Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
7 ~ 3
TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
tubular filtering apparatus and method of manufacturing
the same.
NAME OF 1~.V~_. OK:
Jimmy Nelson Potter
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tubular filtering
apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same. In
particular, a tubular filtering apparatus used to prevent
particulate matter from cont~m;n~ting liquids entering into a
well bore.
R~R~JROUN~ OF THE 1~VL~1ON
Slotted pipe is used in well bores as a form of filtering
apparatusO Fluids, such as oil, gas, water, and the li]ce, can
readily flow through slotted apertures in the pipe, while
particulate matter larger than the width of the slots is
precluded from entry. Users of slotted pipe are requesting
smaller slots in order to reduce the amount of particulate
matter in the fluids recovered. However, the equipment used
for cutting slot~ in pipe are not suited for cutting slots
smaller than 12,000 on an inch in width. The reason for this
is that the width of the ~lot is tied to the width of the
cutting blade used. In order to cut slots that are smaller
than 12,000 of an inch, thin blades must be used that are
fragile and, as such, prone to breakage.
2 21 88743
SUMMARY OF THE lNYL_ lON
What is required is a method of manufacturing tubular
filtering apparatus which better suited to making apertures
smaller than 12,000 of an inch.
According to one a~pect of the pre~ent invention there i~
provided a method of manufacturing a tubular filtering
apparatus. Firstly, providing at least two pipes of differing
diameter~ which are capable of co-axial telescopic nesting.
Secondly, cutting a plurality of apertures in each of the at
least two pipes. Thirdly, nesting the at least two pipes
tele~copically with the apertures in the respective pipe~
partially out of alignment to create a plurality of resultant
apertures that are smaller than the apertures in an~ one of the
at lea~t two pipe~. Fourthly, ~ecuring the at least two pipes
against relative movement.
According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a tubular filtering apparatus which includes at
least two co-axial telescopic nesting pipes both having a
plurality of apertures. The at least two pipes are ~ecured
together with their apertures partially out of alignment. This
creates a plurality of resultant apertures that are smaller
than the apertures in any one of the at least two pipes.
A tubular filtering apparatu~ con~tructed in accordance
with the teaching~ of the described method can readily provide
an aperture size that is smaller than 12,000 of an inch.
Beneficial re~ult~ have been obtained with aperture ~ize~ in
the range of 2000 to 7000 thousandths of an inch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRaWI~GS
The~e and other feature~ of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
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made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is an end view, in section, of a first embodiment
of tubular filtering apparatus constructed in accordance with
the teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 i8 a side elevation view of the first embodiment
of tubular filtering apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 i~ a perspective view of the first embodiment of
tubular filtering apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 4 iS an end view~ in section, of a ~econd
embodiment of tubular filtering apparatus con~tructed in
accordance with the teacl~ings of the present invention.
FIGURE 5 is a side elevation view of the second embodiment
of tubular filtering apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 6 i8 a perspective view of the second emboAi~nt
of tubular filtering apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 7 is an end view, in section, of a third embodiment
of tubular filtering apparatus constructed in accordance with
the teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 8 is a side elevation view of the third embodiment
of tubular filtering apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 7.
FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of
tubular filtering apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 7.
FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of
tubular filtering apparatus constructed in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 11 is an end view, in section, of the fourth
embodiment of tubular filtering apparatus illustrated in FIGURE
10 .
DET~TJ~ DESCRIPTION OF THE r~rr~KK~V EMBODIMENT
The preferred method of manufacturing a tubular filtering
apparatus will now be described with reference to FIGURES 1
through 11.
4 21 ~8743
The method includes the following steps~ Firstly,
referring to FIGURES 1 through 3, providing at least two pipes
12 and 14. Pipes 12 and 14 are differing diameters and are
capable of co-axial telescopic nesting. Secondly, cutting a
plurality of apertures 16 and 18, in each of pipes 12 and 14,
respectively. In this embodiment apertures 16 and 18 are in
the form of longitll~;n~l slots. Thirdly, nesting pipes 12 and
14 telescopically with apertures 16 and 18 in respective pipes
12 and 14 partially out of alignment to create a plurality of
resultant apertures 20 that are smaller than either of
apertures 16 or 18. Fourthly, securing pipes 12 and 14 against
relative movement. This final step i~ intended to ensure that
the size of resultant apertures 20 does not vary as a results
of relative rotation of pipes 12 and 14 during use. The
preferred manner of securing pipes 12 and 14 against relative
movement is by welding.
In order that the full scope of this invention will be
appreciated a variety of embodiments will now be described, all
of which follow the teachings of the above described method.
First embodiment, generally identified by reference
numeral 22 is illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3O In first
embodiment 22, apertures 16 and 18 are in the form of elongate
slots. An adjustment of the size of resultant apertures 20 is
preferably made by relative rotation of pipe 12 and pipe 14,
as indicated by arrow 24.
Second embodiment, generally identified by reference
numeral 26 is illustrated in FIGURES 4 through 6. In second
embodiment 26, apertures 16 and 18 are in the form of
transverse slots. An adjustment of the size of resultant
apertures 20 is preferably made by relative axial movement of
pipe 12 and pipe 14, as indicated by arrow 28.
Third embodiment, generally identified by reference
numeral 30 is illustrated in FIGURES 7 through 9. In third
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embodiment 30, apertures 16 and 18 are in the form of round
holes. An adjustment of the size of resultant apertures 20 i5
preferably made by relative axial movement of pipe 12 and pipe
14, as indicated by arrow 32.
Fourth embodiment, generally identified by reference
numeral 34 is illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11. Apertures 16
and 18 are in the form of elongate slots, as was the case with
first embo~;me~t 22. Unlike first embodiment 22, fourth
embodiment 34 uses a third pipe 36, which also has a plurality
of apertures 38. Resultant apertures 20 are, therefore, the
product of apertures 16, 18 and 38. An adjustment of the size
of resultant apertures 20 is preferably made by relative
rotation of pipes 12, 14, and 36, as indicated by arrow 40.
Each of the described embodiments of tubular filtering
apparatus have at least two co-axial telescopic nesting pipes
12, 14 and 36 each of which has a plurality of apertures 16,
18 and 38, respectively. The at least two pipes 12, 14 and 36
are secured together with their apertures 16, 18 and 38
partially out of alignment. This creates a plurality of
resultant apertures 20 that are smaller than the apertures 16
or 18 or 38 in any one of the at least two pipes 12, 14, or 36.
Although the teachings of this invention were developed
in order to make tubular filtering apparatus with openings
small than 12,000 of an inch, it will be apparent to one
skilled in the art that these same teachings can also be used
to make tubular filtering apparatus with openings greater than
12,000 of an inch. It will also be apparent to one skilled in
the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated
embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims.
