US3871734A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical conducting fluid tight tubular assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-02-25
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1994-02-25
Abstract
Abstract An electrical conducting, fluid tight, tubular assembly comprising a number of elongate, interchangeable, reusable tubular sections that may be removably connected end to end and extended downwardly in an oil well bore hole adjacent a tubing string situated therein to supply electrical power to a down hole electrical pump or other electrically operated device that may be situated in the bore hole. The assembly is concurrently made up as the tubing string is lowered into the bore hole, with the sections being clamped to the tubing string and supported therefrom. The sections of the tubing string are longitudinally movable relative to one another within predetermined limits and as a result the assembly may elongate and contract in conformity with changes in the longitudinal length of the tubing string due to temperature changes in the bore hole. When the tubing string is pulled from the oil well bore hole the sections of the tubular assembly are sequentially unclamped therefrom and disengaged from one another. The disengaging of the sections one from the other is extremely simple, as the sections are in slidable engagement and the uppermost sections on an assembly simply has to be lifted upwardly to effect such disengagement. The tubular sections when assembled provides protection for a number of longitudinally extending laterally spaced electrical conductors or cables therein, both from mechanical damage, as well as damage that may result from excessive temperatures or gas pressure in the bore hole.
Inventors
- 👤 Delbert Lyle Murtland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:15
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/523; E; E21; E21B; E21B17/00; E21B17/003; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
530 words
A fluid tight tubular assembly that includes a plurality of engaging sections that are longitudinally movable relative to one another and are disposed in coaxial alignment end to end in an oil well bore hole to supply electric power to a device situated in said bore hole, said assembly being removably secured to a string of oil well tubing situated in said bore hole and extending longitudinally therein, said tubular assembly including: a. a plurality of said sections, with each of said sections comprising: 1. an elongate tubular member that has first and second ends; 2. first and second tubular sleeves that are longitudinally aligned with said tubular members and extend outwardly from said first and second ends thereof, with the exterior diameter of said first sleeve being slightly less than the interior diameter of said second sleeve; 3. a plurality of longitudinally extending laterally spaced electrical conducting cables in said tubular member; 4. a plurality of electrical conducting tubes in said first sleeve that are laterally spaced from one another and in electrical communication with said cables; 5. a plurality of rigid elongate electrical conducting prongs in said second sleeve that are in the same lateral spacing as said tubes, with said prongs being of such transverse cross section as to be slidably insertable in one of said tubes of an adjacently disposed one of said sections, and each of said prongs when so inserted establishing electrical communication between said prong and said tube in which it is inserted; 6. a solidifed non-electrical conducting material in said tubular member and first sleeve that holds said cables and tubes in said lateral spacing, and said material gripping the portions of said prongs most adjacent said tubular member to maintain said prongs in said lateral spacing in said second sleeve; and 7. a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending resilient sealing rings mounted on the exterior surface of said first sleeve that effect a fluid tight seal between said first sleeve and a second sleeve of an adjaceNt one of said sections when said first sleeve is longitudinally inserted in the latter; b. first means for electrically connecting said tubes in said first sleeve of the lowermost one of said sections in said bore hole to the terminals of said device; c. second means for electrically connecting said prongs in said second sleeve of the uppermost one of said sections to a source of electric power, with said assembly between said lowermost and uppermost sections comprising a plurality of said sections that are axially aligned with said first and second sleeves of the adjacent end portions of said plurality of sections in slidable sealing engagement and said tubes and prongs thereof also in slidable electrical communication with one another; and d. third means for removably securing each of said sections to said tubing string to maintain said tubular assembly in fixed lateral spacing relative thereto, with said tubular assembly elongating and contracting as said tubing string changes in length due to variations in temperature in said bore hole by said first and second sections and tubes and prongs therein of adjacently disposed of said sections moving longitudinally relative to one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
530 words
A fluid tight tubular assembly that includes a plurality of engaging sections that are longitudinally movable relative to one another and are disposed in coaxial alignment end to end in an oil well bore hole to supply electric power to a device situated in said bore hole, said assembly being removably secured to a string of oil well tubing situated in said bore hole and extending longitudinally therein, said tubular assembly including: a. a plurality of said sections, with each of said sections comprising: 1. an elongate tubular member that has first and second ends; 2. first and second tubular sleeves that are longitudinally aligned with said tubular members and extend outwardly from said first and second ends thereof, with the exterior diameter of said first sleeve being slightly less than the interior diameter of said second sleeve; 3. a plurality of longitudinally extending laterally spaced electrical conducting cables in said tubular member; 4. a plurality of electrical conducting tubes in said first sleeve that are laterally spaced from one another and in electrical communication with said cables; 5. a plurality of rigid elongate electrical conducting prongs in said second sleeve that are in the same lateral spacing as said tubes, with said prongs being of such transverse cross section as to be slidably insertable in one of said tubes of an adjacently disposed one of said sections, and each of said prongs when so inserted establishing electrical communication between said prong and said tube in which it is inserted; 6. a solidifed non-electrical conducting material in said tubular member and first sleeve that holds said cables and tubes in said lateral spacing, and said material gripping the portions of said prongs most adjacent said tubular member to maintain said prongs in said lateral spacing in said second sleeve; and 7. a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending resilient sealing rings mounted on the exterior surface of said first sleeve that effect a fluid tight seal between said first sleeve and a second sleeve of an adjaceNt one of said sections when said first sleeve is longitudinally inserted in the latter; b. first means for electrically connecting said tubes in said first sleeve of the lowermost one of said sections in said bore hole to the terminals of said device; c. second means for electrically connecting said prongs in said second sleeve of the uppermost one of said sections to a source of electric power, with said assembly between said lowermost and uppermost sections comprising a plurality of said sections that are axially aligned with said first and second sleeves of the adjacent end portions of said plurality of sections in slidable sealing engagement and said tubes and prongs thereof also in slidable electrical communication with one another; and d. third means for removably securing each of said sections to said tubing string to maintain said tubular assembly in fixed lateral spacing relative thereto, with said tubular assembly elongating and contracting as said tubing string changes in length due to variations in temperature in said bore hole by said first and second sections and tubes and prongs therein of adjacently disposed of said sections moving longitudinally relative to one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
first and second tubular sleeves that are longitudinally aligned with said tubular members and extend outwardly from said first and second ends thereof, with the exterior diameter of said first sleeve being slightly less than the interior diameter of said second sleeve;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
first and second tubular sleeves that are longitudinally aligned with said tubular members and extend outwardly from said first and second ends thereof, with the exterior diameter of said first sleeve being slightly less than the interior diameter of said second sleeve;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
A tubular assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said non-electrical conducting material is initially a liquid polymerizable material, and each of said sections in addition including: e. a plurality of longitudinally spaced plugs of sufficient rigidity to hold said cables in said desired lateral spacing prior to said liquid polymerizable material solidifying, and said plugs also serving as barriers to prevent said liquid polymerizable material escaping from the interior of said tubular member of said section prior to said polymerizable material solidifying.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
A tubular assembly as defined in claim 2 in which said first and second sleeves have internally threaded end portions and said tubular sleeve has externally threaded end portions that are engaged thereby, with said first sleeve permanently secured to said tubular member due to said non-electrical conducting material substantially filling the interiors of said tubular member and first sleeve and being in bonding contact with the interior surfaces thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
a plurality of longitudinally extending laterally spaced electrical conducting cables in said tubular member;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
a plurality of longitudinally extending laterally spaced electrical conducting cables in said tubular member;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
a plurality of electrical conducting tubes in said first sleeve that are laterally spaced from one another and in electrical communication with said cables;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
a plurality of electrical conducting tubes in said first sleeve that are laterally spaced from one another and in electrical communication with said cables;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A tubular assembly as defined in claim 2 in which the material that defines said cables, tubes and prongs has low electrical resistance to minimize heating of said cables, tubes and prongs and electrical power loss as electric current flows downwardly through said cables, tubes and prongs to said electrically operated device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
A tubular assembly as defined in claim 1 in which each of said sections in addition includes: d. insignia means on said first and second sleeves thereof which when in predetermined relationship with insignia means on adjacently disposed sections of said assembly visually indicate that said tubes and prongs are longitudinally aligned and said first and second sleeves of said section may slidably engage second and first sleeves of adjacently disposed sections that are axially aligned with said section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
a plurality of rigid elongate electrical conducting prongs in said second sleeve that are in the same lateral spacing as said tubes, with said prongs being of such transverse cross section as to be slidably insertable in one of said tubes of an adjacently disposed one of said sections, and each of said prongs when so inserted establishing electrical communication between said prong and said tube in which it is inserted;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
a plurality of rigid elongate electrical conducting prongs in said second sleeve that are in the same lateral spacing as said tubes, with said prongs being of such transverse cross section as to be slidably insertable in one of said tubes of an adjacently disposed one of said sections, and each of said prongs when so inserted establishing electrical communication between said prong and said tube in which it is inserted;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
a solidifed non-electrical conducting material in said tubular member and first sleeve that holds said cables and tubes in said lateral spacing, and said material gripping the portions of said prongs most adjacent said tubular member to maintain said prongs in said lateral spacing in said second sleeve; and
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
a solidifed non-electrical conducting material in said tubular member and first sleeve that holds said cables and tubes in said lateral spacing, and said material gripping the portions of said prongs most adjacent said tubular member to maintain said prongs in said lateral spacing in said second sleeve; and
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
349 words
An electrical conducting tubular section capable of being longitudinally connected to additional axially aligned tubular sections of the same structure, said section when so connected to said additional sections providing a fluid tight, temperature resistant assembly that can be subjected to substantial physical shock without damage to said section, said section comprising: a. an elongate tubular member; b. first and second tubular sleeves rigidly connected to opposite ends of said tubular member, said tubular member and first and second sleeves formed from a rigid material and of such thickness as to be capable of withstanding substantial physical shock without appreciable damage thereto; c. a plurality of parallel, laterally spaced electrical conducting tubes disposed in said first sleeve; d. a plurality of parallel, laterally spaced electrical conducting prongs in said second sleeve, with at lEast a portion of each of said prongs of such transverse cross section as to snuggly and slidably engage the interior surface of one of said tubes in an adjacently disposed one of said sections; e. a plurality of laterally spaced elongate electrical conductors disposed in said tubular member that are in electrical communication with said tubes and prongs; f. a body of said non-electrical conducting material in said tubular member and first sleeve that envelops said electrical conductors and tubes and holds them in said lateral spacing therein, said material being impervious to the highest fluid pressure to which said section will be subjected when forming a part of said assembly, and said material not being adversely affected by the highest temperature to which said section will be subjected; and g. a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending resilient sealing rings mounted on the exterior of said first sleeve, with the external diameters of said first sleeve and rings being such that they may concurrently be slid into a second sleeve of an adjoining one of said sections to effect a fluid tight seal with the interior surface of said second sleeve, and said section capable of moving longitudinally relative to said next adjacent section within predetermined limits without adversely affecting said fluid tight seal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
349 words
An electrical conducting tubular section capable of being longitudinally connected to additional axially aligned tubular sections of the same structure, said section when so connected to said additional sections providing a fluid tight, temperature resistant assembly that can be subjected to substantial physical shock without damage to said section, said section comprising: a. an elongate tubular member; b. first and second tubular sleeves rigidly connected to opposite ends of said tubular member, said tubular member and first and second sleeves formed from a rigid material and of such thickness as to be capable of withstanding substantial physical shock without appreciable damage thereto; c. a plurality of parallel, laterally spaced electrical conducting tubes disposed in said first sleeve; d. a plurality of parallel, laterally spaced electrical conducting prongs in said second sleeve, with at lEast a portion of each of said prongs of such transverse cross section as to snuggly and slidably engage the interior surface of one of said tubes in an adjacently disposed one of said sections; e. a plurality of laterally spaced elongate electrical conductors disposed in said tubular member that are in electrical communication with said tubes and prongs; f. a body of said non-electrical conducting material in said tubular member and first sleeve that envelops said electrical conductors and tubes and holds them in said lateral spacing therein, said material being impervious to the highest fluid pressure to which said section will be subjected when forming a part of said assembly, and said material not being adversely affected by the highest temperature to which said section will be subjected; and g. a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending resilient sealing rings mounted on the exterior of said first sleeve, with the external diameters of said first sleeve and rings being such that they may concurrently be slid into a second sleeve of an adjoining one of said sections to effect a fluid tight seal with the interior surface of said second sleeve, and said section capable of moving longitudinally relative to said next adjacent section within predetermined limits without adversely affecting said fluid tight seal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tubular section as defined in claim 6 in which said solid body of non-electrical conducting material was initially a polymerizable liquid resin that was polymerized in place in said tubular member and first sleeve.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
229 words
a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending resilient sealing rings mounted on the exterior surface of said first sleeve that effect a fluid tight seal between said first sleeve and a second sleeve of an adjaceNt one of said sections when said first sleeve is longitudinally inserted in the latter; b. first means for electrically connecting said tubes in said first sleeve of the lowermost one of said sections in said bore hole to the terminals of said device; c. second means for electrically connecting said prongs in said second sleeve of the uppermost one of said sections to a source of electric power, with said assembly between said lowermost and uppermost sections comprising a plurality of said sections that are axially aligned with said first and second sleeves of the adjacent end portions of said plurality of sections in slidable sealing engagement and said tubes and prongs thereof also in slidable electrical communication with one another; and d. third means for removably securing each of said sections to said tubing string to maintain said tubular assembly in fixed lateral spacing relative thereto, with said tubular assembly elongating and contracting as said tubing string changes in length due to variations in temperature in said bore hole by said first and second sections and tubes and prongs therein of adjacently disposed of said sections moving longitudinally relative to one another.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
229 words
a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending resilient sealing rings mounted on the exterior surface of said first sleeve that effect a fluid tight seal between said first sleeve and a second sleeve of an adjaceNt one of said sections when said first sleeve is longitudinally inserted in the latter; b. first means for electrically connecting said tubes in said first sleeve of the lowermost one of said sections in said bore hole to the terminals of said device; c. second means for electrically connecting said prongs in said second sleeve of the uppermost one of said sections to a source of electric power, with said assembly between said lowermost and uppermost sections comprising a plurality of said sections that are axially aligned with said first and second sleeves of the adjacent end portions of said plurality of sections in slidable sealing engagement and said tubes and prongs thereof also in slidable electrical communication with one another; and d. third means for removably securing each of said sections to said tubing string to maintain said tubular assembly in fixed lateral spacing relative thereto, with said tubular assembly elongating and contracting as said tubing string changes in length due to variations in temperature in said bore hole by said first and second sections and tubes and prongs therein of adjacently disposed of said sections moving longitudinally relative to one another.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A tubular section as defined in claim 7 in which said solid body engages portions of said prongs adjacent said tubular member to hold said prongs in said lateral spacing in said second sleeve.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
A tubular section as defined in claim 7 in which said sections adjacent thereto have insignia thereon which when in a predetermined relationship visually indicate that said tubes and prongs of said section are longitudinally aligned with prongs and tubes of adjacently disposed of said sections and that said sections may be longitudinally slid together to provide said assembly.
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) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |