the transmission shaft.

[0036] The battery assembly includes an upper protective tube 11 with one end fixed to the second connecting tube, a lifting head 12 at the other end of the upper protective tube, and a battery 13 and a circuit board bracket 14 disposed inside the upper protective tube.

[0037] The advantages of this fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer are that it includes an inertial measurement unit, a rotation unit, and a battery unit. The lower protective tube of the inertial measurement unit is fixed to the middle protective tube of the rotation unit through a first connecting tube. The middle protective tube is fixed to the upper protective tube of the battery unit through a second connecting tube. The gyroscope and chip holder are installed inside the lower protective tube. The drive motor for rotating the gyroscope and chip holder is installed inside the middle protective tube. The battery for power supply and the circuit board bracket for mounting the circuit board are installed inside the upper protective tube.

[0038] Compared to existing gyroscopes, this fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer connects the inertial measurement unit, rotation unit, and battery unit via a first and second connecting pipe. This allows operators to assemble and transport the inertial measurement unit, rotation unit, and battery unit separately. Furthermore, the battery unit allows the fiber optic gyroscope to operate independently without an external power supply, and the lifting head design enables it to be lowered into the well for measurements without the need for a window-opening tool, making operation extremely convenient.

[0039] The inertial measurement unit is used to measure angular velocity and acceleration, which enables the control system to calculate the borehole's azimuth offset using angular velocity and acceleration.

[0040] The lower protective tube serves to protect components such as the gyroscope and chip socket. The first connecting tube at the top of the lower protective tube is used to connect the lower protective tube and the middle protective tube. The aforementioned end cap is used to seal the lower protective tube. Both the end cap and the first connecting tube can be connected to the lower protective tube by threads and sealed by a sealing ring.

[0041] A gyroscope is used to measure the Earth's rotational angular velocity, preferably a fiber optic gyroscope. A chip mount is used to install an accelerometer, thereby enabling the measurement of acceleration.

[0042] To ensure stable rotation of the gyroscope and accelerometer, a bearing is provided between the gyroscope or chip mount and the lower protective tube. In this embodiment, a bearing housing 15 for mounting the bearing is provided between the gyroscope and the end cap, and a bearing is also provided between the drive shaft and the first connecting tube.

[0043] The drive shaft is used to connect the drive motor and the gyroscope or chip mount, thereby driving the gyroscope and accelerometer to measure angular velocity and acceleration at at least four positions, so as to provide data support for the subsequent control system to calculate the orientation.

[0044] The first connecting pipe connects the lower protective pipe and the middle protective pipe. It has a spacer 16 in the center of its outer circumference, and several sealing grooves 17 on both sides of the spacer for installing sealing rings. One end of the spacer is threaded to the lower protective pipe, and the other end is threaded to the middle protective pipe. A bearing is installed at one end of the first connecting pipe located in the lower protective pipe. The bearing fixing part is fixed to the inner wall of the first connecting pipe, and its rotating part is fixed to the drive shaft. The drive shaft passes through the inner cavity of the first connecting pipe and is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor.

[0045] The rotating assembly is used to drive the gyroscope and chip socket to rotate. One end of the middle protective tube is fixedly connected to the first connecting tube, and the other end is connected to the second connecting tube by a thread. The body of the drive motor is fixedly installed inside the middle protective tube, and its output end extends into the inner cavity of the first connecting tube and is fixed to the drive shaft.

[0046] The second connecting tube is used to connect the middle protective tube and the upper protective tube. Its structure is similar to that of the first connecting tube. A connector 18 is provided at one end of the middle protective tube to connect the cable output by the drive motor and the battery and circuit board inside the upper protective tube.

[0047] The battery assembly is used for power supply and signal communication and processing. One end of the upper protective tube is connected to the second connecting tube, and the other end is connected to the lifting head via a thread.

[0048] The circuit board bracket is used to mount the circuit board 19, which includes a substrate 20. One end of the substrate is connected to a battery sleeve 21, and the battery is housed inside the battery sleeve. To accommodate different battery models, the top of the battery sleeve has a gap. The circuit board is mounted to the surface of the substrate with screws. The circuit board has multiple circuit modules, such as a sampling module, a communication module, and a power supply module, to realize functions such as signal acquisition from the gyroscope and accelerometer, communication with external devices, and battery charging.

[0049] The lifting head is used to seal the upper protective pipe and facilitates the connection of the fiber optic inclinometer by the operator.

[0050] During actual measurements, the operator connects the inclinometer to a smart handheld device. The following are the specific usage instructions for the fiber optic gyroscope line measuring instrument.

[0051] First, the operator connects the smart handheld device to the Bluetooth module inside the fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer via Bluetooth and inputs the relevant measurement data, such as well number, start time, sampling interval, and location information. Then, the operator connects the lifting head to the hole via a steel wire rope, locks it in place, and confirms the connection before lowering the inclinometer into the borehole.

[0052] After logging is completed, the operator can lift the inclinometer from the well. Then, the operator opens the lifting head and reconnects to the Bluetooth module inside the inclinometer via Bluetooth. The operator then reads the angular velocity and acceleration data stored in the storage module. Finally, the program in the smart handheld device can calculate the borehole offset and trajectory using the corresponding algorithm and display it on its screen.

[0053] Preferably, the drive shaft is a hollow shaft, and a transmission hole 22 communicating with the inner cavity of the rotating shaft is provided on the side wall of the drive shaft.

[0054] The hollow shaft and transmission hole facilitate the electrical connection between the gyroscope, accelerometer, battery, and circuit board.

[0055] In this embodiment, the chip mount is a U-shaped mount. The accelerometer is mounted on the base plate of the U-shaped mount, one end of the gyroscope is fixed to the side plate of the U-shaped mount, and the aforementioned drive shaft is fixed to the other side plate of the U-shaped mount. The central hole of the drive shaft extends to the side plate of the U-shaped mount. The cables connecting the gyroscope and the accelerometer enter the drive shaft through the through-hole on the side plate and are output to the inner cavity of the first connecting tube through the transmission hole on the side wall of the drive shaft. The cable output from the transmission hole is then transmitted to the inner cavity of the upper protective tube through the wiring on the drive motor housing, thereby connecting with the battery and circuit board inside to realize signal transmission and power supply.

[0056] Preferably, the chip holder is a U-shaped holder, with the accelerometer mounted on the base plate of the U-shaped holder, one end of the gyroscope fixed to the side plate of the U-shaped holder, and the drive shaft fixed to the other side plate of the U-shaped holder.

[0057] The U-shaped base facilitates the installation and positioning of the accelerometer, drive shaft, and gyroscope by the operator.

[0058] Preferably, a spacer is provided in the middle of the outer circumference of the first connecting pipe, and several sealing grooves are provided on both sides of the spacer. One end of the first connecting pipe is connected to the lower protective pipe by a thread, and the other end is connected to the middle protective pipe by a thread. One side of the spacer is in close contact with the end face of the lower protective pipe, and the other side of the spacer is in close contact with the middle protective pipe.

[0059] The spacer ring facilitates the positioning and installation of the lower and middle protective pipes, while the sealing groove facilitates the installation of the sealing ring, thus achieving a seal on the lower and middle protective pipes.

[0060] Preferably, the lower protective tube, middle protective tube, and upper protective tube are all made of stainless steel or aluminum.

[0061] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this utility model, used to assist those skilled in the art in implementing the corresponding technical solutions, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the appended claims. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, several equivalent improvements and modifications can be made based on the technical solutions of this utility model, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of this utility model. Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes the embodiments as described above, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions of each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer, characterized in that: Includes inertial measurement unit, rotation unit and battery unit; The inertial measurement unit includes a lower protective tube (1), an end cap (2) is fixedly installed at one end of the lower protective tube, and a first connecting tube (3) is fixedly installed at the other end. A chip holder (4) and a gyroscope (5) fixed to the chip holder are installed inside the lower protective tube. A bearing (6) is installed between the chip holder and the lower protective tube and between the gyroscope and the lower protective tube. The inertial measurement unit also includes a drive shaft (7) fixed to the chip holder or the gyroscope. The rotating assembly includes a middle protective tube (8) with one end fixed to the first connecting tube, a second connecting tube (9) at the other end of the middle protective tube, a drive motor (10) inside the middle protective tube, the body of the drive motor being fixed inside the middle protective tube, and the output shaft of the drive motor being connected to the transmission shaft. The battery assembly includes an upper protective tube (11) with one end fixed to the second connecting tube, a lifting head (12) at the other end of the upper protective tube, and a battery (13) and a circuit board bracket (14) inside the upper protective tube.

2. The fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive shaft is a hollow shaft, and a transmission hole (22) communicating with the inner cavity of the rotating shaft is provided on the side wall of the drive shaft.

3. The fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The chip mount is a U-shaped mount. The accelerometer is mounted on the base plate of the U-shaped mount, one end of the gyroscope is fixed to the side plate of the U-shaped mount, and the drive shaft is fixed to the other side plate of the U-shaped mount.

4. The fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer according to claim 1, characterized in that: A spacer is provided in the middle of the outer circumference of the first connecting pipe, and several sealing grooves are provided on both sides of the spacer. One end of the first connecting pipe is connected to the lower protective pipe by a thread, and the other end is connected to the middle protective pipe by a thread. One side of the spacer is in close contact with the end face of the lower protective pipe, and the other side of the spacer is in close contact with the middle protective pipe.

5. The fiber optic gyroscope inclinometer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower protective tube, middle protective tube, and upper protective tube are all made of stainless steel or aluminum.

Images