Wellbore Pipe Protection With Elastic Ring Auto-Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellbore pipe protection devices lack an efficient mechanism for automatic locking and require complex designs, leading to high production costs.
Innovation Solution
A wellbore pipe protection device with a circumferential inner recess and elastic rings, combined with a manually operable annular release tool, allows for automatic locking and easy installation, featuring a shallowing recess portion and interchangeable conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex locking mechanism is used to ensure secure protection, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases and production costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The protection device automatically locks onto the pipe end through elastic rings that engage with the pipe surface when the device is slid over the pipe. The elastic rings deform elastically to create a locking force that secures the device without requiring additional locking mechanisms or manual operation, thus achieving reliable protection while maintaining simple design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical locking systems with an elastic deformation mechanism. The elastic rings utilize elastic force to engage with the pipe end, substituting traditional mechanical locks, latches, or fasteners with a simpler elastic-based securing system that reduces device complexity while maintaining reliability
2Ease of manufacture
If a simple design is used to reduce production costs, then ease of manufacture is improved, but locking reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic rings automatically engage with the pipe end through elastic deformation when the protection device is installed. This self-securing mechanism eliminates the need for complex locking components, allowing simple manufacturing while ensuring reliable locking through the inherent elastic properties of the rings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in elastic ring parameters (deformation, radial force) to achieve reliable locking. By controlling the elastic properties and geometric parameters of the rings, the system achieves secure attachment without requiring complex mechanical structures, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while ensuring reliability
3Ease of operation
If manual operation is required for mounting and de-mounting, then ease of operation is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic rings are pre-configured within the protection device body, ready to engage with the pipe end immediately upon installation. The device is designed so that the locking action occurs automatically during the mounting process itself, eliminating the need for separate locking steps and reducing installation time while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The protection device allows rapid installation by sliding directly over the pipe end, skipping complex manual locking procedures. The elastic rings engage automatically during this quick sliding motion, enabling fast mounting and de-mounting operations without time-consuming manual intervention while maintaining operational simplicity
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
Enables automatic locking of the device to the pipe end, ensuring secure protection against accidental impacts, while allowing easy removal with minimal manual effort, thus reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
the protection device comprises a solid elastic ring and a hollow elastic ring, each of which is extending around said central axis, and each of which is received in the circumferential inner recess
Data Source
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AI summary
A wellbore pipe protection device (1) for protecting a wellbore pipe end (2) comprises a circumferential protection wall (3), having a circumferential inner recess (11), which contains a solid elastic ring (15) and a hollow elastic ring (16). In a locked mounted condition of the protection device to a wellbore pipe end, at least part of the solid elastic ring (15) is extending in a shallowing circumferential recess portion (12) of the inner recess (11). The protection device further comprises an annular release tool (17). The invention provides for automatical locking of a manually mounted protection device and at the same time allows for a simple design of a wellbore pipe protection device, so that the protection device can be produced cheaper.