Integral bellows for oilfield equipment
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsSrinand Karuppoor, Abbigail Ullrich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bellows assembly for a downhole tool includes a first seal ring, a second seal ring, and a bellows positioned at least partially between the first and second seal rings. The first seal ring, the second seal ring, and the bellows are integral with one another such that the bellows assembly is monolithic. The bellows is configured to expand and retract. The bellows is annular and has a diameter that varies over a length of the bellows. A material composition of the bellows varies over the length of the bellows.
Claims18
A bellows assembly for a downhole tool, the bellows assembly comprising:
- a first seal ring;
- a second seal ring;
- and
- a bellows positioned at least partially between the first and second seal rings, wherein the first seal ring, the second seal ring, and the bellows are integral with one another such that the bellows assembly is monolithic, wherein the bellows is configured to expand and retract, wherein the bellows is annular and has a diameter that varies over a length of the bellows, and wherein the bellows is shaped as a wave form along the length, the wave form including:
- an inner curved portion;
- an outer curved portion;
- and
- an intermediate portion coupling the inner and outer curved portions;
- the inner and outer curved portions are made from a shape-memory alloy;
- and
- the intermediate portion is made from a non-shape-memory alloy.
A method for manufacturing a bellows assembly, the method comprising:
- determining a load that the bellows assembly is configured to experience;
- determining a number of cycles that the bellows assembly is configured to experience;
- determining a thickness of a bellows of the bellows assembly based at least partially upon the load and the number of cycles;
- determining a material composition of the bellows based at least partially upon the load and the number of cycles, wherein the material composition varies over a length of the bellows;
- and
- manufacturing the bellows assembly via an additive manufacturing process, wherein the bellows assembly is manufactured based at least partially upon the thickness and the material composition, wherein the bellows assembly comprises:
- a first seal ring;
- a second seal ring;
- and
- a bellows positioned at least partially between the first and second seal rings, wherein the first seal ring, the second seal ring, and the bellows are integral with one another such that the bellows assembly is monolithic, wherein the bellows is configured to expand and retract, wherein the bellows is annular and has a diameter that varies over a length of the bellows, and wherein the bellows is shaped as a wave form along the length, the wave form including:
- an inner curved portion;
- an outer curved portion;
- and
- an intermediate portion coupling the inner and outer curved portions;
- the inner and outer curved portions are made from a shape-memory alloy;
- and
- the intermediate portion is made from a non-shape-memory alloy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.