Back to results
US 5,709,269 AGranted
Dissolvable grip or seal arrangement
OwnerPhilip Headinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to an releasable grip arrangement providing an impermeable barrier in an annular space between an inside tube and an outside tube of an oil well and is made of a material which may be dissolved by a suitable solvent and includes a seal member and a locking member 3, a sleeve which comprises holes which can be blocked during normal use but can be opened to permit the entrance of a solvent.
Claims16
A releasable gripper assembly comprising:
- first and second tubular sections centered along an axis and coaxial with one another;
- first and second locking members coaxial with the tubular sections;
- and
- engaging means for engaging and for axially displacing the locking members with respect to one another,
- at least one of the first and second locking members being made of a dissolvable material and adapted to expand radially in a locking position during axial displacement of the locking members to operatively engage at least one of the tubular sections.
2 more elements
A method of detachably supporting an inner tubular member in an outer tubular member of an oil or gas well which comprises the steps of:
- a) affixing said inner tubular member to an inner wall of said outer tubular member by expanding a first grip part with a second grip part, at least one of said grip parts being composed of a material soluble in a solvent;
- and
- b) releasing the engagement of said grip parts by passing said solvent into contact with said grip parts, thereby dissolving the grip part made of said material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.