Shear Bridge Packer Assembly Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
In packer designs, particularly those with single-ramp slips, directly fastening packer slips to the cone is unworkable due to limited space, leading to premature actuation issues during transport and deployment.
Innovation Solution
A shear bridge connects the cone and slip cage via shear fasteners, allowing secure locking during transport and preventing premature actuation until a predetermined pressure shears the fasteners, enabling radial expansion of slips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packer slips are directly fastened to the cone, then the connection is secure, but premature actuation occurs during transport and deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into modular components: the cone with integrated fasteners, the slip cage with corresponding receptacles, and the bridge portion connecting them. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together as a unified system that prevents premature actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge portion acts as an intermediary element that connects the cone to the slip cage, providing a stable structural link that maintains the intended geometry and prevents premature actuation during transport and deployment.
2Stability of the object's composition
If packer slips are directly fastened to the cone, then connection stability is improved, but available space is insufficient in large-bore assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge portion extends in the radial dimension, creating a distributed fastening system that spans the available space between the cone and slip cage. This dimensional approach allows the connection to be established without requiring direct adjacency, accommodating large-bore assembly constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening components are nested within the confined space of the packer assembly, with the bridge portion fitting between the cone and slip cage, and fasteners positioned within available gaps. This nesting allows stable connection without requiring additional external space.
3Strength
If a shear bridge with multiple fasteners is used, then shearing load capacity increases, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fastening functions are merged into a single integrated bridge component, which combines the structural bridge portion with multiple fasteners as one manufacturable unit. This reduces the number of separate parts to be assembled while maintaining high shearing load capacity through the distributed fastener system.
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 shear bridge effectively keeps the tool assembly locked during transport and deployment, preventing premature actuation and ensuring reliable radial expansion of slips, even in large-bore packer assemblies with limited space constraints, with minimal deformation and high shearing load capacity.
Implementation Method 1
the shear bridge includes a plurality of shear fasteners for holding the bridge portion axially to the cone and to the slip cage
Implementation Method 2
a ramp that facilitates radial outward expansion of the plurality of slips
Data Source
AI summary
A tool assembly includes a body, a slip cage disposed about the body, a cone slidable in a longitudinal direction along a length of the body, and a shear bridge. The slip cage carries a plurality of slips. The cone includes a ramp that facilitates radial outward expansion of the plurality of slips. The shear bridge connects the cone and the slip cage via a plurality of shear fasteners.