US3596511A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for monitoring and controlling a tool in a borehole
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
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Filing: 1969-07-15
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1989-07-15
Abstract
Abstract The particular embodiment described herein as illustrative of the invention shows methods and apparatus for use with a core slicing tool in a borehole. Various circuits for monitoring and controlling the core slicing operation are disclosed, as well as circuits for deriving directional and depth control information. Means are disclosed for transmitting information from a plurality of information sources in the tool on one conductor pair. Also, automatic bias control means at the surface of the earth are shown for accurately detecting the transmitted information. Power can be selectively applied to either the core slicing circuits or the directional and depth circuits on the same conductor set by providing two different power modes. Means in the tool are responsive to one or the other power mode to switch various circuits in the tool onto various cable conductors. Also, a plurality of core slicing operations are controlled from the surface of the earth on one conductor pair by utilizing switching means responsive to a plurality of current logic states. Additionally, a method of determining the overload operating point of a motor in a tool in a borehole is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert J Hart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:55
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B49/00; E21B49/02; E21B49/06; E21B47/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for monitoring and controlling the operation of a tool in a borehole wherein the tool includes a motor, and load adjusting means coupled thereto and operable in response to control signals applied thereto for regulating the load on said motor, the combination comprising: means for supplying power to the motor; means for measuring an operating characteristic of the motor and generating a motor characteristic signal representative thereof; and control means responsive to said motor characteristic signal for producing said control signals for application to said load adjusting means to regulate the load on said motor and prevent its overloading.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for monitoring and controlling the operation of a tool in a borehole wherein the tool includes a motor, and load adjusting means coupled thereto and operable in response to control signals applied thereto for regulating the load on said motor, the combination comprising: means for supplying power to the motor; means for measuring an operating characteristic of the motor and generating a motor characteristic signal representative thereof; and control means responsive to said motor characteristic signal for producing said control signals for application to said load adjusting means to regulate the load on said motor and prevent its overloading.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for comparing said motor characteristic signal with a reference signal representative of a desired state for said operating characteristic and generating an output signal representative of the difference therebetween, and means responsive to said output signal for generating said control signals for regulating the load on said motor to maintain said motor operating characteristic substantially equal to said desired state for said operating characteristic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for comparing includes means for selectively limiting the range of said output signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further including cutting means coupled to said motor and adapted for cutting formation material; and said load adjusting means includes motor driven feed means coupled to said cutting means and adapted for feeding said cutting means into a formation; and wherein said control means includes means for adjusting a parameter of said control signal in response to said motor characteristic signal to maintain said measured motor characteristic relatively constant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said control means includes means for selectively limiting the range over which said control signal parameter can be varied.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said control means further includes means for comparing said motoR characteristic signal with a reference signal and producing a threshold output signal if one of said signals exceeds the other signal, and means responsive to said threshold output signal for energizing said motor driven feed means to reverse the direction of said cutting means whenever said motor characteristic signal indicates that the load on said motor exceeds a given level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus for monitoring and controlling the operation of a tool in a borehole wherein the tool includes a motor, and load adjusting means coupled thereto and operable in response to a control signal applied thereto for regulating the load on said motor, the combination comprising: means for supplying power at a given frequency to the motor; means for measuring the rotational speed of the motor output shaft and generating a motor speed signal representative thereof; means for comparing the frequency of said motor signal with the frequency of the power supplied to said motor and producing an output signal representative of the slip of said motor; and control means responsive to said output slip signal for producing a control signal for application to said load adjusting means to regulate the load on said motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus for monitoring and controlling the operation of a tool in a borehole wherein the tool includes a motor, and load adjusting means coupled thereto and operable in response to a control signal applied thereto for regulating the load on said motor, the combination comprising: means for supplying power at a given frequency to the motor; means for measuring the rotational speed of the motor output shaft and generating a motor speed signal representative thereof; means for comparing the frequency of said motor signal with the frequency of the power supplied to said motor and producing an output signal representative of the slip of said motor; and control means responsive to said output slip signal for producing a control signal for application to said load adjusting means to regulate the load on said motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said control means includes means for comparing said output slip signal with a reference signal and producing a difference signal representative of the difference therebetween, and means responsive to said difference signal for producing said control signal to cause said load adjusting means to maintain the slip of said motor at a relatively constant level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said control means includes means for selectively maintaining said control signal within selectable limits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further including cutting means coupled to said motor and adapted for cutting formation material and said load adjusting means include motor driven feed means coupled to said motor and adapted for feeding said cutting means into a formation in response to said control signal; and wherein said control means includes means for adjusting a parameter of said control signal in response to said output slip signal to maintain said output slip signal relatively constant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the frequency of said control signal applied to said motor driven feed means determines the rate at which said cutting means is fed into a formation; and said control means includes variable frequency means adapted to produce said control signal, and means responsive to said output slip signal for controlling the frequency of said output signal produced by said variable frequency to thereby control the feed rate of said cutting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said control means further includes means for comparing said output slip signal with a reference signal and producing a threshold output signal if one of said signals exceeds the other signal, and means responsive to said threshold output signal for energizing said motor driven feed means to reverse the direction of said cutting means whenever said motor characteristic signal indicates that the load on said motor exceeds a given level.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of determining the overload operating point of a motor located in a tool in a borehole comprising: lowering the tool into a borehole; supplying electrical power to the motor; decreasing the voltage of the electrical power supplied to the motor to substantially overload the motor; and measuring an operating characteristic of the motor at the overload point, said measured characteristic being representative of the overload operating point of the motor when the motor is substantially overloaded.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of determining the overload operating point of a motor located in a tool in a borehole comprising: lowering the tool into a borehole; supplying electrical power to the motor; decreasing the voltage of the electrical power supplied to the motor to substantially overload the motor; and measuring an operating characteristic of the motor at the overload point, said measured characteristic being representative of the overload operating point of the motor when the motor is substantially overloaded.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the measured operating characteristic is the slip of the motor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of measuring an operating characteristic of the motor includes the steps of; measuring the rotational speed of the Motor armature; measuring the frequency of the power supplied to the motor; subtracting the measured rotational speed from the measured frequency of the power to obtain an indication of the slip of the motor; and the step of decreasing the voltage until the motor is substantially overloaded comprises decreasing the voltage of the power supplied to the motor until the motor stalls out, said overload operating point being the motor slip when the motor stalls out.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus adapted for controlling a well bore tool including an electric motor, and comprising: means adapted for supplying power to such a motor; means adapted for measuring the slip characteristic of such a motor as an indication of the load thereon; and means operable in response to measured variations in said slip characteristic and adapted for regulating the load on such a motor to prevent stalling thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus adapted for controlling a well bore tool including an electric motor, and comprising: means adapted for supplying power to such a motor; means adapted for measuring the slip characteristic of such a motor as an indication of the load thereon; and means operable in response to measured variations in said slip characteristic and adapted for regulating the load on such a motor to prevent stalling thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
108 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means adapted for measuring motor slip include: first means adapted for measuring the rotational speed of such a motor and producing a first signal representative thereof, second means adapted for measuring the frequency of alternating current power being supplied to such a motor and producing a second signal representative thereof, and third means operable in response to said first and second signals for generating a third signal representative of said motor slip; and said load-regulating means include means operable in response to said third signal for decreasing the load on such a motor when said motor slip exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
101 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means for measuring said operating characteristic include: means adapted for measuring the rotational speed of such a motor and supplying a series of pulses at a pulse rate proportional to said measured speed, first means adapted for converting said pulse rate to a first signal proportional to the inverse of said pulse rate, second means adapted for providing a second signal proportional to the period of power supplied to such a motor, and third means operable in response to said first and second signals for generating a third signal proportional to said operating characteristic.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said first means include: means adapted for dividing said pulses, and means adapted for converting the divided pulses to a DC signal proportional to the period of said divided pulses.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 16 further including: means adapted for differentiating said measured operating characteristic, said load-regulating means being coupled to said differentiating means and adapted for regulating the load on such a motor in response to the rate of change of said operating characteristic.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said load-regulating means include: means adapted for continuously regulating the load on such a motor to maintain said operating characteristic at a relatively constant level.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for controlling the operation of a well bore tool including an electric motor and load-regulating means coupled to said motor, and comprising the steps of: supplying power to said motor; measuring the slip characteristic of said motor as an indication of the load thereon and producing control signals representative of the loads imposed on said motor; and applying said control signals to said load-regulating means for changing the load imposed on said motor in accordance with measured variations in said slip characteristic to prevent stalling of said motor.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for controlling the operation of a well bore tool including an electric motor and load-regulating means coupled to said motor, and comprising the steps of: supplying power to said motor; measuring the slip characteristic of said motor as an indication of the load thereon and producing control signals representative of the loads imposed on said motor; and applying said control signals to said load-regulating means for changing the load imposed on said motor in accordance with measured variations in said slip characteristic to prevent stalling of said motor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of measuring said slip characteristic of said motor includes the steps of: measuring the rotational speed of said motor; measuring the frequency of alternating current power supplied to said motor; and subtracting said measured rotational speed from said measured frequency.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said controL signals are applied continuously to said load-regulating means for maintaining said slip characteristic at a selected level.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for controlling a well bore tool including an electric motor and load-adjusting means operatively coupled to said motor, and comprising the steps of: supplying power to said motor; measuring slip characteristic of said motor as an indication of loads imposed thereon and generating a first signal representative thereof: producing a second signal indicative of a desired load level for said motor; and regulating said load-adjusting means in response to a selected relationship between said first and second signals for maintaining said motor at a selected load within its normal load range.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for controlling a well bore tool including an electric motor and load-adjusting means operatively coupled to said motor, and comprising the steps of: supplying power to said motor; measuring slip characteristic of said motor as an indication of loads imposed thereon and generating a first signal representative thereof: producing a second signal indicative of a desired load level for said motor; and regulating said load-adjusting means in response to a selected relationship between said first and second signals for maintaining said motor at a selected load within its normal load range.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of producing said second signal includes the steps of: comparing said first signal with a reference signal representative of a desired state for said slip characteristic and generating an output signal as a function of the difference therebetween; and generating said second signal in response to said output signal for regulating the load on said motor to maintain said measured slip characteristic substantially equal to said desired state of said slip characteristic.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the step of comparing includes the step of: selectively limiting the range of said output signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of producing said second signal includes the steps of: comparing said first signal with a reference signal indicative of a given load level and producing a threshold output signal if one of said signals exceeds the other signal; and energizing said load-adjusting means in response to said threshold output signal to reduce the load on said motor whenever said first signal indicates that the load on said motor exceeds said given load level.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
121 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said well bore tool further includes formation-cutting means operatively driven by said motor and said load-adjusting means include feed means coupled to said formation-cutting means and adapted for controlling the direction of feed of said formation-cutting means, and the step of producing said second signal includes the steps of: comparing said first signal with a reference signal indicative of a given load level and producing a threshold output signal if one of said signals exceeds the other signal; and energizing said feed means in response to said threshold output signal to reverse the feed direction of said formation-cutting means whenever said first signal indicates that the load on said motor exceeds said given load level.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for controlling a well bore tool including an electric motor and load-adjusting means coupled to said motor, and comprising the steps of: supplying power at a selected frequency to said motor; measuring the rotational speed of the shaft of said motor and generating a first signal having a frequency representative of said rotational speed; comparing the frequency of said first signal with said selected frequency and producing an output signal representative of the slip of said motor; producing a control signal in response to said output signal; and applying said control signal to said load adjusting means to regulate the load imposed on said motor in accordance with variations of the slip of said motor for preventing stalling of said motor.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for controlling a well bore tool including an electric motor and load-adjusting means coupled to said motor, and comprising the steps of: supplying power at a selected frequency to said motor; measuring the rotational speed of the shaft of said motor and generating a first signal having a frequency representative of said rotational speed; comparing the frequency of said first signal with said selected frequency and producing an output signal representative of the slip of said motor; producing a control signal in response to said output signal; and applying said control signal to said load adjusting means to regulate the load imposed on said motor in accordance with variations of the slip of said motor for preventing stalling of said motor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |