U.S. patent number 3,899,631 [Application Number 05/459,889] was granted by the patent office on 1975-08-12 for inflatable sealing element having electrical conductors extending therethrough.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Lynes, Inc.. Invention is credited to Billy E. Clark.
United States Patent |
3,899,631 |
Clark |
August 12, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Inflatable sealing element having electrical conductors extending
therethrough
Abstract
An inflatable element including spaced annular heads with a
reinforcing sheath extending therebetween is provided with an
elastomer outer cover. At least one electrical conductor is
embedded in the cover and projects from each end of the cover.
Inventors: |
Clark; Billy E. (Houston,
TX) |
Assignee: |
Lynes, Inc. (Houston,
TX)
|
Family
ID: |
23826532 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/459,889 |
Filed: |
April 11, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
174/47; 166/65.1;
277/334; 166/187 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
17/003 (20130101); E21B 17/1035 (20130101); E21B
17/026 (20130101); E21B 33/1277 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
17/00 (20060101); E21B 33/127 (20060101); E21B
33/12 (20060101); E21B 17/10 (20060101); E21B
033/127 (); F16J 015/46 () |
Field of
Search: |
;174/1,47,7R,135 ;138/93
;166/65R,66,122,179,187 ;277/12,32,34,34.3,34.6 ;285/97 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Askin; Laramie E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hayden; Jack W.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An inflatable device for positioning in a well string in a well
bore comprising:
a. spaced annular members having threads for securing the annular
members in a well string;
b. an annular reinforcing sheath extending continuously
longitudinally and circumferentially between and secured to said
spaced annular members for receiving an inflating fluid from the
well string;
c. an elastomer cover surrounding said sheath and extending between
said spaced annular member said elastomer cover expansible by said
reinforcing sheath and the inflating fluid therein; and
d. at least one electrical conductor embedded in said expansible
elastomer cover and extending from each end thereof.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein a plurality of electrical
conductors and embedded in said elastomer cover and extend from
each and thereof.
3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said electrical conductors are
spaced in said expansible elastomer cover radially from said
reinforcing sheath and are spaced circumferentially of each other.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Inflatable elements are employed in mining operations, in oil and
gas well drilling and in other situations where it may be desired
to provide a closure within an opening. In some circumstances it is
desirable to position instruments or apparatus remote relative to
the closure formed by the inflatable element. Suitable electrical
conductors must be provided for supplying power to the instruments
or for receiving electrical impulses therefrom without interfering
with inflation or deflation of the inflatable element.
The present invention overcomes this problem in that it provides an
inflatable element in which is embedded at least one electrical
conductor so that power may be supplied to a pump, instrument or
any type of other apparatus or for conveying pulses from an
instrument without interfering with the inflation and/or deflation
of the inflatable element.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
more readily apparent from a consideration of the description and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating a form of an inflatable
element with a plurality of conductors embedded in the elastomer
cover thereof; and
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a portion of
the outer cover of the packer surrounding a reinforcing sheath with
the electrical conductors embedded therein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 of the drawings wherein the
inflatable element 4 is shown as including spaced annular heads 5
and 6, such annular heads having a suitable means such as threads
or the like (not shown) for enabling the heads 5 and 6 to be
threadedly secured in a well string as referred to generally at 8.
It can be appreciated that the use of the present invention in
connection with the well string is for purposes of illustration
only and is not intended as a limitation, as it may be used in any
environment.
An annular reinforcing sheath referred to generally at 10 in FIG. 2
extends continuously circumferentially and longitudinally between
the heads 5 and 6 and is secured thereto and provides an
arrangement for receiving an inflating fluid to expand the
elastomer cover referred to at 15 which is adjacent and surrounds
the reinforcing sheath 10.
During the forming of the annular outer cover 15, a plurality of
openings such as referred to at 20 may be formed longitudinally
through the elastomer cover 15 by any suitable method. For example,
suitable means may be positioned in the cover 15 to form the
openings 20 during the curing of the elastomer cover 15 to provide
access openings for extending conductors represented generally at
25 longitudinally through the elastomer outer cover 15.
In FIG. 2, it will be noted that four of such openings 20 are
provided for receiving four electrical conductors. It can be
appreciated that any suitable number of electrical conductors may
be provided in the outer cover and may be spaced radially relative
to the reinforcing sheath 10 and the outermost circumferential edge
16 of the elastomer cover as well as being spaced circumferentially
relative to each other to provide proper and desired
insulation.
In some circumstances, the electrical conductors represented at 25
may be integrally formed with the elastomer cover during curing
thereof. At any event, whether the conductors are positioned in the
elastomer cover 15 after curing, or are integrally formed therein
during curing, it is desirable to provide suitable sealing means
between the cover 15 and conductors 25 so that there will be no
communication longitudinally through the inflatable element 4 and
along the electrical conductors 25 when the inflatable element is
employed in use.
To accomplish this, any suitable sealant or adhesive may be
employed when the conductors 25 are positioned in the elastomer
cover after the openings 20 are formed therein and after the
elastomer cover 15 has been properly cured, or if the conductors 25
are positioned in the elastomer cover 15 prior to curing, then such
curing in and of itself may provide intimate contact and adhesion
between the elastomer cover 15 and the electrical conductors 25 to
inhibit communication between one end 17 and the other end 18 of
the inflatable element during use.
When it is desired to utilize the inflatable element of the present
invention, it is positioned in the desired location, whether it is
in a well bore or other type of opening by any suitable means. In
the form of the invention illustrated for purposes of description
only, the element may be positioned on a well string 8 and then
lowered into an oil or gas well bore. It can be appreciated that
the electrical conductors 25 extend from beneath the element and
are initially connected to the apparatus to which power is to be
supplied before the well string 8 and inflatable element 4 are
lowered into the well bore. The conductors 25 extend along the well
string 8 and upwardly through the element and to the earth's
surface in a manner well known in the art.
After the element 4 has been lowered into the well bore, the
element may be inflated to seal off with the surrounding well bore
wall in a desired manner and thereafter power supplied to the
apparatus or instrument at the lower end of the well bore, or
beneath the inflatable element 9 for operation thereof, or
electrical impulses may be conveyed from the apparatus or
instruments to the earth's surface.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are
illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the
size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the
illustrated consturction may be made without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
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