Jointed Spearhead Assembly Pivot Stress Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spearhead assemblies in down-hole drilling face issues with high stress loads leading to bending or breaking during retrieval, and jointed spearheads with pivotal connections can become locked in the borehole or experience deformation and failure under misuse or overload.
Innovation Solution
A jointed spearhead assembly with a spearhead portion pivotally connected to a base portion, featuring a follower tab and biasing member housed within the base, allowing the spearhead to pivot and distribute mechanical stresses to stronger areas, while the biasing member is safely contained, enhancing strength and reducing the risk of injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a jointed spearhead with pivotal connection is used, then the stress from loads is reduced, but the spearhead portion may pivot from side to side and become locked against the borehole or drill string
Solution Approach 1:
The spearhead portion is made dynamically adjustable through a pivot joint that allows it to rotate between a drilling position and a retrieval position. This dynamic capability enables the spearhead to adapt its orientation based on operational needs, preventing locking while maintaining strength during retrieval operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotal connection changes the angular parameter of the spearhead portion relative to the base portion. By allowing rotation between specific angles (drilling orientation and retrieval orientation), the system transforms the spearhead from a fixed-parameter component to one that can adjust its geometric parameters to avoid locking while maintaining structural integrity.
2Ease of operation
If a spring is used to bias the spearhead portion to a convenient position for coupling, then coupling is facilitated, but the design may cause the spearhead to be weak near the pivot joint leading to deformation or failure under misuse or overload
Solution Approach 1:
The spearhead assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a base portion, a spearhead portion, a pivot joint, and a biasing mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the biasing spring provides operational convenience while the segmented structure distributes loads away from the pivot joint to stronger areas, preventing deformation and failure.
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 configuration reduces the risk of bending, deformation, and failure, providing a safer and more robust spearhead assembly that can handle high loads without becoming locked in the borehole, improving the reliability of down-hole operations.
Implementation Method 1
A biasing member (212) is housed within the base portion (208) and is configured to bias the spearhead portion (204) to a center-neutral position
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A
AI summary
A jointed spearhead assembly can include a base portion that is adapted to be connected to a down-hole object and a spearhead portion having a first end and a second. The second end includes a follower tab with a non-convex first follower interface. The spearhead portion can be pivotally coupled to the base portion.