US3855857A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Force-measuring apparatus for use in a well bore pipe string
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
•
Filing: 1973-11-19
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Granted: 1974-12-24
•
Expires: 1993-11-19
Abstract
Abstract In the representative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention disclosed herein, a force-responsive sleeve is coaxially mounted around and secured at its opposite ends to a tubular body so that, when the body is coupled into a well bore pipe string, only a minor portion of any torsional or longitudinal forces acting on the body will be proportionally imposed on the sleeve. To greatly enhance the effects of these forces, the sleeve is normally maintained in longitudinal tension and a short central portion thereof is significantly reduced in cross-section. One or more arrays of strain gages mounted on the reduced portion of the sleeve are cooperatively arranged for providing electrical signals which are representative of the longitudinal and torsional forces imposed on the body tending to dimensionally distort the reduced sleeve portion. The effects of pressure differentials between fluids interior and exterior of the tubular body are eliminated by mounting an expansible protective sleeve around the body to define an enclosed annular space around the force-responsive sleeve that is communicated with a pressure-balancing piston in the body for equalizing the pressures in the annular space and the interior bore of the body.
Inventors
- 👤 J Claycomb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/20; G01L1/22; G01L1/2206; G01L1/2218; E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/007; E21B47/12; E21B47/14; E21B47/18; E21B47/20; E21B47/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a string of pipe in a well bore and comprising: a load-bearing body adapted for coupling between adjacent sections of a pipe string; an elongated load-responsive member having opposite end portions respectively secured to spaced portions of said load-bearing body and cooperatively arranged for normally maintaining said load-responsive member in tension and an unrestrained intermediate portion adapteD to contract and elongate in response to increases and decreases in loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move said spaced body portions in relation to one another; and transducer means coupled to said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member and having a measurable characteristic adapted for varying in response to changes in the tensile forces in said load-responsive member occurring upon relative movement between said spaced body portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a string of pipe in a well bore and comprising: a load-bearing body adapted for coupling between adjacent sections of a pipe string; an elongated load-responsive member having opposite end portions respectively secured to spaced portions of said load-bearing body and cooperatively arranged for normally maintaining said load-responsive member in tension and an unrestrained intermediate portion adapteD to contract and elongate in response to increases and decreases in loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move said spaced body portions in relation to one another; and transducer means coupled to said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member and having a measurable characteristic adapted for varying in response to changes in the tensile forces in said load-responsive member occurring upon relative movement between said spaced body portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spaced portions of said load-bearing body are longitudinally spaced from one another so that changes in axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body will change the tensile forces in said load-responsive member as said spaced body portions move longitudinally in relation to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spaced portions of said load-bearing body are longitudinally spaced from one another and normally angularly aligned so that changes in axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body will change the tensile forces in said load-responsive member as said spaced body portions move longitudinally in relation to one another and changes in torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body will change the tensile forces in said load-responsive member as said spaced body portions move angularly in relation to one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said measurable characteristic is an electrical property; and said transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member and exhibiting a varying range of said electrical property in response to tension variations in said load-responsive member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said load-responsive member is normally tensioned to about half of its rated yield point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a string of pipe in a well bore and comprising: a load-bearing body adapted for tandem coupling in a pipe string; an elongated load-responsive member having opposite end portions respectively secured to spaced portions of said load-bearing body for normally maintaining said load-responsive member in tension and a reduced-thickness intermediate portion adapted to deform in response to loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move one of said spaced body portions in relation to the other of said spaced body portions; and transducer means coupled to said reduced-thickness portion of said load-responsive member and having a measurable characteristic which varies in relation to variations in the tension in said load-responsive member occurring upon relative movement between said spaced body portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a string of pipe in a well bore and comprising: a load-bearing body adapted for tandem coupling in a pipe string; an elongated load-responsive member having opposite end portions respectively secured to spaced portions of said load-bearing body for normally maintaining said load-responsive member in tension and a reduced-thickness intermediate portion adapted to deform in response to loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move one of said spaced body portions in relation to the other of said spaced body portions; and transducer means coupled to said reduced-thickness portion of said load-responsive member and having a measurable characteristic which varies in relation to variations in the tension in said load-responsive member occurring upon relative movement between said spaced body portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 6 wherein said load-responsive member is normally tensioned to about half of its rated yield point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 6 wherein said measurable characteristic is an electrical property; and said transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on said reduced-thickness portion of said load-responsive member and exhibiting a varying range of said electrical property in response to tension variations in said load-responsive member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 6 wherein said opposite end portions of said load-responsive member are spaced longitudinally from one another so that changes in axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body will cause said load-responsive member to proportionally contract and elongate as such axial loads increase and decrease; and said transducer means include at least one tension-responsive strain gage mounted on said reduced-thickness portion of said load-responsive member and cooperatively arranged for responding primarily to contraction and elongation of said load-responsive member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 6 wherein said opposite end portions of said load-responsive member are angularly aligned and spaced longitudinally from one another so that changes in torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body will cause said load-responsive member to proportionally twist and untwist as such torsional loads increase and decrease; and said transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on said reduced-thickness portion of said load-responsive member and cooperatively arranged for responding primarily to variations in the torsional forces acting on said load-responsive member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 6 wherein said opposite end portions of said load-responsive member are angularly aligned and spaced longitudinally from one another so that changes in torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body will cause said load-responsive member to proportionally twist and untwist as such torsional loads increase and decrease and changes in axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body will cause said load-responsive member to proportionally contract and elongate as such axial loads increase and decrease; and said transducer means include at least a first strain gage mounted on said reduced-thickness portion of said load-responsive member and cooperatively arranged for responding primarily to variations in the torsional forces acting on said load-responsive member and at least a second strain gage mounted on said reduced-thickness portion of said load-responsive member and cooperatively arranged for responding primarily to variations in the tensile forces acting on said load-responsive member upon contraction and elongation of said load-responsive member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 6 wherein said load-responsive member is exterior of said load-bearing body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 12 wherein said load-responsive member is tubular and is coaxially arranged on said load-bearing body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
85 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 12 further including: a sleeve member cooperatively arranged around said load-responsive member and having upper and lower end portions respectively extending above and below said spaced portions of said load-bearing body; first and second means respectively fluidly sealing said upper and lower end portions of said sleeve member to said load-bearing body for defining an enclosed chamber around said load-responsive member; and pressure-regulating means cooperatively arranged on said body and adapted for maintaining said enclosed chamber at an elevated pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 14 wherein said load-responsive member is tubular and is coaxially arranged on said load-bearing body within said enclosed chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a drill bit dependently coupled to a drill string and operatively arranged for excavating a borehole and comprising: a load-bearing body adapted for being tandemly coupled between a drill bit and a tubular drill string section and having a longitudinal bore adapted for conducting drilling fluids therebetween; a load-responsive sleeve coaxially arranged on said load-bearing body and having upper and lower end portions respectively secured rigidly to longitudinally-spaced upper and lower portions of said load-bearing body for normally maintaining said load-responsive sleeve in tension; and electrical transducer means cooperatively arranged on an unrestrained intermediate portion of said load-responsive sleeve and adapted for exhibiting a varying electrical characteristic proportional to changes in the tension in said load-responsive sleeve occurring upon variations in loads acting on said load-bearing body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a drill bit dependently coupled to a drill string and operatively arranged for excavating a borehole and comprising: a load-bearing body adapted for being tandemly coupled between a drill bit and a tubular drill string section and having a longitudinal bore adapted for conducting drilling fluids therebetween; a load-responsive sleeve coaxially arranged on said load-bearing body and having upper and lower end portions respectively secured rigidly to longitudinally-spaced upper and lower portions of said load-bearing body for normally maintaining said load-responsive sleeve in tension; and electrical transducer means cooperatively arranged on an unrestrained intermediate portion of said load-responsive sleeve and adapted for exhibiting a varying electrical characteristic proportional to changes in the tension in said load-responsive sleeve occurring upon variations in loads acting on said load-bearing body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 16 further including: means on said load-responsive sleeve cooperatively arranged for concentrating strain in said unrestrained sleeve portion upon changes in the tension occurring in said load-responsive sleeve.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 16 wherein said load-responsive sleeve is exterior of said load-bearing body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
79 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 18 further including: a tubular housing cooperatively arranged around said load-responsive sleeve; first and second means respectively fluidly sealing the upper and lower end portions of said tubular housing to said load-bearing body above and below said load-responsive sleeve for defining an enclosed chamber therearound; and pressure-equalizing means on saidd load-bearing body and cooperatively arranged for maintaining said enclosed chamber at a pressure at least about equal to the pressure in said longitudinal bore.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 16 wherein said electrical transducer means include: at least one tension-responsive strain gage mounted on said unrestrained portion of said load-responsive sleeve and cooperatively arranged for responding to contraction and elongation of said load-responsive sleeve caused by changes in axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 16 wherein said electrical transducer means include: at least one set of tension-responsive strain gages mounted on said unrestrained portion of said load-responsive sleeve and cooperatively arranged for responding to angular twisting and untwisting of said load-responsive sleeve caused by changes in torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 21 wherein said electrical transducer means further include: at least one tension-responsive strain gage mounted on said unrestrained portion of said load-responsive sleeve and cooperatively arranged for responding to contraction and elongation of said load-responsive sleeve caused by changes in axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a drill bit dependently coupled to a drill string and operatively arranged for excavating a borehole and comprising: a tubular load-bearing body having upper and lower ends respectively adapted for coupling said body in a drill string and a longitudinal bore adapted for conducting drilling fluids flowing therefrom to a drill bit coupled therebelow; a load-responsive sleeve coaxially arranged around said load-bearing body and having a reduced-thickness intermediate portion between upper and lower portions of said load-responsive sleeve; means rigidly securing said upper and lower portions of said load-responsive sleeve respectively to longitudinally-spaced portions of said load-bearing body for normally maintaining said intermediate portion of said load-responsive sleeve in tension; and electrical transducer means cooperatively arranged on said intermediate portion of said load-responsive sleeve and adapted for exhibiting a varying electrical characteristic proportional to changes in the tension in said load-responsive sleeve occurring upon variations in loads acting on said load-bearing body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a drill bit dependently coupled to a drill string and operatively arranged for excavating a borehole and comprising: a tubular load-bearing body having upper and lower ends respectively adapted for coupling said body in a drill string and a longitudinal bore adapted for conducting drilling fluids flowing therefrom to a drill bit coupled therebelow; a load-responsive sleeve coaxially arranged around said load-bearing body and having a reduced-thickness intermediate portion between upper and lower portions of said load-responsive sleeve; means rigidly securing said upper and lower portions of said load-responsive sleeve respectively to longitudinally-spaced portions of said load-bearing body for normally maintaining said intermediate portion of said load-responsive sleeve in tension; and electrical transducer means cooperatively arranged on said intermediate portion of said load-responsive sleeve and adapted for exhibiting a varying electrical characteristic proportional to changes in the tension in said load-responsive sleeve occurring upon variations in loads acting on said load-bearing body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 23 wherein said electrical transducer means include: at least one tension-responsive strain gage mounted on said intermediate portion of said load-responsive sleeve and cooperatively arranged for responding to contraction and elongation of said load-responsive sleeve caused by changes in axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
54 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 23 wherein said electrical transducer means include: at least one set of tension-responsive strain gages mounted on said intermediate portion of said load-responsive sleeve and cooperatively arranged for responding to angular twisting and untwisting of said load-responsive sleeve caused by changes in torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
52 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 25 wherein said electrical transducer means further include: at least one tension-responsive strain gage mounted on said intermediate portion of said load-responsive sleeve and cooperatively arranged for responding to contraction and elongation of said load-responsive sleeve cauSed by changes in axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 23 wherein said load-responsive sleeve is exterior of said load-bearing body.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
79 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 27 further including: a tubular housing cooperatively arranged around said load-responsive sleeve; first and second means respectively fluidly sealing the upper and lower end portions of said tubular housing to said load-bearing body above and below said load-responsive sleeve for defining an enclosed chamber therearound; and pressure-equalizing means on said load-bearing body and cooperatively arranged for maintaining said enclosed chamber at a pressure at least about equal to the pressure in said longitudinal bore.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
51 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 28 wherein said electrical transducer means include: at least one tension-responsive strain gage mounted on said intermediate portion of said load-responsive sleeve and cooperatively arranged for responding to contraction and elongation of said load-responsive sleeve caused by changes in axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
54 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 28 wherein said electrical transducer means include: at least one set of tension-responsive strain gages mounted on said intermediate portion of said load-responsive sleeve and cooperatively arranged for responding to angular twisting and untwisting of said load-responsive sleeve caused by changes in torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
52 words
The load-sensing apparatus of claim 30 wherein said electrical transducer means further include: at least one tension-responsive strain gage mounted on said intermediate portion of said load-responsive sleeve and cooperatively arranged for responding to contraction and elongation of said load-responsive sleeve caused by changes in axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body.
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) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |