US4244590A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable packer construction
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-04-18
•
Granted: 1981-01-13
•
Expires: 1997-04-18
Abstract
Abstract An inflatable packer which can be easily constructed using tubular members such as a section of well casing, the packer having spaced, first and second annular heads which surround a central tubular member, the first head being slidable along the tubular member, a relief or attachment space being formed between the second head and the tubular member, a securing element being disposed in the relief for securing the second head to the tubular member and preventing relative longitudinal movement thereof, a centering member being disposed between the second head and the tubular member to maintain the second head and the tubular member in substantially coaxial relationship independent of the securing element, an inflatable, tubular element being attached to and extending between the first and second heads.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence Sanford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:29
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/10; E21B33/12; E21B33/127; E21B33/1277; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S277/00; Y10S277/922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An inflatable packer comprising: a tubular member, first and second annular heads surrounding said tubular member and longitudinally spaced therealong, said first head being longitudinally slidable on said tubular member, said second head including an attachment portion, a relief being formed between said attachment portion and said tubular member, securing means disposed in said relief for securing said attachment portion to said tubular member and preventing substantial longitudinal movement between said attachment portion and said tubular member, centering means disposed between said second head and said tubular member for maintaining said second head and said tubular member in substantially coaxial relation independently of said securing means, and an expandable, tubular element secured to said first and second heads and extending therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
An inflatable packer comprising: a tubular member, first and second annular heads surrounding said tubular member and longitudinally spaced therealong, said first head being longitudinally slidable on said tubular member, said second head including an attachment portion, a relief being formed between said attachment portion and said tubular member, securing means disposed in said relief for securing said attachment portion to said tubular member and preventing substantial longitudinal movement between said attachment portion and said tubular member, centering means disposed between said second head and said tubular member for maintaining said second head and said tubular member in substantially coaxial relation independently of said securing means, and an expandable, tubular element secured to said first and second heads and extending therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The packer of claim 1 including means for inflating said expandable element by fluid pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The packer of claim 1 wherein said relief comprises an annularly extending space between said attachment portion and said tubular member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The packer of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises an adhesive composition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The packer of claim 4 wherein said adhesive composition comprises an epoxy resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The packer of claim 4 wherein at least a part of the surface of said attachment portion contiguous said relief contains irregularities.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The packer of claim 3 wherein said annularly extending space is formed by an internal, enlarged diameter portion of said second head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The packer of claim 1 wherein said centering means comprises an annular rib formed by a radially inwardly extending portion of said second head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The packer of claim 1 wherein said securing means includes means for grippingly engaging said tubular member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The packer of claim 9 wherein said securing means includes a plurality of gripping elements having gripping teeth thereon for engaging said tubular member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The packer of claim 9 wherein said relief comprises an annularly extending space between said attachment portion and said tubular member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The packer of claim 11 wherein said securing means comprises a collet member, said collet member having a plurality of collet fingers disposed in said annularly extending space, said collet fingers having gripping teeth for engaging said tubular member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The packer of claim 12 wherein said second head has an inwardly tapered threaded section on its inner periphery and said collet fingers having an inwardly tapered threaded section on their outer periphery, said collet fingers being threadedly received in said threaded section of said second head whereby said gripping teeth are urged into engagement with said tubular member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The packer of claim 7 wherein said securing means comprises an adhesive composition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The packer of claim 14 wherein said adhesive composition comprises an epoxy resin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The packer of claim 1 wherein said tubular member comprises a section of well casing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
An inflatable packer comprising: a tubular member, first and second annular heads surrounding said tubular member and longitudinally spaced therealong, said first head being longitudinally slidable on said tubular member, said second head including an attachment portion, a relief being formed between said attachment portion and said tubular member, an adhesive composition disposed in said relief for securing said attachment portion to said tubular member, and an expandable, tubular element secured to said first and second heads and extending therebetween.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
An inflatable packer comprising: a tubular member, first and second annular heads surrounding said tubular member and longitudinally spaced therealong, said first head being longitudinally slidable on said tubular member, said second head including an attachment portion, a relief being formed between said attachment portion and said tubular member, an adhesive composition disposed in said relief for securing said attachment portion to said tubular member, and an expandable, tubular element secured to said first and second heads and extending therebetween.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The packer of claim 17 including means for inflating said expandable element by fluid pressure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The packer of claim 17 wherein said relief comprises an annularly extending space between said attachment portion and said tubular member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The packer of claim 17 wherein said adhesive composition comprises an epoxy resin.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The packer of claim 17 wherein at least a part of the surface of said attachment portion contiguous said relief contains irregularities.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The packer of claim 17 wherein said tubular member comprises a section of well casing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The packer of claim 20 wherein said annularly extending space is formed by an internal, enlarged diameter portion of said second head.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
87 words
An inflatable packer comprising: a tubular member, first and second annular heads surrounding said tubular member and longitudinally spaced therealong, said first head being longitudinally slidable on said tubular member, said second head including an attachment portion, a relief being formed between said attachment portion and said tubular member, securing means disposed in said relief for fixedly securing said attachment portion to said tubular body, said securing means grippingly engaging said tubular member, an expandable, tubular element secured to said first and second heads and extending therebetween.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
87 words
An inflatable packer comprising: a tubular member, first and second annular heads surrounding said tubular member and longitudinally spaced therealong, said first head being longitudinally slidable on said tubular member, said second head including an attachment portion, a relief being formed between said attachment portion and said tubular member, securing means disposed in said relief for fixedly securing said attachment portion to said tubular body, said securing means grippingly engaging said tubular member, an expandable, tubular element secured to said first and second heads and extending therebetween.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The packer of claim 24 including means for inflating said expandable element by fluid pressure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The packer of claim 24 wherein said relief comprises an annularly extending space between said attachment portion and said tubular member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The packer of claim 24 wherein said securing means includes a plurality of gripping elements having gripping teeth thereon for engaging said tubular member.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
The packer of claim 26 wherein said securing means comprises a collet member, said collet member having a plurality of collet fingers disposed in said annularly extending space, said collet fingers having gripping teeth for engaging said tubular member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
59 words
The packer of claim 28 wherein said second head has an inwardly tapered threaded section on its inner periphery and said collet fingers have an inwardly tapered threaded section on their outer periphery, said collet fingers being threadedly received in said threaded section of said second head whereby said gripping teeth are urged into engagement with said tubular member.
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) | 1984-01-13 | 1984-07-14 | 1985-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-13 | 1988-07-14 | 1989-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-13 | 1992-07-14 | 1993-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |