Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A well screen comprising a plurality of longitudinal rods, a strip of wire mesh helically wrapped on the rods at a pitch slightly greater than the width of the strip of mesh so as to define a helical gap between adjacent wraps of said strip, at least one wire helically wrapped about said rods at the same pitch as said strip of wire mesh, said at least one wire being welded to each of said rods at each of its intersections therewith, said at least one wire being positioned in said helical gap so that a first narrow width portion thereof overlies an edge portion of said strip of wire mesh while an adjacent second width portion, which includes the welded intersections with said rods, does not overlie said strip of wire mesh.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A well screen comprising a plurality of longitudinal rods, a strip of wire mesh helically wrapped on the rods at a pitch slightly greater than the width of the strip of mesh so as to define a helical gap between adjacent wraps of said strip, at least one wire helically wrapped about said rods at the same pitch as said strip of wire mesh, said at least one wire being welded to each of said rods at each of its intersections therewith, said at least one wire being positioned in said helical gap so that a first narrow width portion thereof overlies an edge portion of said strip of wire mesh while an adjacent second width portion, which includes the welded intersections with said rods, does not overlie said strip of wire mesh.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A well screen in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one wire has tapered sides which converge toward a narrow end surface portion of the wire which is welded to said rods.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A well screen in accordance with claim 2 wherein an edge portion of said strip of wire mesh abuts a tapered side of said at least one wire adjacent to said narrow end surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A well screen in accordance with claim 3 wherein said strip is in tight contact with the outer surfaces of the rods about which it is wrapped and is retained on its edges by the wedging action of said tapered sides.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A well screen in accordance with claim 4 wherein said strip abuts said at least one wire at a distance from the narrow end surface of said wire which is about equal to the distance by which said at least one wire is embedded in said rods during welding.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of making a wrapped wire well screen of greater open area than is possible by helically wrapping a wire about a plurality of rods comprising the steps of winding at least one wrap wire in a helical manner about a plurality of parallel, circumferentially spaced rods, and at a pitch much greater than normal so as to define a large helical gap, winding a strip of woven wire mesh in said helical gap so as to be in contact with said rods and so that one of its side edges will engage a side surface of said at least one wrap wire, and welding said at least one wire to said rods at every intersection therewith.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of making a wrapped wire well screen of greater open area than is possible by helically wrapping a wire about a plurality of rods comprising the steps of winding at least one wrap wire in a helical manner about a plurality of parallel, circumferentially spaced rods, and at a pitch much greater than normal so as to define a large helical gap, winding a strip of woven wire mesh in said helical gap so as to be in contact with said rods and so that one of its side edges will engage a side surface of said at least one wrap wire, and welding said at least one wire to said rods at every intersection therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein said strip is wound on said rods between a pair of wrap wires and in engagement with a side wall of each of them.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said wrap wires have tapered sides which abut and wedge the edges of said strip downwardly into engagement with said rods, said wires being wound so that the distance between them at their closest position is less than the width of said strip.