Air Curtain Generator for Optical Sensing Devices
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorCharles Cutler Britton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A disclosed example of a sensing device includes an optical surface and an air curtain generator positioned around the optical surface. The air curtain generator has at least one nozzle operable to provide a continuous forced air region traveling away from the optical surface, thereby forming an air curtain around the optical surface that provides a debris barrier for the optical surface.
Claims20
A sensing device for use in a wellbore operation, comprising:
- a sensor selected from the group consisting of IR sensors, X-ray sensors, radar sensors, laser sensors, photoelectric sensors, ultrasonic sensors, optical analyzers, and integrated computational elements for obtaining optical information;
- computer processing equipment in communication with the sensor and operable to estimate a volume of drill cuttings based upon the optical information;
- and
- an air curtain generator positioned around an optical surface, the air curtain generator having at least one nozzle operable to provide a continuous forced air region traveling away from the optical surface, thereby forming an air curtain around the optical surface to prevent or minimize debris from degrading the sensing or measuring function of the sensor.
A sensing device for use in a wellbore operation, comprising:
- an optical surface for obtaining optical information;
- computer processing equipment in communication with the optical surface and operable to estimate a volume of drill cuttings based upon the optical information;
- a first air curtain generator positioned around the optical surface, the first air curtain generator having at least one nozzle operable to provide a continuous forced air region traveling away from the optical surface, thereby forming a first air curtain around the optical;
- and
- a second air curtain generator positioned around the first air curtain generator, the second air curtain generator having at least one nozzle operable to provide a continuous forced air region traveling away from the optical surface, thereby forming a second air curtain around the optical surface;
- wherein the first and second air curtains prevent or minimize debris contact with the optical surface which could degrade a sensing or measuring function of the sensing device, thereby allowing the sensing device to determine a volume of drill cuttings.
A method of protecting an optical surface of a sensing device during the determination of a volume of dill cuttings received from a wellbore, comprising:
- positioning an air curtain generator around the optical surface, the air curtain generator having at least one nozzle;
- discharging air through the at least one nozzle to provide a continuous forced air region traveling away from the optical surface, thereby forming an air curtain around the optical surface to prevent or minimize debris contact with the optical surface, which could degrade a sensing or measuring function of the sensing device;
- and
- determining the volume of drill cuttings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.