US2184634A - Packing element - Google Patents

Description

C. S. CRICKMER El AL Dec. 26, 1939.

PACKING ELEMENT Filed Sept. 17, 1937 Charles $.Cr1ckmer QoL A. Lamb Patented Dec. 26, 1939 [2,184,634 PACKING'ELEMENT Charles S. ,Crlckmer and Roy A. Lamb, Dallas, Tex., assignors to- Mei-la Tool Company, Dallas, Tex., a firm of Texas Application September 1'), i937, Serial No. 164,384

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This invention relates to new and useful improvements in packing elements. This invention is an improvement of our copending application filed November 5, 1936, Serial 5 No. 109,264, nowPatent No. 2,132,723, granted October 11, 1938. 'f

One object of the invention is to provide an improved packing element, adapted to be used on a well packer or other device, which will effec-' tively seal oil the annular space between the well casing and the well tubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved packing element having a continuous helical reinforcing member molded, or otherwise secured, therein, whereby when the element is distorted, the member acts to displace the outer periphery of the element into a series of super-imposed bulges or protuberances, whereby the packing eflect of a plurality of super-iniposed individual packing members is obtained. A further object 01' the invention is to provide an improved packing element which is provided with a continuous resilient member molded therein, which not only reinforces the element butalso aids in returning the element toa normal undistorted position after the same has been moved to a packing position, whereby the inherent elasticity of the element is not solely depended upon to return said element to such normal position.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and l which an example of the invention is shown,

and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a packing element constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse, sectional view of the element in its distorted position, and

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the helical reinforcing element.

In the drawing, the numeral Hi designates an elongate tubular mandrel which is adapted to be connected in a tubing string or other support (not shown), so as to be lowered therewith into a well casing A. The invention is applicable to shown as mounted on the mandrel of a well packer. the mandrel, and the usual rippin slips (not shown) are slidable on this head. When the slips are engaged with the wall of the casing, the head by reference to the accompanying drawing, in

any device, but for purposes of description it is- The usual slip head His slldable onv 7 II is held stationary and the mandrel may-slide therethrough. The slips have not been shown, as they form no part of theinvention, and any suitable means may be employed for locking the v head in a fixed position in the casing. f

A supporting thimble I2 is slidably mounted on the mandrel IO'above the slip head II, and rests on the upper end thereof. The thimble is recessed at its upper end to form a peripheral flange l3. An elastic packing element It, formed of rubber, Duprene, or any other suitable elastic material, surrounds the mandrel above the thimble l2 and has its reduced lower end disposed within the recess in the thimble and confined between the flange l3 and the mandrel. A flanged confining cap or inverted thimble l5 engages the reduced upper end of the packing element, whereby the element is mounted on the mandrel between the cap l5 and the thimble H. A retaining collar 46 is secured to the mandrelv above the confining cap 15 in some suitable manner, as by screw threads, whereby said ,cap is held inconstant engagement with the upper end of the packing element. a

A continuous, metallic, reinforcing member I1 is molded, or otherwise suitablymounted within the packing element, and is placed so that it encircles the mandrel and has its inner periphery engaging the mandrel while its outer periphery terminates short of the outer peripheryof the packing element. The member may be made of flat, ribbon-like metal in the form of a helical spring and may have a plurality. of perforations l8 extending entirely therethrough. It is obvi- ,-ous that the material of which the packing element is constructed passes through these openings, whereby the member is rigidly aflixedwithin the element. These perforations may or may not be used.- Since the member encircles the mandrel Ill it will be seen that it tends to hold the packing element in engagement with the mandrel. Although the inner edge or periphery of the member is shown engaging the mandrel it may, if d sired, bo -spaced slightly therefrom, whereby the tire member would be completely and wholly embedded in the packing element.

when the device has been lowered into position; within the well casing, with the packing element in its normal or undistorted position, as shown in Figure 1, the slips (not shown) are moved into gripping engagement with the wall of the casing, thereby holding the slip head ll stationary. Since the thimble I2 "is supported on the slip head, itwill also remain stationary, while the mandrel II, which is slidable through both the mandrel.

thimble l2 and the slip head I i, may move vertically. As the mandrel is moved downwardly, the retaining collar l6 being fixed to the mandrel moves downwardly therewith and also moves the confining cap 65 downwardly.

The downward movement of the cap it toward the stationary thimble i2 distorts the packing element It therebetween, and since the coils of the metallic element ll, molded within the element, are compressed therewith into closer proximity to each other, the element is distorted between each coil into annular protuberances or bulges I9 (Figure 2). ment immediately adjacent the periphery of the reinforcing element will be held in substantially its normal undistorted position by the element because it is firmly affixed or molded to the ring.

The distortion of the packing member causes the same to move into engagement with the wall of the well casing, whereby a seal is formed between said casing and the mandreL It is noted that the protuberances formed by distortion of the element have substantially the same sealing effect as a series of super-imposed individual packing rings, yet the element is formed in a single piece and retains the strength and durability of a one-piece packing element. It is further noted that, since the packing element is firmly affixed to the metallic reinforcing member I7, and extends through the openings l8 therein, said member acts to hold the element in engagement with the mandrel, whereby said element is prevented from being stripped oif the It is also noted that the provision of the spaced coils of the member I! within the element serve to reinforce the same throughout the length thereof, whereby the element is strengthened and made more rigid. Also, distortion of the element beyond the elastic limit of its material is substantially eliminated by'the member, which retains thosc'portions of the element secured thereto in a fixed position with relation to the mandrel.

It is pointed out that the reinforcing memberw ii may be made of any suitable material since the member would act todisplace the outer periphery of the packing element into a series of super-imposed bulges or protuberances. However, it is noted that the reinforced .member may spring steel member would aid in returning the That portion of the elepacking element to a normal undistorted position. Under certain well conditions the outer surface of the packing element tends to adhere or stick to the inner wall of the casing. Under such conditions the spring reinforcing element would be a material aid in loosening the packer and in returning the element to an undistorted position. Thus the inherent elasticity of the element is not relied'on alone to accomplish this returning of the packing element to a normal position, but said elasticity is supplemented and aided by the tendency of the spring member to expand when the packer is released. I

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

.1. A packing element including, an annular elastic body, and a helical reinforcing member embedded within said body, said member having a plurality of perforations extending therethrough whereby said member is more firmly attached to the annular body.

2. A packing element including, an annular elastic body, and a helical reinforcing member embedded within said body, said member being formed of spring steel and having a plurality of perforations extending therethrou'gh whereby said member is more firmly attached to the annular body.

3. A packing element including, a cylindrical elastic body having a bore extending therethrough,-and a helical resilient reinforcing member embedded within the body and having fiat convolutions with the inner edge of each convolution being exposed within the bore, whereby when the body is engaged around an element said edges contact said element.

4. A packing element including, a cylindrical elastic body having a bore extending theretlirough, and a helical resilient reinforcing member embedded within the body and having fiat convolutions with the inner edge of each convolution being exposed within the bore, whereby when the body is engaged around an element said edges contact said element, theouter edges of the convolutions being spaced inwardly a suflicient distance to provide a substantial body of elastic material between said outer edges and the outer surface of the elastic body, whereby an outer layer of elastic material of substantial thickness surrounds said reinforcing member and. may yield inwardly independently of said CHARLES S. CRICKMER. ROY A. LAW.

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