Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WRENCH FOR BREAKING INTERNAL CONNECHONS
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This relates to a wrench that is used to make up or break internal
connections on a
downhole motor.
BACKGROUND
[0002] When servicing a downhole motor, a makeup/breakout tool is used to
separate the
various components, which are generally assembled by threaded connections. The
makeup/breakout tool typically uses hydraulic cylinders that engage the
workpiece before
turning the assembly to make or break the connection. Makeup/breakout tools
are typically
too large to grasp internal components, and a wrench is applied manually to
make or break
these connections. US Patent No. 3,844,547 teaches a wrench that can be used
as a
supplementary wrench for a larger breakout wrench.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to an aspect, there is provided a makeup/breakout tool,
comprising a
chassis, first and second workpiece clamps mounted to the chassis, wherein at
least the first
workpiece clamp is movable along a length of the chassis, each of the first
and second
workpiece clamps has a workpiece engagement area sized to receive a workpiece,
the
workpiece engagement areas being axially aligned, and at least one of the
first and second
workpiece clamps comprises a clamp actuator for applying torque to the
workpiece, a wrench
having a wrench head, the wrench being pivotally mounted to the first
workpiece clamp, the
wrench having a range of pivotal movement that allows the wrench head to move
into and out
of axial alignment with the workpiece engagement areas of the first and second
workpiece
clamps, and a wrench actuator that actuates the wrench head to apply torque to
the workpiece.
[0004] According to another aspect, the wrench may be mounted to the first
workpiece clamp
by the wrench actuator, and the wrench actuator comprises a telescopic
actuator.
[0005] According to another aspect, the telescopic actuator may be hydraulic.
[0006] According to another aspect, the wrench actuator may be connected to
the first
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workpiece clamp by a first pivotal connection and to the wrench by a second
pivotal
connection.
[0007] According to another aspect, the first workpiece clamp may comprise a
carriage that
moves the first workpiece clamp along the chassis, and the wrench body may be
mounted to
the carriage.
[0008] According to another aspect, the wrench head may have an adjustable
inner diameter.
[0009] According to another aspect, the wrench head may be self-adjusting.
[0010] According to another aspect, the wrench head may be reversible.
[0011] According to another aspect, the first clamp may have a minimum
engagement
diameter, and the wrench head may have a minimum engagement diameter that is
less than
the first minimum engagement diameter of the first clamp.
[0012] According to an aspect, there is provided a method of making and
breaking internal
connection on a downhole tool, the method comprising providing a
makeup/breakout tool
comprising a chassis, first and second workpiece clamps mounted to the
chassis, wherein at
least the first workpiece clamp is movable along a length of the chassis, each
of the first and
second workpiece clamps has a workpiece engagement area sized to receive a
workpiece, the
workpiece engagement areas being axially aligned, and at least one of the
first and second
workpiece clamps comprises a clamp actuator for applying torque to the
workpiece, a wrench
having a wrench head, the wrench being pivotally mounted to the first
workpiece clamp, the
wrench having a range of pivotal movement that allows the wrench head to move
into and out
of axial alignment with the workpiece engagement areas of the first and second
workpiece
clamps, and a wrench actuator that actuates the wrench head to apply torque to
the workpiece,
placing a the downhole tool into the workpiece engagement area of the first
and second
workpiece clamps, using the clamp actuator of at least one of the first and
second workpiece
clamps, manipulating a first threaded connection of the downhole tool having a
diameter
greater than a minimum engagement diameter, pivoting the wrench head into
axial alignment
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with the workpiece engagement areas of the first and second clamps, and using
the wrench
actuator, manipulating a second threaded connection of the downhole tool
having a diameter
less than a minimum engagement diameter of the at least one of the first and
second
workpiece clamps.
[0013] According to another aspect, the wrench may be mounted to the first
workpiece clamp
by the wrench actuator, and the wrench actuator may comprise a telescopic
actuator.
[0014] According to another aspect, the telescopic actuator may be hydraulic.
[0015] According to another aspect, the wrench actuator may be connected to
the first
workpiece clamp by a first pivotal connection and to the wrench by a second
pivotal
connection.
[0016] According to another aspect, the first workpiece clamp may comprise a
carriage that
moves the first workpiece clamp along the chassis, and the wrench body may be
mounted to
the carriage.
[0017] According to another aspect, the wrench head may have an adjustable
inner diameter.
[0018] According to another aspect, the wrench head may be self-adjusting.
[0019] According to another aspect, the wrench head may be reversible.
[0020] According to another aspect, the first clamp may have a minimum
engagement
diameter, and the wrench head may have a minimum engagement diameter that is
less than
the first minimum engagement diameter of the first clamp.
[0021] In other aspects, the features described above may be combined
together in any
reasonable combination as will be recognized by those skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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[0022] These and other features will become more apparent from the
following
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings
are for the
purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a wrench for breaking internal connections
reaching for and closing around a workpiece.
FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the wrench for breaking internal
connections of
FIG. 1 closed around a workpiece and lifting to rotate the workpiece in a
clockwise direction.
FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the wrench for breaking internal
connections of
FIG. 1 closed around a workpiece that has been rotated in a clockwise
direction.
FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the wrench for breaking internal
connections of
FIG. 1 closed around a workpiece and lowering to rotate the workpiece in a
counter clockwise direction.
FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the wrench for breaking internal
connections of
FIG. 1 closed around a workpiece that has been rotated in a counter clockwise
direction.
FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the wrench for breaking internal
connections of
FIG. 1 that has been folded away from a workpiece.
FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the wrench for breaking internal
connections of
FIG. 1 in context with a makeup/breakout tool, where the wrench has been
folded
away from a workpiece.
FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the wrench for breaking internal
connections of
FIG. 1 in context with a makeup/breakout tool, where the wrench is folded
toward
the workpiece.
FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a makeup/breakout tool having a wrench for
breaking internal connections as shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the wrench for breaking internal
connections
having an alternate connection mechanism.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] A makeup/breakout tool, generally identified by reference numeral
10, will now
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be described with reference to FIG. 1 through 10.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 9, a generic makeup/breakout tool 10 is shown
with a chassis
12, and first and second workpiece clamps 14 and 16 mounted to chassis 12. As
shown,
5 workpiece clamp 14 is movable along the length of chassis 12, although
both clamps 14 and
16 may be movable. Referring to FIG. 8, each of the workpiece clamps 14 and 16
has a
workpiece engagement area 18. The workpiece engagement areas 18 are sized to
receive a
workpiece 20, and the workpiece engagement areas 18 of each of workpiece
clamps 14 and
16 are axially aligned. At least one of workpiece clamps 14 and 16 has a clamp
actuator 22
for applying torque to workpiece 20. As will be understood, the depicted
makeup/breakout
tool 10 is intended to refer to a generic design, and that the actual design
of any particular
makeup/breakout tool 10 that may be used will vary from what is depicted.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 8, makeup/breakout tool 10 has a wrench 24 with
a wrench head
26. Wrench 24 is designed to be mounted to move with one of the clamps 14 or
16, such as
workpiece clamp 14 in the depicted embodiment. Wrench head 26 may be of a
standard size
for a particular application, or may have an adjustable inner diameter for
engaging different
sizes of workpiece, such as by adjusting a length-adjustable member, adding or
removing
inserts, or replacing some or all of wrench head 26. Regardless of if wrench
head 26 has a
standard size, or has an adjustable inner diameter, the inner diameter of
wrench head 26 will
typically be selected such that wrench head 26 has an engagement diameter size
that is less
than the minimum engagement diameter of first workpiece clamp 14. This allows
wrench
head 26 to engage workpieces that are small than those that can be engaged by
the first
workpiece clamp 14. Where wrench head 26 has an adjustable inner diameter,
wrench head
26 may be designed to be self-adjusting when closed around a workpiece 20. In
the depicted
example, wrench head 26 is adjustable by providing a sliding gripper 38 that
is pushed toward
the workpiece as actuator 30 applies a force to wrench head 26. This adjusts
wrench head 26
to the necessary size, and also ensures a strong grip when applying torque.
Referring to FIG.
10, wrench 24 may be sized using a slot and pin connection 40 to adjust
sliding gripper 38.
Slot and pin connection 40 may cooperate with a die (not shown) sized to hold
the jaws of
wrench head 26 at a specific size. Wrench 24 may also be biased in order to
apply an initial
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gripping force to workpiece 20. A spring (not shown) may be used to bias
wrench 24. The
spring may, for example, be a spring and pin installed into wrench head 26
that biases sliding
gripper 38 into a gripping position. For an adjustable wrench head 26, the
maximum
engagement diameter size will preferably be around the minimum engagement
diameter of
first workpiece clamp 14 with only a small amount of overlap in order to
reduce the design
requirements on wrench 26. Wrench head 26 may also be reversible, allowing
wrench head
26 to be turned in both directions.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 8, wrench 24 is actuated by wrench actuator 30
that causes
wrench head 26 to apply torque to workpiece 20. Wrench actuator 30, may, for
example, be a
telescoping actuator, which may be a hydraulic actuator. Wrench actuator 30
may, for
example, also be mechanically powered or use other actuation systems known in
the art to be
appropriate for the application. As shown, wrench 24 is mounted to first
workpiece clamp 14
by wrench actuator 30. However, it will be understood that wrench 24 may be
mounted to
first workpiece clamp 14 using a variety of methods known in the art, and
wrench actuator 30
may be in an alternate position, such as near wrench head 26. Wrench 24 may be
equipped
with a torque sensor that may be used to provide a digital readout or printout
to allow for
measurement of the torque applied to connections by wrench 24.
[0027] In order to allow wrench 24 to properly engage workpiece 20, and to
be moved
out of the way when not in use, wrench 24 preferably has a number of positions
that can be
achieved, for example, by providing movable or adjustable connections. As
shown, wrench
24 is pivotally mounted to the first workpiece clamp 14 by a pivotal mounting
28 connected
to wrench actuator 30, which is in turn connected to wrench 24 by a second
pivotal
connection 32. As shown in FIG. 4 and 5, pivotal connections 28 and 32 allow
wrench 24 to
engage and apply torque to workpiece 20. Referring to FIG. 6, pivotal
connections 28 and 32
also allow wrench 24 to move out of the way by moving outward from the tool.
In other
designs, referring to FIG. 7, wrench 24 may also be designed to move in other
directions as
well. This may be by providing connection 32 as a universal joint, or
permitting wrench head
24 to pivot about the hydraulic cylinder of wrench actuator 30 as shown.
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[0028] Wrench 24 preferably has a range of pivotal movement that allows
wrench head
26 to move into and out of axial alignment with workplace engagement areas 18
of first and
second workpiece clamps 14 and 16. Referring to FIG. 9, first workpiece clamp
14 may have
a carriage 34 that moves first workpiece clamp 14 along chassis 12. Wrench 24
may be
mounted in a variety of locations depending on the application, such as on the
side of first
workpiece clamp 14, or mounted to carriage 34.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, in order to engage a workpiece 20, wrench 24
is first aligned
and then engaged with workpiece 20. As shown, wrench head 26 has a two-part
hinged
connection that allows workpiece 20 to be grasped by wrench head 26. However,
it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that wrench head 26 may take a variety
of forms and
connect to workpiece 20 in a variety of ways. In order to position wrench head
26, wrench 24
may be pivoted about pivotal mounting 28, as well as pivotal connection 32.
These
connections may allow for pivotal movement within a single plane, or may allow
for pivotal
movement in a variety of directions, depending on the application. Referring
to FIG. 2 and
FIG. 3, once wrench head 26 is secured around workpiece 20, wrench actuator 30
is activated
to apply torque to workpiece 20, which will manipulate a threaded connection
(not shown) of
workpiece 20. As shown, wrench actuator 30 is a telescopic hydraulic actuator
that raises the
end 36 of wrench 24 that is opposite wrench head 26 to apply a clockwise
rotation to
workpiece 20. Wrench head 26 may have a gripping portion 38 as shown that
tightens against
workpiece 20 as wrench 24 is turned. Gripping portion 38 may serve to make
wrench head 26
self-adjusting. Referring to HG. 4 and FIG. 5, in order to turn workpiece 20
in the opposite
direction, wrench head 26 may be reversed, such that gripping portion 38
tightens as wrench
24 is turned in the opposite direction. As shown, wrench actuator 30 lowers
the end 36 of
wrench 24 and workpiece 20 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 6, wrench 24 may be rotated out of alignment
with the
workpiece engagement areas 18 of the first and second workpiece clamps 14 and
16, allowing
wrench 24 to be stored in a position that does not interfere with the work
being done when
wrench 24 is not needed. For example, workpiece clamps 14 and 16 may engage
and
manipulate threaded connections of workpiece 20 that have a diameter that is
greater than the
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minimum engagement diameters of the workpiece clamps 14 and 16. Wrench 24 may
only be
needed when the workpiece to be manipulated has a diameter that is less than
the minimum
engagement diameter of the first and second workpiece clamps 14 and 16. This
may allow for
cooperation between the two tools to make and break threaded connections
having a variety
of sizes. Referring to FIG. 7, wrench 24 may be capable of rotation in a
variety of directions
for storage. Wrench 24 may be rotated through a plane that is parallel to the
face of workpiece
clamp 14 to move out of the way, as is shown in FIG. 8. Wrench 24 may also be
rotated in a
plane that is perpendicular, as shown in FIG. 7. It will be understood that
wrench 24 may also
be capable of movement in other directions. For example, wrench 24 may rotate
to be stored
alongside workpiece clamp 14.
[0031] In this
patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to
mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically
mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the
possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context
clearly requires
that there be one and only one of the elements.
[0032] The scope
of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred
embodiments set forth in the examples above and in the drawings, but should be
given the
broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
