Two-Piece Guide Bushing for Fast Conduit Access Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guide bushing systems require the removal of adjacent tools or components to access the interior of a conduit for maintenance or replacement, leading to potential damage and increased time, as the central portion often blocks access and necessitates full removal.

Innovation Solution

A two-piece guide bushing system comprising a guide bushing base and center, allowing the center to be uncoupled and removed without disturbing the base, enabling maintenance or replacement without damaging adjacent components and allowing access to the conduit interior without removing the entire bushing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the guide bushing is designed as a single integrated piece, then the structure is simple and reliable, but maintenance and replacement require removal of adjacent tools or components which may cause damage and increase time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The guide bushing is divided into two separate components: a guide bushing base that remains installed in the conduit, and a guide bushing center that can be removed and replaced independently. This segmentation allows maintenance of the center portion without requiring removal of the base or adjacent tools, resolving the contradiction between structural reliability and maintenance ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the guide bushing center is removed to access conduit interior, then access is enabled, but adjacent tools or components must be removed which may result in damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess easeVSAvoiddamage risk to adjacent components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the guide bushing into a base and center portion, the center can be removed independently to access the conduit interior without requiring removal of adjacent tools or components, eliminating the damage risk while maintaining access capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide bushing center is extracted as a separate removable component from the base, allowing it to be taken out for access to the conduit interior without affecting the base or surrounding components, thus preventing harmful effects on adjacent tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of repair

If the entire guide bushing is removed for maintenance, then complete maintenance is possible, but the process takes additional time and may damage adjacent components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance completenessVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The guide bushing is segmented into a permanent base and a removable center, allowing maintenance to be performed on only the center portion when needed. This selective maintenance approach reduces the time required compared to removing the entire bushing, while still achieving complete maintenance of the wear-prone center components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11543041B2Two-piece guide bushing

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Examples of a two-piece guide bushing apparatus are provided. A specific example comprises a guide bushing base comprising flanges which extend into the interior of the guide bushing base, and a guide bushing center comprising a spring clip. The guide bushing center is coupled to the guide bushing base and configured to be removable from the guide bushing base.