Tubular End Refacing Tool for Simultaneous Shoulder Restoration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tools fail to effectively and simultaneously reface the inner and outer shoulders of tubular ends in rotary-shouldered connections, leading to deformation and loss of metal-to-metal contact, necessitating a method to restore precise spacing and engagement.

Innovation Solution

A portable refacing tool with a power tool, sleeve assembly, feed assembly, and cutters that can simultaneously reface both inner and outer shoulders, utilizing a drive assembly to adjust axial position and maintain precise spacing through a fixed geometry, allowing for controlled refacing of tubular ends.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional refacing tools are used, then refacing can be performed, but the inner and outer shoulders cannot be refaced simultaneously, leading to deformation and loss of metal-to-metal contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespacing between inner and outer shouldersVSAvoidstructure of refacing tool

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple refacing operations into a single tool that can reface both the inner and outer shoulders simultaneously. The feed assembly includes multiple cutters arranged to engage both shoulders during one operation, eliminating the need for separate refacing operations and ensuring precise spacing restoration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The refacing tool is divided into distinct functional components: a power tool providing rotational force, a feed assembly controlling cutter movement, and multiple cutters positioned for simultaneous engagement with inner and outer shoulders. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to achieve precise refacing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple refacing operations are performed sequentially, then both shoulders can be refaced, but time is lost and deformation may occur between operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemetal-to-metal contactVSAvoidrefacing operation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous refacing action by simultaneously engaging both inner and outer shoulders with cutters during a single operational cycle. The feed assembly moves both cutters in unison, ensuring continuous material removal from both shoulders without interruption, thereby restoring metal-to-metal contact reliably and quickly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If a portable refacing tool is designed, then mobility is improved, but maintaining precise axial position control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveportability of refacing toolVSAvoidaxial position control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The feed assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the power tool and the cutters, providing precise control over axial movement. It translates the rotational motion from the power tool into controlled linear advancement of the cutters, ensuring accurate positioning while maintaining the portable nature of the overall tool.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12076798B2Tools and methods for refacing tubular ends forming a threaded connection

Publication Date: 2024.09.03 NAT OILWELL VARCO LP

AI summary

A refacing tool includes a feed assembly that holds a first set of cutters positioned for refacing the inner shoulder of a pin or box end of a tubular and a second set of cutters positioned for refacing the outer shoulder of the pin or box end. The axial spacing between the first set of cutters and the second set of cutters is fixed and determined by the geometry of the feed assembly. The refacing tool can simultaneously reface the inner shoulder and the outer shoulder, as well as chamfers.