Tall Flange Rubber Adapter for Secure Rotating Head Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drilling operations face challenges with frequent rubber wear and replacement due to abrasive interactions with drill strings of varying diameters, leading to increased downtime and equipment damage from loose fasteners falling downhole.
Innovation Solution
A tall flange rubber adapter that secures a rubber to the inner barrel of a rotating head assembly, providing additional contact surface for fasteners and preventing them from falling, while maintaining a seal against the drill string to prevent debris entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a single rubber is used to seal against drill strings of varying diameters, then the rubber must be rigid enough to withstand drilling fluid pressure, but it cannot maintain consistent sealing contact as drill collars pass through and return to seal against smaller diameter drill pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the sealing system into two separate rubbers: a first rubber that seals against the drill pipe (smaller diameter) and a second rubber that seals against the drill collars (larger diameter). This segmentation allows each rubber to be optimized for its specific sealing task, with the first rubber maintaining constant diameter for drill pipe sealing while the second rubber accommodates the larger drill collar diameter without requiring the first rubber to deform or lose its sealing geometry.
2Reliability
If fasteners are wired into the rotating head assembly to prevent them from falling downhole, then equipment damage is reduced, but time and effort are required for wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The fasteners are pre-wired to the rotating head assembly during manufacturing or initial setup, creating a permanent secured connection. This preliminary action eliminates the need for field workers to perform time-consuming wiring operations during assembly or maintenance, while ensuring fasteners remain securely attached and cannot fall downhole during operation.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the rubber is rotated with the drill string to maintain sealing contact, then abrasive wear is reduced, but the operating cycle is directly proportional to the number of drill collars passing through since the rubber does not return to its original sealing diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the sealing function into two independent rubbers with different rotation characteristics. The first rubber remains stationary and seals against the drill pipe, while the second rubber rotates with the drill string to seal against drill collars. This allows the first rubber to maintain its original sealing diameter indefinitely without wear-induced deformation, eliminating the operating cycle limitation caused by rubber diameter changes.
4Reliability
If conventional drilling operations are performed with frequent rubber replacement, then seal maintenance is achieved, but downtime increases and equipment damage occurs from loose fasteners
Solution Approach 1:
The fasteners are pre-secured to the rotating head assembly through wiring during manufacturing or initial setup. This preliminary securing action prevents fasteners from becoming loose during operation, eliminating the need for frequent equipment replacement due to fastener loss and reducing downtime associated with maintenance operations.
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
Reduces downtime and equipment damage by securing fasteners and extending the life of components by preventing loose fasteners from falling and reducing wear on the drill string.
Implementation Method 1
The rubber has a diameter that seals against the drill string
Implementation Method 2
providing additional contact surface for fasteners and preventing them from falling
Data Source
AI summary
The tall flange rubber adapter attaches to the inner barrel of a rotating head assembly. A rubber attaches to the tall flange rubber adapter. The rubber secured to the rubber adapter also rotates with the inner barrel thus maintaining the seal with the drill string to divert the drilling fluid from the well to the outlet flange. Fasteners install upward into the adapter and the inner barrel to secure the rubber adapter with the inner barrel. The increased height of the rubber adapter provides additional surface for the fastener to contact. The increased contact of the fastener with the tall flange maintains the fastener within the rubber adapter and the inner barrel to limit fasteners from falling downhole into the drilling area.