Subterranean Tool Shear Pin Shock Absorber
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Subterranean tools face high impact shock loading due to misaligned component impacts, leading to tool damage and difficulty in redressing, particularly in confined environments where traditional shock absorbers are ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorbing device featuring a collet style load ring with strategically placed shear screws that absorb high kinetic energy by transmitting load in tension and dissipating it through radial flexing collet segments, ensuring centralized alignment and minimizing impact stress through sequential shearing of shear pins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional telescoping shock absorbers are used, then shock absorption capability is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase making them ineffective in confined subterranean environments
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorption function is segmented into multiple shear pins distributed at different locations and orientations within the compact tool body. Each shear pin handles specific directional impacts, collectively providing comprehensive shock absorption without requiring a single complex telescoping mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential shock absorption function from the complex telescoping structure and implements it through simple shear pins that break under excessive force. This removes the bulky telescoping mechanism while retaining the core protective function through a much simpler design
2Ease of operation
If components are not sufficiently centralized, then ease of operation is improved, but angular misalignment occurs at impact locations causing tool damage and difficulty in redressing
Solution Approach 1:
The shear pins are strategically positioned at asymmetric locations and orientations within the tool body. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that regardless of the direction of impact or component movement, at least one shear pin will be optimally positioned to absorb the shock and prevent angular misalignment damage
Solution Approach 2:
The shear pins act as intermediary elements between moving components and the tool body. They mediate the impact forces by breaking in a controlled manner, preventing direct transmission of angular misalignment forces to critical tool components and threaded connections
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
Effectively reduces high impact loads on threaded connections, preventing damage and allowing for easier tool disassembly by centralizing components and dissipating kinetic energy, thereby enhancing tool reliability and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
A shock absorbing device for a subterranean tool features a plurality of sequentially shearing shear pins that shear after incremental relative motion of the affected components
Implementation Method 2
Impact of an impact ring segments on the travel stop segment located internally to each collet provides a shock absorbing capability as the collets are placed in tension and deflect by radial flexing in opposed directions
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorbing device for a subterranean tool features a plurality of sequentially shearing shear pins that shear after incremental relative motion of the affected components. The travel stop is located internally to a series of spaced collets supported off a ring. Impact of an impact ring segments on the travel stop segments located internally to each collet provides a shock absorbing capability as the collets are placed in tension and deflect by radial flexing in opposed directions. The relatively moving parts are rotationally locked with the last of the shear pins to shear. A backup pair of contacting shoulders are provided if the primary engaging shoulders fail to support the lower end of the tool after impact. A snap ring maintains the parts in the shifted position after impact.