Machining apparatus for long tube lengths and related methods
AssigneeSmith International, Inc.
InventorDaniel H. Symonds
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for machining a profile in an inner wall of a tubular includes a frame on which a drive system is disposed, a carriage head disposed on at least one track of the frame, wherein the drive system is configured to operate the carriage head along the at least one track, a torque tube coupled to the carriage head and extending therefrom, the torque tube having a cutting tool coupled thereto, and a plurality of stabilizer pads disposed proximate the cutting tool and along a circumference of the torque tube, wherein the plurality of stabilizer pads are configured to engage the inner wall of the tubular and centralize the cutting tool within the tubular.
Claims30
An apparatus for machining a profile in an inner wall of a tubular, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame on which a drive system is disposed;
- a carriage head disposed on at least one track of the frame, wherein the drive system is configured to operate the carriage head along the at least one track;
- a torque tube coupled to the carriage head and extending therefrom;
- a cutting tool coupled to an end of the torque tube;
- and
- a plurality of stabilizer pads disposed proximate the cutting tool and along at least a portion of a circumference of the torque tube;
- wherein the plurality of stabilizer pads are configured to engage the inner wall of the tubular and centralize the cutting tool within the tubular.
A cutting tool comprising:
- a cutting head comprising:
- an adjustable cutter block;
- and
- a cutting element disposed on the cutter block,
- wherein a height of the cutter block is adjustable to a specified cut depth;
- and
- a stabilizer body disposed proximate the cutting head, the stabilizer body comprising:
- a fixed stabilizer pad located opposite the cutting element;
- and
- a first hydraulically actuated floating stabilizer pad;
- wherein the fixed stabilizer and the first hydraulically actuated floating stabilizer pad are configured to centralize the cutting head within a tubular.
A method of machining a profile into an inner wall of a tubular, the method comprising:
- providing a cutting tool within a tubular;
- and
- making a plurality of progressively cut layers in the profile,
- wherein making each of the plurality of progressively cut layers includes cutting a plurality of cuts at a specified working surface depth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.