Wedge lock ring
AssigneeHalliburton Company
InventorsRichard L. Giroux, John T. Brandell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wedge lock ring apparatus includes an outer housing having a housing bore with a housing groove defined therein. The housing groove has at least one and preferably has upper and lower housing groove tapered sides. An inner sleeve has a cylindrical outer surface with a sleeve groove defined therein, and the sleeve groove has at least one and preferably has upper and lower sleeve groove tapered sides. A wedge lock ring is received in the housing groove and the sleeve groove and has ring tapered edges complementary to the housing groove tapered sides and sleeve groove tapered sides, such that the sleeve and housing are locked against relative rotation by wedged engagement with the lock ring.
Claims12
A wedge lock ring apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having a housing bore defining a housing inner radius, and a housing groove defined in said housing bore, said housing groove having first and second housing groove tapered sides;
- an inner sleeve having a cylindrical outer surface with a sleeve groove defined therein, said sleeve groove having first and second sleeve groove tapered sides;
- and
- a split wedge lock ring received in said housing groove and said sleeve groove, said split wedge lock ring including:
- first and second ring inner tapered edges complementary to said first and second sleeve groove tapered sides, respectively;
- first and second ring outer tapered edges complementary to said first and second housing groove tapered sides, respectively;
- a ring cross-sectional profile wherein said first ring inner tapered edge faces generally axially in a first direction and said first ring outer tapered edge is oriented generally axially in a second direction opposite said first direction, and said second ring inner tapered edge faces generally axially in said second direction and said second ring outer tapered edge is oriented generally axially in said first direction;
- and
- said first ring inner tapered edge engaging said first sleeve groove tapered side, and said first ring outer tapered edge engaging said first housing groove tapered side, such that said sleeve and housing are locked against relative rotation by wedged engagement with said split wedge lock ring.
A method of drilling out a portion of a well tool, said method comprising:
- holding an inner tool component against rotation relative to an outer housing by wedging said inner tool component and said outer housing against a wedge lock ring held therebetween, said holding step including:
- wedging an inner tool component groove taper located within an inner tool compartment groove defined on said inner tool component with a complementary inner ring tapered defined on said wedge lock ring;
- and
- wedging a housing groove taper located within a housing groove defined within said housing with a complementary outer ring taper defined on said wedge lock ring;
- and
- drilling out said inner tool component while it is held against rotation by said wedge lock ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.