Lever-Based Expansion Control Device for Packer Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing expansion-control mechanisms for packer bodies face issues with extrusion and disintegration under extreme conditions, such as high stress, pressure, and corrosive environments, leading to poor sealing and pressure control, and are often complex and inefficient with uneven compression and excessive friction.
Innovation Solution
A novel expansion-control device featuring a lever body with a fulcrum and radially projecting lever arm, connected to a packer-control element, which forms a supporting screen with overlapping packer-control elements to provide even compression and minimize friction, using a torque-supplying device for controlled radial movement and activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the packer body is subjected to great stresses during setting and use, then the sealing function is improved, but the packer body may extrude or flow into accessible cavities, weakening or ruining the packer body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing expansion control devices (such as screen elements or expansion control bodies) that prevent the packer body from extruding into cavities before the extrusion can occur. These devices are positioned in advance to block accessible cavities and control the expansion direction, thereby protecting the packer body integrity while maintaining reliable sealing function under great stresses.
2Manufacturing precision
If known expansion-control mechanisms are used, then the packer body expansion is controlled, but the mechanisms are complex and result in uneven compression and excessive friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the expansion control function into simple, modular elements such as individual screen elements or expansion control bodies that can be distributed around the packer body. Each segment independently controls expansion in its local region, achieving uniform overall control without requiring a complex integrated mechanism. This segmentation reduces device complexity while maintaining precise expansion control and minimizing friction.
3Reliability
If the packer body is compressed to provide sealing pressure, then the sealing function is improved, but the compression may be uneven and cause the packer body to stick or wedge against the external object
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using expansion control devices with varying geometries or positions that create locally optimized compression distributions. The screen elements or expansion control bodies are arranged to ensure uniform local compression across different regions of the packer body, preventing sticking or wedging while maintaining adequate sealing pressure where needed. This localized control allows the packer body to be easily loosened after use without compromising sealing reliability.
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 solution effectively prevents extrusion and disintegration of packer bodies, ensuring even and gentle compression, reducing friction, and allowing for flexible operation to compensate for irregularities, thereby maintaining effective sealing and pressure control in challenging environments.
Implementation Method 1
Another property of such an elastic/plastic packer body is that when the packer body is being compressed, expanded and set/used, energy is being stored in it. It is this stored energy that provides for the packer body to be pressed sealingly against said external object.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to an expansion-control device (2), a piping tool (46), a method and uses for a packer body (52) on a mandrel (50) with a supporting ring (54; 58) arranged adjacent to an end (56; 60) of the packer body (52). The expansion-control device (2) includes a packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b) for positioning adjacent to the supporting ring (54; 58) and for radial movement relative to the mandrel (50); and a power-transmission body (6) connected to the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b) for the transmission of activating power thereto. What is particular is that the power-transmission body (6) includes a lever body (8) with a fulcrum portion (10), and a lever arm (12) projecting radially from the fulcrum portion (10); the free end of the lever arm (12) being connected to the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b); the lever body (8) being rotatable around a rotational axis (22) through said fulcrum portion (10); and the power-transmission body (6) including a torque-supplying device (30) to which the lever body (8) is operatively connected for the supply of torque to the lever body (8), and for the rotation of the lever body (8) around the rotational axis (22).