Subterranean Setting Tool Piston Speed Regulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subterranean actuation tools face component failure due to high impact loads when rapidly accelerating parts collide with stationary parts, leading to excessive stress and potential fracture, particularly when using explosive charges for actuation.
Innovation Solution
Regulating the fluid flow through a restriction or orifice to control the rate of movement of the piston rod assembly, which reduces the stress applied to components as they engage a travel stop, thereby preventing component failure by managing the deceleration and impact forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If explosive charge is used to rapidly accelerate parts for actuation, then actuation speed and productivity are improved, but component failure due to high impact loads increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a deceleration mechanism with a piston rod and fluid restriction that activates before impact occurs. The fluid restriction creates backpressure that gradually decelerates the accelerating parts, cushioning the impact before the parts contact the travel stop. This prevents component failure while maintaining the rapid actuation capability provided by the explosive charge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses fluid pressure as an intermediary between the explosive charge and the parts being accelerated. The fluid restriction creates a pressure-mediated deceleration process, where the fluid acts as a mediator to transfer and regulate the forces involved, preventing direct high-impact contact between components.
2Reliability
If fluid flow restriction is added to regulate piston rod movement, then impact stress is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston rod assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as both the accelerating component driven by the explosive charge and the decelerating component through fluid flow restriction. The same assembly that gains speed from the explosion also experiences controlled deceleration through the fluid restriction, eliminating the need for separate cushioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own internal fluid pressure to regulate and decelerate the piston rod movement. The fluid restriction creates backpressure within the system itself, allowing the device to self-regulate its own deceleration without requiring external control systems or additional active components.
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 controlled fluid flow and deceleration mechanism effectively mitigate component failure by distributing the force over a longer period, ensuring reliable operation and reducing the risk of distortion or fracture during the release of the adaptive support in subterranean operations.
Implementation Method 1
the actuating force during such relative movement is initiated by an explosive charge
Implementation Method 2
Regulating the fluid flow through a restriction or orifice to control the rate of movement of the piston rod assembly
Implementation Method 3
The tandem movement is regulated, preferably in the delivery tool, with regulation of fluid flow through a restriction to eliminate component failure due to high impact loads
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly of a setting tool in combination with a delivery tool for an adaptive support allows delivery of the adaptive support in a condition where it stores potential energy. Relative movement between a mandrel and a surrounding sleeve allows release of the adaptive support at a desired subterranean location. The relative movement to release the adaptive support comes from a setting tool that has a setting sleeve and a supporting connection to the mandrel of the delivery tool. The setting sleeve, when triggered to move by preferably an explosive charge, engages a piston rod assembly supported by the delivery tool mandrel for tandem movement to a mandrel travel stop. The tandem movement is regulated, preferably in the delivery tool, with regulation of fluid flow through a restriction to eliminate component failure due to high impact loads when the travel stop is engaged.