Coiled Spring Contact Retention for Down-Hole Wet Connects

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Solution Overview

Problem

In down-hole environments, electrical spring contacts used for wet connections are prone to being pinched or displaced during handling, leading to failure in establishing electrical circuits and potential damage due to short circuits.

Innovation Solution

A wet connect apparatus featuring an annular electrical contact formed from a coiled spring with fused ends and an inner retention member, such as a gift ring, providing a radial bias to retain the coiled spring within a groove, ensuring electrical continuity between down-hole and up-hole equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protruding spring contact is used to establish electrical connection, then electrical continuity is achieved, but the contact is prone to being pinched or displaced during handling and installation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical continuityVSAvoidcontact position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-installing the retention member within the groove before the spring contact is placed. The retention member is positioned in advance to prevent displacement during subsequent handling and installation operations, addressing the stability issue before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The retention member acts as an intermediary element between the groove and the spring contact. It mediates the interaction by providing a mechanical barrier that prevents the spring contact from being pinched or displaced, while allowing the spring contact to maintain its electrical function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the spring contact is made more resilient to maintain contact pressure, then electrical connection is improved, but the contact becomes more susceptible to displacement during handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoiddisplacement during handling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the electrical connection system into two functional parts: the spring contact for electrical conduction and the retention member for mechanical stability. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the spring contact can be highly resilient for electrical performance while the retention member provides displacement protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retention member serves as an intermediary that protects the resilient spring contact from harmful displacement forces during handling, allowing the spring contact to maintain its high resiliency without suffering from the negative effects of displacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a retention mechanism is added to prevent displacement, then contact stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact retentionVSAvoidconnector structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retention member is designed as a thin, flexible component that fits within the existing groove structure. This thin-film approach provides effective retention functionality while minimizing the increase in device complexity and maintaining a compact connector design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

By pre-positioning the retention member in the groove, the patent simplifies the overall assembly process. The retention mechanism is prepared in advance, allowing for quick and easy installation of the spring contact without requiring complex retention structures or multi-step assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary 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

The solution effectively maintains electrical contact and prevents displacement of the coiled spring contacts, ensuring reliable electrical communication and preventing short circuits even under forces applied during installation.

Implementation Method 1

a spring contact that protrudes from one mating component and exhibits sufficient resiliency and flexibility to maintain contact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A radial retention member is disposed within the coiled spring to provide a radial bias to the coiled spring to retain the coiled spring within the groove

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadial bias:

Data Source

PatentUS10594068B2Retention of electrical spring contacts for wet connection of down-hole tool components

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 BLACK DIAMOND OILFIELD RENTALS LLC

AI summary

A wet connect apparatus operable in a down-hole environment includes an annular electrical contact, which includes a resilient outer member constructed of coiled spring having its ends fused together, and also includes an inner retention member constructed of a gift ring embedded or installed within the resilient outer member. The inner retention member provides a radial bias to retain the annular electrical contact within an electrically conductive groove during installation and assembly of the wet connect apparatus.