Delayed Actuation Tool Using Helical Fluid Retardation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing actuation methods in the resource exploration and recovery industry often result in immediate action upon reaching a pressure threshold, which is not suitable for all operations, necessitating a solution for slower response times after threshold pressures are exceeded.

Innovation Solution

A slow response time tool featuring a biasing arrangement, a piston, a chamber, and a retardation arrangement with a helical pathway in fluid communication, allowing for controlled and delayed actuation by creating a pressure drop over time, enabling actuation to occur from minutes to days after the triggering event.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If immediate actuation occurs upon pressure threshold exceedance, then response speed is improved, but operational control and timing precision deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuation response speedVSAvoidtiming control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A piston is introduced as an intermediary mechanical element between the pressure threshold trigger and the actuation mechanism. The piston converts instantaneous pressure threshold exceedance into controlled mechanical displacement, enabling delayed and sustained actuation rather than immediate response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes fluid pressure dynamics to control actuation timing. By monitoring pressure threshold exceedance and using fluid-mediated piston movement, the system achieves controlled delayed actuation based on pressure duration and magnitude rather than immediate mechanical response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Ease of operation

If pressure threshold actuation is used, then operational simplicity is improved, but response time control flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuation system simplicityVSAvoidresponse time flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The actuation system transitions from static pressure threshold triggering to dynamic pressure monitoring with time-based decision logic. The system evaluates both pressure magnitude and duration, allowing flexible adjustment of response timing while maintaining pressure-based actuation simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters from simple pressure threshold detection to combined pressure-duration threshold detection. This allows the same basic pressure sensing mechanism to provide flexible response time control by adjusting the temporal criteria for actuation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 actuation to occur over a selected period, providing a controlled and delayed response to pressure threshold events, enhancing the management of operations that require gradual tool activation.

Implementation Method 1

a biasing arrangement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a retardation arrangement defining a helical pathway in fluid communication with the chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure Drop: Pressure Drop

Data Source

PatentUS10550666B2Slow response time tool

Publication Date: 2020.02.04 BAKER HUGHES CO

AI summary

A slow response time tool including a biasing arrangement, a piston in operable communication with the biasing arrangement, a chamber receptive to the piston, a retardation arrangement defining a helical pathway in fluid communication with the chamber.