Coiled Tubing Guide Stabilization via Preloaded Bushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coiled tubing guides in coiled tubing units experience lateral forces during operation, leading to angular offset of tubing entering the injector, causing wear and damage to components, which can result in costly repairs and unsafe operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A coiled tubing guide is stabilized using a pinned connection with a clamping mechanism that applies a load to reduce play, featuring a plate spring, clamping plate, and tensioning handle, or a threaded clamp, to mitigate lateral movement and maintain proper alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pinned connection is used to couple the tubing guide to the coiled tubing unit, then ease of assembly and disassembly is improved, but lateral stability deteriorates due to play in the pinned connection
Solution Approach 1:
A bushing is introduced as an intermediary element between the pin and the tubing guide sleeve. The bushing reduces play and lateral movement at the pinned connection, thereby maintaining lateral stability while preserving the ease of assembly and disassembly provided by the pinned connection design.
Solution Approach 2:
A clamp is applied to pre-load the bushing at the pinned connection, eliminating play before operational forces are applied. This preliminary action ensures that the bushing maintains constant contact with the pin and sleeve, preventing lateral movement during operation while allowing the pinned connection to remain easily assembled and disassembled.
2Ease of operation
If the tubing guide is allowed to move laterally under operational forces, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to angular offset of tubing
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing acts as a mediator that maintains precise angular alignment between the tubing guide and the coiled tubing unit. By reducing play in the pinned connection, the bushing ensures that the tubing enters the injector at the correct angle, preventing angular offset while allowing the system to operate easily.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp applies a pre-loading force to the bushing before operational forces are applied. This preliminary action establishes the correct angular alignment in advance, ensuring that the tubing maintains proper orientation throughout operation without requiring complex alignment procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If lateral forces are applied to the tubing guide to accommodate reel width, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to wear on injector components
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing serves as a protective intermediary that absorbs and distributes lateral forces from the reel width accommodation. By reducing the concentration of forces at the pinned connection, the bushing protects injector components from wear while maintaining the adaptability needed to accommodate varying reel widths.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp pre-loads the bushing to create a cushioning effect before lateral forces from reel width variations are applied. This preliminary loading ensures that the bushing is already positioned to absorb and distribute forces, preventing sudden impacts that could cause wear on injector components while maintaining adaptability.
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 stabilization of the coiled tubing guide prevents angular offset, reducing wear on injector components, extending tubing life, and minimizing operational disruptions and repair costs.
Implementation Method 1
The clamping mechanism may include a plate spring in some embodiments
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous devices, systems, and methods for stabilizing a coiled tubing guide extending from a coiled tubing unit. Stabilization of the guide may mitigate movement of the guide from lateral operational forces. The guide may be stabilized by clamping or anchoring a connection point between the guide and the unit, such as between the guide and a coiled tubing injector frame or a tubing guide mount coupled to the coiled tubing injector frame. In general, a clamp or other mechanism may operate to preload the pinned connection with a prescribed force. The direction of the force may be perpendicular, or near perpendicular, to an axis of rotation about which lateral loading on the guide causes moment forces.