Camming Tool for Thread Protector Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tools, such as pipe wrenches, often damage thread protectors made of hard rubber or plastic during installation or removal, rendering them unsuitable for use due to their specificity and rigidity, which makes them expensive and non-disposable.
Innovation Solution
A tool with a camming mechanism and gripping portions that securely engages with thread protectors, allowing for adaptable installation and removal without damaging them, suitable for various sized thread protectors and connections, including pin and box connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pipe wrench or similar tool is used to install or remove thread protectors, then the installation and removal process can be performed, but the thread protector is damaged and rendered unsuitable for use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized tool as an intermediary device between the operator and the thread protector. This tool features a gripping mechanism with jaws that securely hold the thread protector's flange, and a camming mechanism that converts rotational motion into linear force to install or remove the protector without direct contact between traditional wrenches and the protector body, thereby preventing damage
Solution Approach 2:
The camming mechanism in the tool provides dynamic adaptability through its cam surface geometry. As the cam rotates, the contact point between the cam surface and the thread protector flange changes, allowing the tool to accommodate variations in flange size and shape while maintaining secure engagement and distributing force evenly to prevent damage
2Strength
If thread protectors are made rugged and specific to fit certain threads, then they provide adequate protection, but they become expensive and non-disposable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the recovery and reuse of expensive thread protectors by providing a tool that installs and removes them without damage. The specialized gripping mechanism and camming action allow multiple installation and removal cycles without compromising the protector's integrity, transforming them from single-use items into reusable components that can be recovered and used again
Solution Approach 2:
The tool performs preliminary engagement with the thread protector's flange before the actual installation or removal action. The gripping jaws secure the flange in position, and the camming mechanism gradually applies force to initiate movement, ensuring controlled operation that prevents sudden stresses or misalignment that could damage the protector during the process
3Adaptability or versatility
If a tool is designed to work with various sized thread protectors, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool achieves universality through its camming mechanism and adjustable gripping jaws. The cam surface is designed with a profile that can engage with flanges of various diameters, and the gripping mechanism can accommodate different flange widths. This allows a single tool design to handle multiple thread protector sizes without requiring size-specific components, maintaining simplicity while providing versatility
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
Enables safe and cost-effective installation and removal of thread protectors, preventing damage and extending their usability across different threaded components in the oil and gas industry.
Implementation Method 1
A tool with a camming mechanism and gripping portions that securely engages with thread protectors
Implementation Method 2
gripping portions that securely engages with thread protectors
Data Source
AI summary
A tool for installing or removing a threaded member as for example a thread protector onto a second threaded member, as for example, the pin or box of an oilfield tubular, which has a jaw for selectively gripping an outer surface of a thread protector, a bridge interconnecting the jaw and a cam, the cam being selectively engageable with the inner surface of the thread protector, the cam being operatively connected to a lever for moving the cam from a first position out of contact with the inner surface of the thread protector to a second position in gripping engagement with the inner surface of the thread protector.