Fretting-wear resistant beacon lid
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorGreg L. Slaughter, JR.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connection system for a lid in a beacon housing. The lid is connected to the housing at a tab at a first end, after a lip of the lid is placed under a shelf at its second end. The tab has a cross-bore for receiving a connection pin through both the cross-bore and corresponding holes in the housing which form a continuous passage. The lid is placed under tension to reduce relative vibration between the lid and the housing. A set screw is placed within the tab to place a force on the connection pin. Further set screws are distributed about the lid and place the lid in tension relative to the housing. The lid can be removed by reducing the tension provided by the set screws, removing the connection pin, and adjusting the lid such that it is no longer under the shelf of the housing.
Claims19
A method of reconfiguring a lid coupled to a housing of a downhole tool, the housing defining an open mouth exposing a cavity, the lid being retained to the housing by a cross pin extending through the lid and the housing, the method comprising:
- with the cross pin remaining disposed through the lid and the housing, adjusting a set screw carried by the lid to change a force applied to the cross pin, thereby transitioning the lid between:
- a retained configuration in which relative movement between the lid and the housing is constrained;
- and
- a releasable configuration in which the lid is removable from the housing without removing the set screw from the lid.
A beacon housing assembly for a downhole tool, comprising:
- an elongate housing defining a cavity configured to receive a beacon, the cavity having an open mouth;
- a lid configured to cover the open mouth;
- a cross pin extending through the lid and the elongate housing to retain the lid relative to the elongate housing;
- and
- a set screw carried by the lid and positioned to apply an adjustable force to the cross pin;
- wherein the set screw is adjustable, while the cross pin remains extended through the lid and the elongate housing, between:
- a retained configuration in which the set screw applies a first force to the cross pin to constrain relative movement between the lid and the elongate housing;
- and
- a releasable configuration in which the set screw applies a second force to the cross pin to permit the lid to be removed from the elongate housing without removing the set screw from the lid, wherein the second force is less than the first force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.