Sucker Rod Thread Protector With Squeeze-Release Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thread protectors for downhole oil tools, such as sucker rods and drill pipes, face issues with security, ease of use, material cost, and environmental impact, as they often require complex installations, are prone to loosening, and lack effective protection against harsh conditions like moisture and dirt.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, reusable thread protector with a unitary structure, made from injection-molded plastics like urethane, featuring a sleeve with reduced and enlarged diameter regions for secure engagement and easy removal, and optionally incorporating identification devices like RFID chips for tracking, which can be securely attached and detached by hand without specialized tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal caps with clamping lugs are used to protect threads, then thread protection is provided, but the clamping lugs are prone to snapping off after repeated bending and unbending, rendering the cap insecure and of limited use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable plastic thread protectors that are designed for single-use. These protectors are discarded after one installation cycle rather than being reused, eliminating the reliability degradation problem associated with repeated bending and unbending of metal clamping lugs. The disposable nature ensures consistent performance and security for each use while avoiding accumulation of wear damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from metal to plastic material, fundamentally changing the physical parameters of the thread protector. This material parameter change enables the protector to be disposable yet sufficiently durable for its intended single use, while also reducing weight and cost compared to metal alternatives.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If washers of felt or foil are inserted between the sucker rod shoulder and cap shoulder to prevent moisture and dirt ingress, then thread protection from environmental hazards is improved, but the installation and removal process becomes more time consuming and the washer can be lost or misplaced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the protective function previously provided by separate washers directly into the thread protector body. The plastic protector is designed with features such as integrated seals or protective barriers that combine the sealing function with the mechanical protection function, eliminating the need for separate washer components and reducing the number of assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated protective features in the disposable plastic protector ensure that moisture and dirt protection is provided as part of the single-use protector itself, without requiring separate reusable washers that need to be carefully managed, installed, and removed.
3Strength
If thread protectors are made of metal, then durability is provided, but the material cost and mass are large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, which dramatically reduces both weight and cost while still providing sufficient durability for the intended application. The plastic material is selected to have adequate strength and rigidity for protecting threads during handling and transportation, even though it is not as strong as metal.
Solution Approach 2:
By accepting that the thread protector is disposable after single use, the patent can use lighter, cheaper plastic material instead of heavy, expensive metal. The reduced mass is acceptable because the protector does not need to be reused, and the cost savings from using plastic are significant compared to metal.
4Reliability
If thread protectors with internal locking beads are used to secure the protector over the flange, then the protector remains in place during shipping, but multiple locking beads require unscrewing to remove, making removal time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses disposable plastic thread protectors that are designed for single-use installation. The simplified engagement mechanism requires minimal securing features since the protector will be discarded after one use. This eliminates the need for multiple locking beads that would complicate removal, as the entire protector is replaced rather than reused.
Data Source
AI summary
A thread protector for use with sucker rods and other downhole tools is pushable onto an end of the sucker rod for secure retention. The thread protector is optionally squeezed and rotated for release from the end of the sucker rod. Included on the protector is a sleeve having a closed end and an opposite open end for receiving and pushably engaging with the end of the sucker rod. The sleeve has one or more first regions around a circumference of the sleeve having reduced diameter for engagement with one or more regions of the end of the sucker rod and one or more second regions around the circumference of the sleeve having enlarged diameter. Application of pressure to the one or more second regions of the sleeve causes disengagement of the one or more first regions from the end of the sucker rod for removal of the thread protector.