Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for sealing instruments in a downhole tool

US5613561A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
25References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 27, 1995
Grant dateMar 25, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 27, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B17/006
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An apparatus for sealing a first pressure environment from a second, lower pressure environment, includes a plug having a desired cross section for insertion into a barrier wall aperture shaped to receive the plug. The barrier wall has a first pressure environment on its outside surface and a second environment on its inside surface. A bearing surface on the plug bears against the wall of the aperture. A flexing member, subject to and reactive to the first pressure environment, has an outer surface providing at least a portion of the bearing surface. The flexing member, in reacting to the first pressure environment, flexes at least a portion of the bearing surface to bear more tightly against the wall of the aperture and tends to seal the first pressure environment from the second pressure environment and maintain the seal under a variety of mechanical loads. A chassis is secured within the barrier wall. The chassis has a pocket located such that when the plug is inserted into the barrier wall aperture a portion of the pocket aligns with the aperture. The plug is secured by attachment to the chassis.

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