Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DEVTCE FOR MOUNTING A CABLE AND/OR CONTROL LINES TO A
TUBING STRING OR OTHER TUBULAR STRUCTURE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
s The proposed invention is designed to mount the power cable and/or control
lines to a
tubing string used in producing a well or other tubular structure.
The completion of a well using tubing conveyed tools and the subsequent
production
thereof with the use of submersible pump suspended on a production tubing
string requires the
mounting of the power cable and control lines along the length of a tubing
string. It is common
1o practice to use different types of clamping devices to install and maintain
power cables and/or
control lines along the length of the tubing string.
One such clamping device, as described in patent SU 1838571 (1993). One end of
the
semi-circular clamp spans the tubing string, the other end spans the cable. A
special reed
deflected inside of the clamp provides additional cable fixation. Such design
does not provide
1s firm fixation of the cable.
The second clamping device as described in GB Pat. No 2101655 (1983). Said
clamp
consists of two semi-circular members hingedly connected together. One semi-
circular member
has a crescent shaped recess with an insert made of resilient material
designed to accommodate a
cable. At the opening or split of the clamp two sets of fingers extend around
the wall of the
2o clamp. The fingers are apertured by insertion of a wedge shaped pin. Such
design is
inconvenient in use because a separate part (wedge shaped pin) is used to fix
the clamp.
A device as described in patent, U. S. Pat. No 4483395, is formed of
resilient, non-
metallic material and designed for use in wells. A set of substantially
straight ribs hooking one
another is used to mount said device. While such design protects the cable
from mechanical
2s damage, one of the problems associated with this kind of clamp is not firm
enough fixation of
the cable.
Typically clamp's parts are connected together with thread joints as described
in U. S. Pat.
No 5379836 and RU Pat. No 2108439. The most similar to the present invention
is the clamp as
described in RU Pat. No 2108439 ( 1998). The device is made of cast metal with
a recess to
3o accommodate the cable. Said clamp consists of the body and hingedly
connected covers. Thread
joints are used to mount the clamp on the tubing string spanning the coupling
of the tub~g
string. Mounting of such device involves time-consuming operation. The use of
the mentioned
above clamp under the hostile conditions encountered in the well leads to the
destruction of the
thread and does not allow to use such clamp for a second time.
3s
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SLJIvINIURY OF THE INVENTION
The proposed invention is designed to allow it's fast mounting on and
dismounting from
a tubing string. The additional protection to secure hinged connections and
fixing elements from
mechanical damage allows to use the device multiple times long period of time.
Each clamping
s element has a fixing recess fitting a fixing lug accordingly.
The device for mounting the power cable and/or control lines to a tubing
string has a
recess, formed internally and extended along the length of the body to
accommodate said cable
and lines and to firmly hold same against the periphery of the tubing string.
Two hinged
connections are provided to fasten the upper and lower clamping elements and
upper and lower
1o parts of the body together. Each clamping element has a spring element. The
upper and the lower
parts of the body have fixing lugs. Each clamping element has a fixing recess
fitting a fixing lug
accordingly.
Preferably, each spring element is made as a deflected inside reed and made
together
with the clamping element or cut out of the clamping element. Each spring
element consists of
is several reeds, for example: two counter-directed reeds.
Each clamping element has a slot and the body has two counter slots or two
resting lugs
that are used to open and to close the device.
The middle part of the body has a shield placed on the fixing lugs side. The
additional
shield can be placed in the middle part of the body on the side of hinged
connections. Shields are
2o curled plates one-side connected with the body. Preferably, shields are
made together with the
body.
The body has two lugs deflected inside of the recess and designed to provide
the
additional fixation of the power cable and/or control lines against the
periphery of a tubing
string.
2s BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a device for mounting the power cable and/or control lines to a
tubing string. A
body 1 made of metal has a recess 2, formed internally and extended along the
length of the
body 1. The recess 2 is provided to accommodate power cable and/or control
lines and to firmly
hold them against the periphery of the tubing string. Two hinged connections 4
are provided to
3o fasten the upper and lower clamping elements 3 and the upper and lower
parts of the body 1
together. Each clamping element 3 has a spring element 5 in the form of
deflected inside reed.
The upper and the lower parts of the body 1 have fixing lugs 6. Each clamping
element 3 has a
fixing recess 7, which fits the appropriate fixing lug 6.
Each clamping element 3 has a slot 8 for the lever (arm). The body 1 has a
counter slot
3s opening 9. The counter perforation 9 can be replaced with a resting lug
(not shown).
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The body 1 has two lugs 10 deflected inside of the recess 2.
The middle part of the body 1 has a shield 11 placed on the side of fixing
lugs 6. The
additional shield 12 is to be placed in the middle part of the body 1 on the
side of hinged
connections 4. Shields 11 and 12 are curled plates one-side connected with the
body 1.
s Preferably, shields 11 and 12 are made together with the body 1.
THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The installation of device is to be performed as follows: A cable is laid in
the recess 2 of
the body 1. Device is mounted on the tubing string spanning the coupling
between individual
to lengths of tubing string. Device is fixed to the tubing string with
clamping elements 3 above and
below the tubing coupling. Clamping elements 3 span the tubing string and
shields 11 and 12
span the tubing coupling. Whereas, coupling diameter exceeds the tubing
diameter. The
maximum width of device is shields width.
The specially designed tool is used to mount and dismount the device. Said
tool can be
1 s replaced with a metal rod, screw-driver etc. The tool is inserted in the
slot 8 and then inserted in
counter slot 9 or grab the persistent lug 8 (not shown). The tool is drew
aside to pull the
clamping element 3 on the fixing lug 6. Device fixation takes place when
clamping element 3
fits in the fixing lug 6 with fixing recess 7. Thus spring elements 5 at the
expense of resilience
prevent displacement of the device together with a cable concerning a tube,
both in axed, and in
2o a radial direction.
It is required to hook up the end of clamping element and to release it from
the fixing lug
6 to dismount the device.
The present device adapted to seat on along the length of a tubing string in a
position
spanning the coupling between individual lengths of the tubing. All tension
and fixation
25 elements are staying within the protected area and placed above and below
the tubing coupling.
Said elements do not touch the production casing that ensures their reliable
fixation and
protection from mechanical damage.
If required, the present device can be mounted at any place between the ends
of the
tubing couplings. In this case, shields 11 and 12 will protect hinged
connections 4 and fixing
30 lugs 6 from mechanical damage during running of the tubing string into
production casing.
Preferably, the device is made of metal by stamping, and preferably a metal or
metal
alloy that is substantially inert under the conditions encountered in use in
the well and
particularly in downhole sour gas applications.
