Pipeline Plug Module with Protection Bars forming a Strong Beam
AssigneeTDW Offshore Services AS
InventorOliver Eckeberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of a pipeline isolation tool (M) of this disclosure include a set of protection bars (10) that extend a full length of the slips (20) when the slips are in a radially retracted position and present a raised sliding surface to the pipe wall, thereby protecting the slips. The protection bars also form a beam supporting a radial load directed toward an axial centerline of the pipeline isolation tool when the slips are in the radially retracted position.
Claims10
A pipeline plug module (M) comprising:
- a bowl (40) toward one end of the plug module and an actuator plate toward another end of the plug module, the bowl and the actuator plate each including a plurality of spaced apart slots (41, 39);
- a gripper assembly (G) located between the bowl and the actuator plate, the gripper assembly including a plurality of slips (20) movable between a radially retracted position and a radially extended position as the actuator plate moves relative to the bowl;
- and
- a set of protection bars (10) having a bowl end (11) and an actuator plate end (19) and extending a full length of the slips;
- each protection bar of the set of protection bars located between a corresponding adjacent pair of slips of the plurality of slips, the bowl and actuator ends of the protection bar being received by a corresponding slot of the bowl and of the actuator plate respectively;
- the bowl end of the protection bar being fixed to the bowl, the actuator end of the protection bar slidably received by the actuator plate;
- wherein when the slips are in the radially retracted position, the protection bars are elevated above the slips;
- and
- wherein when the slips are in the radially extended position, the slips are elevated above the protection bars and the actuator plate end of the protection bars extends past the actuator plate.
A pipeline plug module (M) including a bowl (40), an actuator plate (30), and a plurality of slips (20) located between the bowl and the actuator plate and movable between a radially retracted and a radially extended position as the actuator plate moves relative to the bowl, the plug module further comprising:
- a set of protection bars (10), each protection bar having a bowl end (11) fixed to the bowl and an actuator plate end (19) slidably received by the actuator plate, the protection bar extending a full length of the slips when the slips are in the radially retracted position.
A set of protection bars (10) adapted for use with a pipeline plug module (M) having a bowl (40), an actuator plate (30), and a set of slips (20) movable between a radially retracted position and a radially extended position as the actuator plate moves relative to the bowl, each protection bar comprising:
- a bowl end (11) adapted for fixed connection to the bowl;
- and
- an actuator plate end (19) adapted for sliding connection to the actuator plate;
- each protection bar sized to span a full distance of the slips when in the slips are in the radially retracted position.
A method for supporting a radial load directed toward an axial centerline of a pipeline isolation tool (M) including a gripper assembly (G) comprising slips (20), the method comprising:
- providing a set of protection bars (10) having a bowl end (11) adapted for fixed connection to a bowl (40) of the pipeline isolation tool and an actuator plate end (19) adapted for sliding connection to an actuator plate (30) of the pipeline isolation tool;
- each protection bar sized to span a full length of the slips when the slips are in a radially retracted position, the actuator plate end of the protection bars extending past the actuator plate when the slips are in a radially extended position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.