Wellbore Sensor Carrier Wedge Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing instruments used in subsurface wellbores face challenges in accurately characterizing shock and vibration levels due to inadequate mechanical coupling of shock and vibration sensors, which complicates instrument assembly and increases servicing costs.
Innovation Solution
A wellbore instrument housing with a carrier system that includes laterally movable elements and an adjustable wedge for mounting shock and vibration sensors, ensuring efficient mechanical coupling and easy assembly, utilizing a screw mechanism for optimal axial loading without compromising the instrument's pressure rating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If accelerometers are directly mounted on the instrument housing, then shock and vibration measurement accuracy is improved, but instrument assembly becomes more difficult and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the instrument into distinct segments: the housing, the carrier assembly, and the accelerometer assembly. The carrier acts as an intermediate segment that can be independently adjusted and configured, allowing the accelerometer to be mounted with proper mechanical coupling to the housing without requiring direct integration during final assembly. This segmentation enables separate optimization of measurement accuracy and assembly ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a carrier as an intermediary component between the accelerometer and the housing. This carrier includes adjustable elements that provide the necessary mechanical coupling for accurate shock and vibration measurement while simplifying the assembly process. The carrier serves as a mediator that decouples the complexity of direct mounting from the final assembly operation.
2Measurement precision
If accelerometers are mounted with adequate mechanical coupling to the housing, then shock and vibration measurement accuracy is improved, but servicing the instrument becomes more difficult and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the accelerometer mounting system into a removable carrier assembly, the patent enables easy separation of the accelerometer from the housing for servicing. The carrier can be independently accessed and manipulated, allowing technicians to service or replace accelerometers without disassembling the entire instrument, thus maintaining measurement accuracy while improving serviceability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adjustable and movable elements in the carrier assembly that can be dynamically reconfigured during servicing. The carrier includes features that allow it to be easily positioned, locked, and unlocked, providing dynamic adaptability that simplifies maintenance operations while ensuring proper mechanical coupling when in the operational locked position.
3Ease of operation
If a carrier system with laterally movable elements and adjustable wedge is used, then assembly convenience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the carrier assembly: mechanical support, lateral adjustment, wedge-based locking, and frictional engagement with the housing are all integrated into a single carrier component. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and assembly steps compared to using separate components for each function, thereby improving assembly convenience while controlling overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier assembly serves multiple purposes: it provides mechanical support for the accelerometer, enables lateral adjustment for proper positioning, creates frictional engagement with the housing for stable mounting, and incorporates the wedge mechanism for secure locking. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, balancing assembly ease with manageable complexity.
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
This solution allows for accurate and convenient mounting of shock and vibration sensors, ensuring high-quality measurements and facilitating instrument assembly while maintaining the mechanical integrity of the tool housing, with 100% transmissibility of acceleration during testing.
Implementation Method 1
The wedge is arranged such that longitudinal movement thereof causes lateral separation of the laterally movable elements into frictional engagement with the inner surface of the housing
Implementation Method 2
longitudinal movement of the wedge may be performed by rotating a screw that threadedly engages an interior passage in the wedge
Data Source
AI summary
A wellbore instrument includes a housing configured to traverse a subsurface wellbore. A shock and vibration sensor disposed in the housing and is mounted on a carrier disposed in the housing. The carrier includes at least two, laterally movable elements each having an outer surface configured to contact an inner surface of the housing. The carrier includes an adjustable wedge disposed between the opposed elements. The wedge is arranged such that longitudinal movement thereof causes lateral separation of the laterally movable elements into frictional engagement with the inner surface of the housing.