Apparatus and methods for measuring thread depth on a threaded member
AssigneeGrant Prideco, L.P.
InventorLalit Chandra Sekhar Karlapalem
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool for evaluating a thread depth includes a frame having an elongate portion extending in a first direction; a first contact member coupled to the frame and reciprocable in a second direction between a baseline height and a retracted height, the baseline height being greater than the retracted height. An output device provides an output in response to the height of the first contact member. A reference member is coupled to the frame at a first distance D1 from the first contact member as measured in the first direction; and a second contact member coupled to the frame is disposed at a second distance D2 from the first contact member as measured in the first direction, such that D1 is greater than D2.
Claims20
A tool for evaluating a thread depth dimension of a tubular member having threads having a pitch region and a plurality of spaced apart troughs formed in part by a plurality of spaced apart thread roots, the tool comprising:
- a frame having an elongate portion extending in a first direction;
- a plurality of contact members coupled to the frame, each contact member configured to contact a trough below the pitch region;
- a first contact member of the plurality configured to contact a first trough below the pitch region, the first contact member configured to reciprocate in a second direction between a baseline height relative to the elongate portion and a retracted height relative to the elongate portion, the baseline height being greater than the retracted height;
- an output device coupled to the first contact member and configured to provide an output in response to a height of the first contact member;
- a reference member coupled to the frame at a first distance D1 from the first contact member as measured in the first direction;
- and
- a second contact member of the plurality configured to contact a second trough below the pitch region and coupled to the frame at a second distance D2 from the first contact member as measured in the first direction;
- wherein D1 is greater than D2;
- and
- wherein the first contact member is the furthest contact member of the plurality from the reference member.
A tool for evaluating a thread depth dimension of a tubular member having threads having a pitch region and a plurality of spaced apart troughs formed in part by a plurality of spaced apart thread roots, the tool comprising:
- a frame having an elongate portion extending in a first direction;
- a plurality of contact members coupled to the frame, each contact member configured to contact a trough below the pitch region;
- a first contact member of the plurality configured to contact a first thread root below the pitch region and configured to reciprocate perpendicular to the first direction between a baseline height relative to the elongate portion and a retracted height relative to the elongate portion, the baseline height being greater than the retracted height;
- an output device coupled to the sensor and configured to provide an output in response to a height of the first contact member;
- a second contact member of the plurality configured to contact a second thread root below the pitch region and extending from the frame to a second height from the elongate portion that is greater than the baseline height of the first contact member, the second contact member being disposed at a second distance D2 from the first contact member as measured in the first direction;
- a reference member extending from the frame to a first height that is greater than the second height of the second contact member, the reference member being disposed at a first distance D1 from the first contact member as measured in the first direction;
- and
- wherein D1 is greater than D2;
- and
- wherein the first contact member is the furthest contact member of the plurality from the reference member.
A tool for evaluating a thread depth dimension of a tubular member having threads having a pitch region and a plurality of spaced apart troughs formed in part by a plurality of spaced apart thread roots, the tool comprising:
- a frame having an elongate portion extending in a first direction;
- a plurality of contact members coupled to the frame, each contact member configured to contact a trough below the pitch region;
- a first contact member of the plurality configured to contact a first pair of adjacent thread roots below the pitch region and configured to reciprocate in a second direction between a baseline height relative to the elongate portion and a retracted height relative to the elongate portion, the baseline height being greater than the retracted height;
- an output device coupled to the first contact member and configured to indicate a height of the first contact member;
- a reference member coupled to the frame extending to a first height from the frame as measured perpendicular to the first direction;
- a second contact member of the plurality configured to contact a second pair of adjacent thread roots below the pitch region and being disposed at a second height from the frame as measured perpendicular to the first direction;
- and
- wherein the first contact member is the furthest contact member of the plurality from the reference member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.