Tool Joint Clamp Assembly for Torque Transfer Across Diameter Variations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oilfield threaded connections, such as tool joints, face issues with insufficient torque transfer, leading to unintentional loosening during well construction operations, which can result in equipment damage and personnel injury, and current standards only loosely control the outside diameter, exacerbating these issues.
Innovation Solution
A tool joint clamp assembly comprising a lower and upper collar assembly with interlocking linear slide mechanisms and grip elements, designed to accommodate differences in outside diameters and provide increased resistance to relative rotation, using dovetail slide mechanisms and barrel nuts for secure mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standardized drill pipe threaded connections are used with loose outside diameter control, then manufacturing flexibility and adaptability are improved, but torque transfer capacity and connection reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly incorporates adjustable grip elements that can be positioned at different locations around the collar to accommodate varying outside diameters of workpieces. The grip elements are movable along the collar circumference and can be independently adjusted to maintain optimal gripping force across different diameter specifications, thereby preserving both adaptability and torque transfer capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp assembly design allows modification of geometric parameters including the position and orientation of grip elements relative to the collar axis. By adjusting these parameters, the assembly can adapt to different outside diameters while maintaining sufficient contact pressure and friction for reliable torque transfer, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and reliability
2Ease of operation
If insufficient torque is applied during make-up operation, then ease of operation is improved, but connection reliability and safety deteriorate due to unintentional loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly is installed and activated during the make-up operation to provide immediate torque augmentation. By applying additional clamping force preliminarily during the connection process, the system ensures adequate torque is achieved without requiring excessive manual tightening effort, thus maintaining both ease of operation and connection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp assembly acts as an intermediary device between the tool joint threads and the external tightening mechanism. It provides a mechanical advantage through its lever arm and friction interface, allowing sufficient torque to be applied with reduced operational effort while ensuring the connection achieves the required reliability and resistance to loosening
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 clamp assembly effectively enhances torque transfer capacity, preventing unintentional loosening of tool joints and ensuring secure connections by gripping workpieces with adjustable grip elements and accommodating diameter differences, thereby enhancing operational safety and equipment reliability.
Implementation Method 1
provide increased resistance to relative rotation between the two workpieces about the tool joint axis
Implementation Method 2
each of the upward-facing and downward-facing semi-annular surfaces is interlocked with a linear slide mechanism that transfers shear forces between the left and right segments
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp assembly, for mounting around a tool joint coaxially joining cylindrical upper and lower workpieces, comprises an upper collar assembly and a lower collar assembly, each having semi-cylindrical left and right collar segments. The left and right collar segments of each collar assembly are removably connectable to each other by threaded fasteners to form the collar assembly. The upper and lower collar assemblies are coaxially mountable around the upper and lower workpieces, respectively, such that tightening the fasteners will urge the upper and lower collar assemblies to grip the upper and lower workpieces, respectively, and thus to provide increased resistance to relative rotation between the two workpieces about the tool joint axis. The upper and lower left collar segments, and/or the upper and lower right collar segments, may be interlockingly and radially slidable relative to each other to accommodate differences between the outside diameters of the two workpieces.