Hybrid Cable Crimp Sleeve for Secure Downhole Line Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication lines in work strings for wellbores lack effective means to secure their ends at or near downhole devices, leading to potential dislodgment and misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A crimp sleeve with distinct inner diameters for housing and metal tube ends, allowing secure attachment of communication cables to work strings via crimping, ensuring the communication line and metal tube ends are snugly fitted and fixed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If communication lines are left flexible and movable on the work string, then ease of installation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential dislodgment and misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The crimp sleeve is divided into two distinct sections: a first section with a first inner diameter for receiving the housing, and a second section with a second inner diameter for receiving the metal tube. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function, providing secure attachment while maintaining ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the crimp sleeve have different inner diameters tailored to fit specific components (housing vs. metal tube). This local quality ensures that each component is secured with the appropriate fit, preventing dislodgment while simplifying the installation process.
2Device complexity
If a single inner diameter crimp sleeve is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inability to snugly fit different components
Solution Approach 1:
The crimp sleeve is segmented into two sections with different inner diameters, allowing each section to be precisely fitted to its corresponding component (housing and metal tube). This segmentation enables high manufacturing precision without requiring an overly complex multi-component system.
Solution Approach 2:
The single crimp sleeve structure performs multiple functions: securing both the housing and the metal tube, providing alignment, and preventing dislodgment. This multi-functionality achieves high manufacturing precision while maintaining relatively simple device complexity.
3Reliability
If communication lines are securely fixed, then reliability is improved by preventing dislodgment, but ease of operation worsens due to reduced flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The crimp sleeve is segmented to provide secure fixation at critical points (housing and metal tube) while leaving the communication line itself flexible and movable in the intermediate section. This segmentation achieves reliability through secure attachment without sacrificing the flexibility needed for ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the crimp sleeve provide different levels of constraint: secure fixation where needed (at the housing and metal tube interfaces) and flexibility where needed (along the communication line). This local quality ensures reliability at connection points while maintaining ease of operation along the line.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system is included in a work string. The communication system includes a communication cable and a crimp sleeve. The communication cable has a housing with a communication line and a metal tube therein, a free line end of the communication line and a free tube end of the metal tube extending from an open end of the housing. The crimp sleeve includes a first sleeve section having a first inner diameter configured to receive the open end of the housing, a second sleeve section having a second inner diameter configured to receive the free tube end of the metal tube, and an opening configured to allow the free line end of the communication line to pass out of the crimp sleeve.