Hydrostatic Interlock Piston Fingers Prevent Early Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interlock systems for hydrostatic driven configurations in downhole environments are inadequate as they either require increased wall thickness or restrict borehole diameter, leading to costly early actuation issues.
Innovation Solution
A hydrostatic module interlock featuring a piston with deflectable fingers and a retaining piston that prevents finger deflection until a threshold force is applied, allowing for reliable actuation while maintaining a standard outside diameter and ensuring acceptable burst/collapse ratings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional interlock systems are used to prevent early actuation, then reliability is improved, but wall thickness increases or inside diameter is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The interlock system is segmented into distinct functional components: a piston with multiple deflectable fingers, a piston mandrel, and a retaining piston. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently without requiring excessive wall thickness, as the interlocking action is distributed across multiple discrete elements rather than requiring a thick-walled monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlock system employs dynamic deflectable fingers that can move between engaged and disengaged states. The fingers are designed to deflect radially outward when the retaining piston moves, allowing the piston to slide along the mandrel. This dynamic capability enables reliable interlocking without requiring excessive wall thickness, as the system adapts its configuration based on operational needs.
2Reliability
If conventional interlock systems are used to prevent early actuation, then reliability is improved, but inside diameter is restricted affecting flow
Solution Approach 1:
The interlock system is segmented into distinct functional components: a piston with multiple deflectable fingers, a piston mandrel, and a retaining piston. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently without requiring excessive wall thickness, as the interlocking action is distributed across multiple discrete elements rather than requiring a thick-walled monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlock system employs dynamic deflectable fingers that can move between engaged and disengaged states. The fingers are designed to deflect radially outward when the retaining piston moves, allowing the piston to slide along the mandrel. This dynamic capability enables reliable interlocking without requiring excessive wall thickness, as the system adapts its configuration based on operational needs.
3Strength
If wall thickness is increased to accommodate conventional interlocks, then structural integrity is improved, but available borehole space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The interlock system is segmented into distinct functional components: a piston with multiple deflectable fingers, a piston mandrel, and a retaining piston. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently without requiring excessive wall thickness, as the interlocking action is distributed across multiple discrete elements rather than requiring a thick-walled monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflectable fingers are designed as thin, flexible elements that can bend radially outward when needed. This flexibility allows the interlock mechanism to function with minimal wall thickness, as the fingers can deflect without requiring thick structural support, thereby maintaining structural integrity while minimizing borehole space requirements.
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 interlock system effectively supports high-pressure downhole operations by allowing actuation only when threshold conditions are met, thus preventing early actuation and maintaining structural integrity within the constraints of available space.
Implementation Method 1
a piston having fingers extending from a body thereof, a piston mandrel telescopically arranged with the piston, and a retaining piston disposed to prevent finger deflection in the first position and allow finger deflection in the second position
Implementation Method 2
deflecting the finger out of engagement with a piston mandrel telescopically arranged relative to the piston
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrostatic module interlock for a downhole tool including a piston having fingers extending from a body thereof, a piston mandrel telescopically arranged with the piston, and a retaining piston disposed to prevent finger deflection in the first position and allow finger deflection in the second position. A method for actuating an interlocked tool including loading a release configuration to a threshold force, releasing the release configuration, moving a retaining piston out of a first position wherein the retaining piston physically impedes deflection of a finger of a piston, deflecting the finger out of engagement with a piston mandrel telescopically arranged relative to the piston, and moving the piston relative to the piston mandrel. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string disposed in the borehole, and a hydrostatic module interlock disposed within or as a part of the string.