Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
  • E21B17/10—Wear protectors; Centralising devices, e.g. stabilisers
  • E21B17/1085—Wear protectors; Blast joints; Hard facing
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
  • E21B17/10—Wear protectors; Centralising devices, e.g. stabilisers
  • E21B17/1035—Wear protectors; Centralising devices, e.g. stabilisers for plural rods, pipes or lines, e.g. for control lines
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L3/00—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L3/00—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets
  • F16L3/02—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets partly surrounding the pipes, cables or protective tubing
  • F16L3/06—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets partly surrounding the pipes, cables or protective tubing with supports for wires
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L3/00—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets
  • F16L3/08—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
  • F16L3/12—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing comprising a member substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
  • F16L3/137—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing comprising a member substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing and consisting of a flexible band
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
  • H02G3/30—Installations of cables or lines on walls, floors or ceilings
  • H02G3/32—Installations of cables or lines on walls, floors or ceilings using mounting clamps

Definitions

• the invention concerns a cable protection device for protecting cables or lines running along a pipe or a tubular body, such as a well pipe.
• the cable protection device is for clamping the cables to the tubular body and protect them.
• the cable protection device disclosed herein is particularly adapted to protect cables passing over pipe joints, i.e. run ning over the coupling connecting two pipes.
• Patent publication GB 2512365 A discloses an example of a known cable protection de vice. This device consists of a housing member which is hinged to a strap member, and the housing has a conduit for enveloping control lines.
• Patent publication WO 2019202163 A1 discloses a gripper for a cable protector. The pub lication shows two grippers connected by a spine which protects cables running past a pipe joint.
• Patent publication WO 2004064215 A1 shows another example of a cable clamp device which comprises first and second arcuate arms joined to each other with a hinge.
• a lock- ing arm is pivotally joined by a hinge to the second arcuate arm, and a flexible wire loop is attached to the locking arm.
• Patent publication ITUA20163802 A1 discloses a coupling and protection device for a ca- ble arranged externally to a conduit.
• the device comprises a protective casing and cou pling means associated and operatively connected to both longitudinal ends of the pro tective casing.
• the coupling means comprises a lever locking system.
• Patent publication US4601334 A discloses control line protector for securing and protect ing a control line or lines to the exterior of an oil well tubing string.
• the protector com prises a flexible steel strap to the ends of which a respective trunnion is attached, one of which trunnions is removably mounted.
• the trunnions are interconnected by two screws which may be rotated to draw the trunnions towards one another.
• Patent publication RU190275U1 discloses a device to protect a power cable in a well.
• the device comprises a molded case, made in one piece with the cable channel and with a central channel.
• the device comprises arcuate clamping brackets.
• Patent publication W02005103544 A2 a cable clamp device.
• Patent publication US6023027 A discloses a guard for cables that extend alongside a cou pling in a tubing string.
• the invention has for its object to remedy or to reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative to prior art.
• the invention relates to a cable protection device for protecting a cable running along a tubular body, the tubular body comprising a coupling having two side edges, the cable protection device comprising: - a body for partly enclosing the tubular body circumferentially, the body being provided with:
• a clamping portion comprising a contact surface for close contact with the tubu lar body, and an outside;
• a flexible member for strapping the body to the tubular body wherein the flexible member is partly arranged on the inside of the protective portion and partly arranged on the outside of the clamping portion, wherein the portion of the flexible member being arranged on the inside of the protective portion is configured for holding the cable se curely between the protection device and the tubular body;
• the body of the cable protection device When in use, the body of the cable protection device encloses the tubular body partly in the circumference of the tubular body. Ideally the body encloses up to half of the circum ference of the tubular body.
• the body of the cable protection device When arranged on the tubular body, the body of the cable protection device extends longitudinally along the tubular body.
• the protective portion of the body typically includes a longitudinal recess allowing the cable to stay protected be tween the body of the cable protection device and the tubular body to which the cable protection device is strapped. Since cables are particularly exposed to damage at the pipe connections, since the coupling of the pipe connection extends further out into the well bore than the rest of the tubing, it is important to protect the cables in this area.
• the purpose of having the body enclose the tubular body only partly, is that the cable protection device may be arranged on the tubular body from the side, i.e., without having to slide it on from the pipe end. This gives a flexible solution and allows for easy changing of protection device in case of damage.
• the flexible member straps the cable protection device to the tubular body and clamps, or traps, the cable between the tubular body and the body of the cable protection device.
• the flexible member of the fastening device is that the cable protection device may be strapped either to the coupling or to the pipe, depending on the shape and size of the cable protection device.
• the flexible member allows the recess, or groove, of the protective portion of the body to be the same independent of the size and shape of the cable or cables to be protected. This is because the tightening mechanism and the flexible member make it possible to adjust the tightening of the body against the tubular body. If the cables are of smaller size, the flexible member may be tightened harder than if the cables are bigger.
• the cables are held securely be tween the cable protection device and the tubular body. Having a fixed size and shape for the recess, makes the production of cable protection devices easier, and it makes the use of the cable protection device more flexible.
• the same kind of cable protection device may be used for different types of cables.
• the flexible member may be a band, and the tightening of the band may be either step less or stepwise.
• the flexible member may comprise polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).
• PPS polyphenylene sulfide
• the flexible member may comprise glassfiber reinforced PPS.
• the flexible member may comprise ratchets, and the tightening mechanism may work similarly to the mecha nism of a cable tie.
• the tightening mechanism may be arranged on the inside of the body so that it is pro tected by the body of the cable protection device.
• the tightening mechanism may be fas tened to the body of the cable protection device, or more preferably, it may be fastened to one end of the flexible member.
• the body of the cable protection device may comprise a trap or opening for holding the tightening mechanism, so that the flexible member may be thread into the body of the cable protection device from the end without the tightening mechanism until the tightening mechanism is trapped or secured or clicked into place in the body.
• the ad vantage of this is that the flexible member may easily be changed in case of damage.
• the purpose of the tightening mechanism is to tighten and lock the flexible member, so that the cable protection device is securely fastened around the tubular body.
• the flexible member is partly arranged on the inside of the protective portion and partly arranged on the outside of the clamping portion. This allows for the flexible member to be in direct contact with the cables to be protected. Strapping the cables directly by the flexible member, while they are still protected by the protective portion of the cable pro tection device, has the advantage that cables of different sizes and shapes may be secure ly held by the cable protection device. This means that the same sized cable protection device may be used for different cables to be protected.
• the clamping portion of the body may further comprise two shoulders, each for bearing against one of the side edges of the coupling, for preventing axial movement of the cable protection device along the tubular body.
• the purpose of the shoulders preventing axial movement of the cable protection device is to keep the cable protection device itself in place, relative to the cable running over the coupling, making sure not to expose the cable to unnecessary wear. Cables running along downhole pipes, for instance, are particularly vulnerable when they pass over couplings, i.e., pipe joints, it is therefore an advantage to mount the cable protection device over the coupling, and make sure it does not move along the pipe in the longitudinal/axial di rection.
• the fastening device may comprise a further flexible member.
• the cable protection device there are different possible embodiments of the cable protection device, and in one em bodiment two flexible members may be provided.
• one flexible mem ber may be arranged on each side of the cable protection device for strapping the ends of the cable protection device to the tubular body.
• the flexible members When the cable protection device is mounted at a pipe connection, over a coupling, the flexible members may be positioned one on each side of the coupling. It must be understood that depending on the size and shape of the body of the cable protection device, more than two flexible members may be provided for strapping the body to the tubular body. In one embodiment, the flexible members are arranged at the far ends of the cable protection device.
• the body of the cable protection device may typically extend in the axial direction of the tubular body to which it is going to be strapped, and in one embodiment, the body of the cable protection device may be provided with two arms for gripping the tubular body.
• the flexible mem bers may be placed in connection with the arms.
• Each arm may for instance be provided with a recess for guiding the flexible member.
• a groove may be provided in the contact surface and the cable protection device may further comprise a roller for fitting into the groove for providing extra tensioning of the flexible member in case the cable protection device is rotated.
• the groove and the roller provide extra tensioning of the flexible member by way of the shape of the groove.
• the groove may be shaped so that it is deeper at a mid portion in which the roller is positioned when the cable protection device is first arranged on the tubular body. If the cable protection device is rotated after being strapped to the tubular body, the roller is forced into the more shallow side portion of the groove, and thus pushes the body of the cable protection device slightly outwards from the tubular body and adds to the tightening of the flexible member.
• the roller may have a cam profile or it may be circular.
• At least a portion of the contact surface of the clamping portion may be serrated.
• Such a serrated portion of the contact surface is to prevent rotation of the cable protection device around the tubular body, or at least to make such rotation less likely. Rotation is already made difficult by the tight strapping of the cable protection de vice by means of the fastening device, and the serration works in synergy with the fas tening device to further prevent rotation.
• At least a portion of the contact surface of the clamping portion may be provided with a surface coating for increased friction between the contact surface and the tubular body.
• Surface coating for increased friction is an alternative to the serration mentioned above and has the same purpose namely to further prevent rotation of the cable protection de vice.
• Such surface coating may include tungsten carbide coating, and such coating may include particles.
• tungsten carbide coating may include particles.
• the cable protection device may further comprise an insert for being positioned between the contact surface and the tubular body, for providing extra friction.
• an insert may be used for increasing friction between the contact surface of the cable protection device and the tubular body to which it is fas tened.
• Such insert may comprise silicon carbide.
• the cable protection device may further be provided with at least one sharp element ar- ranged in connection with the contact surface, for gripping into the tubular upon tighten ing of the flexible member.
• sharp element is herein meant for instance a pointed element, like a set screw. Any element which may be arranged in connection with the contact surface and which is sharp, hard and small enough to bite into the surface of the tubular body, is suit- able for this purpose.
• a set screw is given as an example of such an element.
• Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a cable protection device in perspective view
• Fig. 2 shows the body of the cable protection device in perspective view from another angle
• Fig. 3 shows a side view of the cable protection device of Fig. 1, mounted on a tubular body;
• Fig. 4 shows a cross-section of Fig. 3
• Fig. 5 shows an end view of the body of the cable protection device arranged on a tubular body (cross-section of pipe and cables);
• Fig. 6 illustrates the function of the elastic band of the cable protection device, and an example of how it may be arranged
• Fig. 7 shows a cross-section along the center line of the tubular body, of the tub ular body and the cable protection device;
• Fig. 8a shows an embodiment of the cable protection device provided with extra tightening means;
• Fig. 8b shows the extra tightening means of Fig. 8a at a larger scale
• Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of the cable protection device.
• the cable pro tection device 1 comprises a body 2 and a fastening device 3.
• the fastening device 3 com prises a flexible member 31 and a tightening mechanism 32.
• the flexible member 31 may be a band.
• the shown embodiment of the cable protection device 1 comprises two flexi ble members 31 and thus also two tightening mechanisms 32.
• the body 2 comprises two portions namely a protective portion 21 for enclosing a portion of a cable 4 running along a tubular body 5, see Fig. 3, and a clamping portion 22 comprising a contact surface 221 for close contact with the tubular body 5.
• the protective portion 21 has an inside 211
• the clamping portion 22 has an outside 226.
• the flexible member 31 runs along the inside 211 of the protective portion 21 and along the outside 226 of the clamping portion 22. This arrangement allows the flexible member 31 both to strap the body 2 to the tubular body 5 and to tighten directly against the cables 4 to be protected.
• the contact surface 221 and shoulder 222 are indicated on both sides of the protective portion 21.
• the tubular body 5 comprises a coupling 51 having two side edges 511.
• the body 2 is shown having openings 23 in the protective portion 21. These openings 23 are for reducing the amount of material needed for producing the ca ble protection device 1.
• the clamping portion 22 of the body 2 may be provided with shoulders 222 for bearing against the side edges 511 of the coupling 51.
• Figure 4 shows a cross-section through a tubular body 5 and a coupling 51 whereon a ca ble protection device 1 is arranged. This Figure shows that an inner diameter of the cable protection device 1 is slightly bigger than an outer diameter of the tubular body 5 and that there are shoulders 222 on both sides of the protective portion 21. Furthermore, the figure shows that the cable 4 to be protected is running along the tubular body 5 and is protected by the protective portion 21 of the cable protection device 1.
• the flexible members 31 are placed in connection with arms 223. Each arm 223 shown here provided with a recess 224 for guiding the flexible member 31.
• Figure 5 shows the body 2 of the cable protection device 1 from the side when placed on the tubular body 5.
• Three cables 2 of different sizes are here shown protected by the pro tective portion 21 of the body 2, and it is further illustrated that the clamping portion 22 of the body 2 is in close contact with the tubular body 5.
• Figure 6 illustrates how the fastening device 3 may be arranged partly covered by and lining the body 2 for clamping the cables 4 to the tubular body 5.
• the flexible member 31 runs along the inside 211 of the protective portion 21 of the body 2, and straps the cables 4 directly.
• the flexible member 31 is here shown as a thick black line.
• a tightening mech anism 32 is provided for tightening the flexible member 31.
• Figure 7 is a cross section through the centre line of the tubular body 5, further illustrat ing the flexible members 31 clamping the cable 4 to the tubular body 5.
• figure 8a shows an embodiment of the cable protection device 1 wherein a tensioning means is provided in the form of a groove 224 and a roller 6.
• the groove 224 is provided in the contact surface 221 of the clamping portion 22 of the body 2.
• the groove 224 can be seen in more detail on figure 8b.
• the groove 224 is provided with a slightly deeper middle portion wherein the roller 6 is positioned. Whenever the cable protection device 1 is rotated, the roller 6 will be forced out of the deeper middle portion of the groove 224 and thereby pushes the body 2 radially out from the tubular body 5, consequently tensioning the flexible mem bers 31.
• Figure 9 illustrates further possible variations of some features of the cable protection device 1.
• the flexible member 31 of the fastening device 3 is shown with a stepped surface providing stepwise tightening. Furthermore, in this embodiment a bore 225 is provided in the contact surface 221. Inside said bore 225 is provided a sharp element 7, for instance a set screw. It must be understood that a different sharp element could have been arranged on the contact surface 221 or, as shown here, in the bore 225 in the contact surface 221. The purpose of the sharp, or pointed, element 7 is to provide a grip in the tubular body 5, for preventing rotation of the cable protection device 1.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Installation Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)

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Citations (9)

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• 2021
  • 2021-05-31 NO NO20210686A patent/NO346333B1/no unknown
• 2022
  • 2022-05-24 WO PCT/NO2022/050115 patent/WO2022255878A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2022-05-24 US US18/561,096 patent/US20240254843A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (9)

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