US2829441A

US2829441A - Bottom caliper support

Info

Publication number: US2829441A
Application number: US581774A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edgar W Bagnell
Original assignee: Johnston Testers Inc
Current assignee: Johnston Testers Inc
Priority date: 1956-04-30
Filing date: 1956-04-30
Publication date: 1958-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 1975-04-08

Description

April 8, 1958 E. W. BAGNELL BOTTOM CALIPER SUPPORT 2 sheets-snee: 1

Filed April 3o, 195e tl|lllllllll\\ INVENTUR. [une Zd. 54m/ELL ,www w 53 l. d i F ..40404114'44 5 @www w 441 f e z, vm/ f Y \N, U

,4 TTOPNE'KS April s, 1958 E. W. BAGNELL BOTTOM VCALIPER SUPPORT Filed April 50. '1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H.. R.. mm ma. mw

United ttes arent BoTroM CALIPERSUPPORT Edgar W. Bagnell, Glendale,'Calif., assignor to Johnston Testers, Inc., Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application April 30, 1956, lSerial No. 581,774

Claims. (Cl. 33-178) This invention relates to the art of calipering a well bore, and more specifically provides novel means for approximately a center hole position for a well caliper when running apcaliper survey in a well bore.

In the well drilling art it is desirable to run a caliper survey of the -diameter of the well bore for either a portion `or all of the length of the well bore. This is accomplished by lowering a caliper instrument through the pipe string so that the instrument will protrude through theopen end of the end bit 0r wash nipple. The arms ofthe caliper will then extend outwardly from the caliper instrument so as to engage each arm against the well bore. Well knownk means are thenemployed to correlate the data from the inclination of each arm so that the diameter of the well bore is determined.

While this method has been used successfully in vertical wells, it has been found that certain diliicultiesl arise when it becomes necessary to run a caliper survey on a well of a high angle inclination to the vertical. In such a case there is a tendency for the caliper, when protruding from the end of the pipe string, to lie on the footwall side of the well bore. The weight of the caliper and the upward drag ofthe device when running a survey will tend to fold the caliper arm on the footwall side completely closed. In this condition the caliper arm reaching toward the hanging wall side of the bore will,

Another object is to provide a supporting device which y is capable of insertion through a pipe string in such a manner that it may automatically be opened when it becomes free of the end of the pipe string and may be capable of being collapsed while in the Well bore so that it may be Withdrawn through the pipe string.

Another object is to provide a bottom caliper support i which is spring' opened, and in which means are provided to release the spring force when it is desired to remove the caliper and support through the pipe string.

Ayfurther object is to provide a bottom caliper support with extending arms having inwardly curved end portions and recesses in the support device to receive the4 curved end portions so that the device may be completely collapsed.

A still further object is to provide a bottom caliper support device having a body portion provided with support arms of the umbrella type wherein spring means act against the support arms'to force themy outwardly andwherein on removal of the bottom support through a pipe string the support arms are translated along the support body so that a latch may. be engaged which will release the 'spring force tending to open the support arms, the release of the spring force allowing the sup- 2 port arms to be collapsed, thus allowing the support device to be withdrawn through a pipe string.

Another object is to provide a bottom caliper support of the spring operated umbrella type with means to initially force .the support arms into a semi-open position so that the spring operator may then open the support arms to the desired position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottom caliper support device of the spring operated umbrella type with locking means adapted to lock the support for the spring operator to the body of the device so that the support arms may be opened and to provide means whereby the spring support may be released from its locked position, thus enabling the support arms to be closed.

The invention has other objects and features of advantage, some of which, With the foregoing, will be explained in the following description of thatform of the invention embodied in the drawings. It isto be understod that the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings, as it may be embodied in other forms, and parts may be variously modied within the spirit and definition of the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional View of a device embodying this invention showing such device in the closed position for insertion into the well bore. Y

Fig. 2 is an elevational View, shown partly in section, of the device` of Fig. l, showing such device in its open position.

Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the device of Fig. 1, showing the device immediately before the support arms are collapsed.

Fig. 4 is a partial elevational View, shown partly in section, of the device of Fig. l, showing such device in its closed position for withdrawal from the Well bore.

Fig. 5 is a planvview of the Vdevice shown in Fig. 2..

Referring now to the drawings, the support device comprises a mandrel, indicated generally at 1, formed from two pieces, an upper tubularrnandrel element 2 and a lower mandrel element 3, joined together by suitable means, such as shown by the threaded'screw joint 4 and by soldering or welding, as they have beenjoined.'

When the upper tubular mandrel element and the lower mandrel elementhave been assembled, a single unitary mandrel will result,` having an upper portion '7 of one outside diameter anda lower portion 8 of reduced diameter. f f,

The upper mandrel portion is adapted to it around and be carried by the depending stub mandrel g of a suitable caliper instrument (not shown). A suitable locking devicesuch as'illustrated by the locking screw 11, may be employed tohold the upper mandrel portion and caliper stub mandrel in assembled relation.

Formed in `theupper mandrel portion is a keyway 12 extending vlongitudinally throughout the length of 'the upper mandrel portion 7. The purpose of the keyway will be hereinafter discussed.

Mounted on the upper end of the upper-mandrel porf tion is the support arm bushing 13,` best illustrated'in Figs. 3 and 5. This bushing consists of a tubular body portion 14 adapted to tit overthe upper mandrel portion 'l so as to allow the bushing to slide freely along the mandrel. The bushing 13 is enlarged at the upper end thereof, with the enlarged portion 15 having longitudinal slots 16 formed therein of a depth corresponding to the diameter of the body portion' 14; A guide pin 17 is threaded through thebushing 13 to allow the end 18 of the pin 1710i tit within the keyway 12 of the at 6, the two elements after upper mandrel portion 7 to prevent rotation of the bushing with respect to vthemandrel.

Received within the slots 16 are support arms 19, said arms being pivotally secured to the bushing 13 by suitable means such as pivot pins 21 extending through the end portions of the support arms 19 and into retaining holes 22 drilled through the enlarged portion 15 of the bushing 13. Although sixsupport arms arel illustrated in the drawings, it is understood thatY this does not represent a critical number of such arms, as a greater or smaller number of such arms will operate in substantially the same manner.

Each support arm 19is provided with an elongated body portion 23 and an inwardly curved end portion 24 adapted to ride along the well bore 26 when the de vice is in use. The curving of the end portion 24 allows the support arm to ride smoothlyl along they walls of the well ybore 26 without digging into the walls, and, in addition, the curved end portion 24 allows the support arms4 19 to pass smoothly down a pipe string without hanging up as the end portions pass the joints in the pipe string.

Mounted o'n the upper mandrel portion 7 at a position below the support arm bushing 13 is the link support sleeve 27 consisting of a cylindrical body portion 28 adapted to fit around the upper mandrel portion 7 'so as to allow the sleeve 27 to slide freely therealong. Suitable guide pins 29 are provided to screw through the The links extend from the sleeve to a point 34 inter mediate the ends of respective support arms 19 and are connected thereto by pivot pins 36, thus allowing the links 32 to pivot on the support arms 19. The number of support arms 19 employed determines the number of links 32 needed, as each support arm is connected to alink.

Extending betweenv the sleeve 27 and the bushing 13 is a compression collapsing spring 37 mounted in surrounding coaxial relationship to the `upper mandrel portion 7. If desired, spacing elements 38 may be employed in abutting relationship to the bushing to decrease the length of the compression spring 37 required be' tween the sleeve 27 and the bushing 13. Such spacing element 38 acts merely to provide an extension .of the tubular portion 14 of the bushing 13. The collapsing spring 37 serves to urge the sleeve 27 and bushing 13 apart so that the movement of the sleeve27 along the upper mandrel portion 7 will produce an opening vand closing of the support arms 19 in a manner similar to that of an umbrella.

Mounted on the reduced diameter lower mandrel portion 8, in a manner so as to allow it to slide freely therealong, is the spring retaining collar 41. When this collar is locked in position on the mandrel so as to prevent longitudinal movement thereon by means hereinafter to be described, the collar ilange 42 will provide a bearing surface for the compression main spring 43. At its other end the main spring 43 bears against the enlarged diameter portion 31 of the link support sleeve 27.

The main spring 43 is designed to have suicient force to oppose the force exerted by the collapsing spring 37 to thus force the link support sleeve 27 upwardly, in turn forcing the links 32 to open the support arms 19 in a manner similar to the opening of an umbrella.

The lower mandrel portion 8 is provided with a groove 44 extending circumferentially thereof, and the spring retaining collar 41 is provided with holes 45 therethrough so that when the collar 41 abuts the stepped shoulder 47 of the lower mandrel portion 8, the holes 45 in the collar 41 will be in registration with the groove 44. A

plurality of locking balls 48 are carried in the groove 44 and are ofsuch a diameter that they extend into the holes 45 of the collar 41. When in this position, `the balls 48 will prevent the collar 41 from moving along the lower mandrel portion 8.

Encircling the collar 41 for sliding movement thereon is a lock release bushingl 51 provided with a face`52, which, when the bushing 51 is in position on the collar 41 as shown in Fig. 3, will retain the locking balls 48 in locking position. A circumferential cavity 53 is provided in the bushing 51 of such l'depth that when the bushing is moved to a position as shown in Fig. 4 and the cavity 53 is in registration with the collary holes 45, the locking balls may repose completely in the space formed by the cavity 53 and the holes 45.

A compressionspring 54 is provided to extend between the collar lange 42 and the lock release bushing 51 to normally urge the bushing cavity out of registration with the collar holes.

Mounted by suitable means on the bottom end of the lower mandrel is a ybottom nut 57.

ln order that the support arms 19 may lit snugly against the mandrel 1 when in closed position, it is necessary that provision tbe made for accommodating the inwardly curved end portions 24 of the support arms.` lThis is accomplished by forming a recess 58 in the upper mandrel portion 7 and by forming slots 59 in the sleeve 27. As the sleeve 27 moves downwardly on the mandrel, the sleeve slot 59 moves into registration with the mandrel recess 58 so that repositories are formed for the reception of theinwardly curved ends 24 of the support arms.

When the support arms 19 are in full closed position, the links 32 are inl a direct line relationship with the main spring 43 and there would be no outward force to cause the support arms to open. To overcome this difficulty, an O-ring 61 made of a suitable resilient material is provided surrounding the support arm bushing 13 adjacent the enlarged portion 14 thereof, to'force the support arms 19 out from an initially closed posi tion to an inclination which will allow the main spring 43 to continue the opening of the support arms.

Operation In operation, a caliper (not shown) with the support device attached to the lower end thereof is dropped through a pipestring 62' in a manner well known in the art. The support arms 19 are keptl collapsed by contact of the inwardly curved end yportions 24 of the support arms with the walls of the pipe string 62. Fig. l illus: trates the closed position of the support device vas it is inserted through the pipe string.

After the support device has passed through the open end of the pipe string, the support arms 19 will no longer be confined by the pipe walls. The 0-ring 61 will then force the support arms outwardly from the support mandrel 1 to such a degree that the main spring 43 will then force the link sleeve 27 upwardly along the upper mandrel portion7, in turnforcing the support arms to their full open position as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Although the support arms are shown as being in Contact with the opposite walls of the well bore 26, it is to be understood that it is not essential that such contact need be made with both such opposite walls. As pointedout before, it is a primary purpose of the invention to provide a support for the caliper instrument so that the caliper may be supported from the footwall side ofthe well bore when the caliper is in use in a well bore of high inclination to the vertical. Thus it is only essential that the support arms Contact the footwall side of the well bore in order that the cali-per may be supported from that wall to thus prevent the caliper from collapsing the caliper arms. Itis this support from the well bore sides that provides a center hole approximation for the caliper instrument.

After the well bore caliper survey has been run, the caliper and attached supportdevice are` pulled back through the open end of the pipe string, by suitable means, such as is generally done by a Wire line (not shown). The force exerted on the support arms 19 as they come into contact vwith the open end 4of the pipe string7 62 is insutcient to force the support arms to a closed position against the force exerted by the main `spring 43 urging the arms to openl position. Consequently, meansare provided lto release the `force exerted by the main spring, which vmeans operate in the following manner. v

As illustrated in lFig. 3, the support device is pulled up into the pipe string until the end of the pipe lstring 62 abuts the support arms 19. As the support device continues to be pulled into the pipe string, the support arm bushing 13 will be forced to slide along the upper mandrel portion '7, in-turn-compressing the collapsing spring 37. When the collapsing spring is 'fully compressed, the continued sliding movement of the support arm bushing 13 will be transmitted to the compression spring 37 and link sleeve 27 and these three elements will slide as a unit downwardly on the upper mandrel portion 7 until the sleeve 27 abuts the lock release bushing 41, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Further'downward movement of the support arm bushing 13 will cau-se the lock release bushing 41 to move downwardly Iagainst the bias of the compression spring 54 Iuntil the cavity 53 in the lock release bushing is in registration with the holes 45 in the collar 41, so that the locking balls 48 Imay move into the recess formed by the lock release bushing cavity and the collar openings.

When the locking balls move from the lower mandrel portion groove 44, the collar 41 is released from its locked position on the lower mandrel portion 8 and the compression force of the main spring 43 causes the collar 41 to slide downwardly on the lower mandrel portion 8, the collar coming to rest against the bottom nut 57.

The release of the collar 41 relieves the compression force on the main spring 43 so that the collapsing spring 37 is capable of acting in opposition to the main spring, and the collapsing spring forces the support arm bushing 13 away from the link sleeve 27, thus allowing the support arms to collapse against the support mandrel. The inwardly curved end portions 24 of the support arms enter into the recess formed by the sleeve slots 59 and the upper mandrel portion recess 58 and the support device is completely collapsed, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the support devi-ce may then be withdrawn through the pipe string.

The support device may then be reset to its original position by forcing the collar 41 upwardly along the lower mandrel portion S until the collar openings 45 come into registration with the lower mandrel portion groove 44. The compression spring 54 will force the lock release bushing 51 upwardly so that the locking balls will re-enter the groove, thus locking the collar to the lower mandrel portion, as shown in Fig. 1.

vIt is to be understood that the form of the invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preieri-ed embodiment of the same, and that various changes in shape, size and` arrangement of the parts may be resorted to, without departing from the `spirit of my invention or the scope of the attached claims.

Having thus described -my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. lIn a bottom caliper support, a mandrel adapted to be inserted into a borehole through a pipe string, a bushing slidably mounted for axial movement on said mandrel, a plurality of support arms pivotally connected to said bushing, a sleeve slidably mounted for axial movement on said mandrel, a yplurality of links pivotally mounted on'said sleeve'and each pivotally connected to 2. lIn a device as set forth in claim l, wherein said support arms are provided with elongated body portions and inwardly curved end portions, means forming recesses in said mandrel,`means forming slots insaid sleeve, said slots and said recesses'being'adapted to be 'placed in registration to form repositories for lsaid vinwardly curved yend portions of said support armswhen said -support arms are moved to closed position against,l said mandrel, and means mounted on said mandrel to Vinitially urge said support arms away from said mandrel when `said supportarms are in closed position.

3. lIn a device as set forth in claim 1, further including means slidably mounted on said mandrel adapted to contact and release said latching means.

4. In a device as set forth in claim l, further including second spring means mounted on said mandrel between said bushing and said sleeve to urge said bushing and said sleeve in opposite directions along said mandrel, said bushing, said second named spring means and said sleeve being so mounted on said mandrel that they may move as a unit along said mandrel in a direction opposite to the force exerted by the iirst named spring means.

5. In a device as set forth in claim 4, further including means slidably mounted on the mandrel adapted to contact and release said latching means.

6. In a device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said sleeve is provided with an end portion adapted to abut and release said releasable latching means.

7. In a device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the spring retaining means comprises a collar mounted for axial movement on said mandrel and having a ange adapted to receive said other end of said first named spring means and being further provided with holes spaced circumferentially of said collar, and wherein the releasable latching means comprises means forming a circumferential groove in said mandrel adapted to be placed in registration with the holes in said collar, locking balls carried in said groove and adapted to extend into the holes in said collar to lock the collar against axial movement on said mandrel, and a lock release bushing slidably mounted on said collar, the said lock release bushing being provided with a circumferential recess adapted to be put into registration with said groove in said mandrel and said holes in said collar whereby the locking balls may move from their position locking said collar and said mandrel from relative axial movement.

8. In a bottom caliper support, a mandrel having a lower portion of reduced diameter and an upper portion provided with a longitudinal keyway, a first bushing slidably mounted on and keyed against rotation on the upper end of said mandrel, a plurality of support arms pivotally connected to said first bushing, a sleeve slidably mounted on and keyed against rotation on the upper end of said mandrel, a plurality of links each having one end pivotally connected to said sleeve and having the other end pivotally connected to one of said support arms, a collar slidably mounted on said reduced diameterportion of said mandrel, said collar being provided with an outwardly extending ange, spring means mounted on said mandrel, one end of said spring engaging said sleeve, the other end of said spring engaging saidcollar ange whereby said spring means tends to force said sleeve and said collar in opposite directions, means forming a recess in said reduced diameter portion ofsaid mandrel, means forming an opening through said collar, the said open-V ing being adapted to be placed in registration with said recess, a locking ball carried in said recess and said opening whereby the said collar is locked against axial movement on said mandrel, a second bushing surrounding said collar and slidably mounted `on said collar, means forming a cavity in said second bushing adapted to be placed jin registration with said collar opening whereby said locking ball may move from its position locking said collar to said Vmandrel,`and means interposed between said first bushing and said sleeve whereby axial movement of said first bushing may be transmitted to said sleeve to force said sleeve along said mandrel to` wardsV said reduced diameter portion of said mandrel so that the lower end of said sleeve may abut said second bushing and move said second bushing so that the cavity therein may move into registration with said collar opening.

9. In a device as set forth in claim 8, further including means biasing said second bushing to a position on said` collar whereby the second bushing cavity is out of registration with said collar opening. s l

l0. Ina device asset forth in claim 8 wherein said support arms are provided with elongated body portions and inwardly curved end portions, means forming recesses in said` upper portion of said mandrel, means forming'slots in said sleeve, said last named slots and said last named recesses being Aadapted to be` placed in registration to form repositories for said inwardly curved end portions of said support arms when said support arms are moved to closed position against said mandrel, and means mounted `on said mandrel to initially urge said support arms away from said mandrel when said support arms are in closed position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,708,354 Cabot s Apr. 9, 1929