Patent · US Expired

Shock attenuating apparatus and method

US5117911A · kind A · utility

35Cited by
7References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 16, 1991
Grant dateJun 2, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 16, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B29/02
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An apparatus attenuates a shock, such as an impact load from an explosion, by undergoing plastic deformation and by serially dissipating energy from a plurality of surfaces. In a particular embodiment, the plastic deformation and serial energy dissipation occur in and from a hollow unitary body having a cylindrical wall in which are defined a plurality of longitudinally spaced circumferential grooves. A method of attenuating shock from an explosion in an oil gas well comprises: lowering into the well an explosive connected to a shock attenuating member; detonating the explosive whereby an impact load with a shock wave is generated; and collapsing without severing the member in response to the impact load and dissipating energy of the shock wave from a plurality of surfaces of the member so that the shock wave is attenuated along the member.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.