Adjustable Swage Elastic Segment Bending for Obstruction Clearance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Adjustable swages used for expanding tubulars face challenges with stress concentration gaps between segments, leading to potential fractures, and struggle to generate sufficient radial force to collapse and clear obstructions when the fixed swage has already passed them.

Innovation Solution

The adjustable swage is designed to elastically bend under high loading, redirecting the longitudinal force to create an additional radial component, enhancing the radial collapse force to facilitate contraction and clearance of obstructions by altering the loading angles on segment mounts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable swage uses multiple segments for expansion, then versatility and staged expansion capability are improved, but stress concentration gaps between segments increase leading to potential fractures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestaged expansion capabilityVSAvoidfracture resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The swage is divided into multiple alternating fixed and movable segments that can independently translate along the mandrel. This segmentation enables staged expansion operations while maintaining structural integrity through proper segment design and interlocking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The swage segments are pre-configured with expansion surfaces and translation mechanisms before entering the tubular. The fixed segments are positioned to provide initial expansion contact, while movable segments are ready to translate and provide additional expansion stages as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable swage uses wedge shaped segments that translate with respect to each other, then diameter adjustment capability is improved, but complexity of the ratchet system and hydraulic piston increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediameter adjustment capabilityVSAvoidratchet and hydraulic system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The swage transitions from a static fixed-diameter tool to a dynamic adjustable-diameter tool. The movable segments can translate along the mandrel in response to hydraulic pressure, allowing the swage diameter to be dynamically adjusted during the expansion process to match the specific requirements of different tubulars.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A hydraulic piston system is used to provide the force necessary to translate the movable segments along the mandrel. Hydraulic fluid applied through a port in the mandrel acts on the piston, which in turn pushes or pulls the movable segments to achieve the desired diameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Productivity

If fixed swage has already passed obstruction, then clearance of path is improved, but adjustable swage struggles to generate sufficient radial force to collapse and clear obstruction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobstruction clearance efficiencyVSAvoidradial collapse force

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The swage diameter is changed by translating the movable segments along the mandrel. After the fixed segments have passed the obstruction, the movable segments translate to reduce the swage diameter, allowing the tool to collapse and pass through the obstruction area. The diameter can then be increased again for the expansion operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The swage operates in periodic cycles: first expanding the tubular at a given diameter, then translating the movable segments to reduce diameter to pass the obstruction, and repeating the expansion process. This periodic adjustment of diameter enables the tool to both clear obstructions and perform expansion operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design effectively increases the radial force component, enabling the adjustable swage to overcome resistance and clear obstructions without stalling, thereby improving its ability to collapse and pass through tubular obstructions efficiently.

Implementation Method 1

The movable segments are configured to elastically bend on high loading so as to create additional radial component force to aid the adjustable swage in reducing its size to clear the obstruction.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic bending: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS7549469B2Adjustable swage

Publication Date: 2009.06.23 BAKER HUGHES CO

AI summary

An adjustable swage features an ability to enhance a radial collapse force when an obstruction in a tubular is encountered to allow radial contraction so that the obstruction can be cleared. The movable segments are configured to elastically bend on high loading so as to create additional radial component force to aid the adjustable swage in reducing its size to clear the obstruction.