Borehole Locator With Profiled Couplings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing centralisers in the surveying industry fail to effectively position and stabilise survey apparatus in boreholes, leading to inaccuracies due to longitudinal and rotational movements.
Innovation Solution
A locator system comprising opposing members with couplings and bearing members that engage with profiled regions on the survey apparatus, constraining it longitudinally and rotationally, and bearing against the borehole wall to stabilize the apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional centralisers are used to position survey apparatus in boreholes, then radial positioning is achieved, but longitudinal and rotational stability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The locator is divided into two opposing members that can be independently assembled around the survey apparatus. Each member has its own bearing members and apparatus couplings, allowing modular installation and constraint application at different locations on the apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus coupling incorporates an asymmetric profiled region engagement mechanism where keys on one opposing member engage with corresponding keyways on the other, creating directional constraint that prevents rotational movement while allowing longitudinal positioning.
2Measurement precision
If bearing members are added to bear against borehole walls, then radial positioning is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing members are integrated directly into the opposing members of the locator assembly. The same structural components that provide longitudinal and rotational constraint also incorporate bearing surfaces that contact the borehole wall, eliminating the need for separate radial positioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The opposing members serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide longitudinal constraint through apparatus couplings, rotational constraint through profiled region engagement, and radial positioning through integrated bearing members that contact the borehole wall.
3Ease of manufacture
If opposing members are integrally formed as half collars, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different survey apparatus is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The half collar design incorporates universal apparatus couplings with profiled region engagement mechanisms that can interface with various survey apparatus geometries. The bearing members are positioned and dimensioned to accommodate different apparatus diameters and configurations while maintaining the integral half collar structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The profiled region engagement features and bearing member dimensions can be varied as parameters to adapt the integral half collar design to different survey apparatus sizes and shapes, allowing the same basic manufacturing approach to serve multiple application requirements.
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
The locator system reduces movement of the survey apparatus, enhancing sensing accuracy by maintaining its position and stability within the borehole.
Implementation Method 1
one or more bearing members for bearing against a borehole
Implementation Method 2
the bearing members are bow springs that extend between the first and second apparatus couplings
Implementation Method 3
the bearing member is a cantilevered spring
Data Source
AI summary
A locator for positioning and/or stabilising a survey apparatus in a borehole comprising: two opposing members for cooperatively coupling together around a survey apparatus, the survey apparatus comprising at least one profiled region for a locator on the survey apparatus, each opposing member comprising: at least a first apparatus coupling, the first 5 apparatus coupling configured to connect to a respective first apparatus coupling of the corresponding opposing member around the survey apparatus, one or more bearing members for bearing against a borehole, and wherein: the at least first apparatus coupling is configured to engage with the at least one profiled region on the survey apparatus to, when one opposing member is cooperatively coupled with the corresponding opposing member 0 around the survey apparatus, constrain the resultant locator on the survey apparatus longitudinally and/or rotationally.