Downhole Roller Retention via Integrated Lips
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyance of wireline tools is inefficient due to friction and sticking issues, and existing external mechanisms for retaining rollers are difficult to maintain and occupy significant space.
Innovation Solution
A downhole roller system with a body, wheel, and bearing assembly that allows the wheel to move relative to the body, held in place by an internal shaft, which reduces friction and prevents sticking by using retaining lips and seals to secure the roller to the toolstring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external mechanisms are used to retain rollers, then the rollers can be secured to the toolstring, but the mechanisms are hard to maintain and take up significant space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the retention function from a separate external mechanism and integrates it directly into the roller body through retaining lips. This eliminates the need for complex external retention mechanisms while maintaining secure attachment of the roller to the toolstring.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining lips are merged with the roller body as an integrated structure, combining the roller function with the retention function into a single component. This reduces device complexity and eliminates separate retention mechanisms.
2Reliability
If external mechanisms are used to retain rollers, then the rollers can be secured to the toolstring, but the mechanisms take up significant space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for bulky external retention mechanisms by extracting the retention function and implementing it through integrated retaining lips on the roller body, significantly reducing the overall volume of the roller assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining lips are nested within the roller body structure rather than extending outward as separate components, allowing the retention mechanism to occupy minimal space while maintaining effective roller retention.
3Productivity
If rollers are used with the toolstring, then conveyance efficiency is improved and sticking risk is reduced, but friction remains an issue during conveyance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bearing assembly as an intermediary between the roller wheel and the toolstring, which reduces direct friction contact while maintaining the roller's ability to improve conveyance efficiency and prevent sticking.
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 system effectively reduces friction and prevents sticking during tool conveyance, enhancing efficiency and reducing the risk of damage to wellbore walls, while maintaining simplicity and minimizing space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
A bearing assembly is disposed between the body and the wheel to allow the wheel to move relative to the body
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole roller having a body. The downhole roller also has a wheel connected with the body, and a bearing assembly disposed between the body and the wheel to allow the wheel to move relative to the body. The downhole roller can also have an internal shaft between the wheel and the bearing assembly, wherein the internal shaft holds the bearing assembly in place.