US 6,953,086 B2Granted

Bi-directional traction apparatus

AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.

InventorNeil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson

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Abstract

A traction apparatus (1) for propulsion along a bore comprises first and second traction members (6) having outwardly extending legs (14). A propulsion system for operating the traction members (6) comprises a turbine-driven shaft (7) which drives the traction members (6) by way of bearing members (15). In a first phase, one of the legs of the first traction member is moved in one direction whilst in contact with the traction surface to impart the propulsion force at the same time as one of the legs of the second traction member is moved in opposite direction whilst out of contact. In a second phase one of the legs of the second traction member is moved in said one direction whilst in contact with the traction surface to impart the propulsion force at the same time as one of the legs of the first traction member is moved in opposite direction whilst out of contact.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A traction apparatus comprising:

a body incorporating at least two traction members spaced apart along the body for engaging an inner traction surface at locations spaced apart along the traction surface in the direction in which the apparatus is to be moved, each traction member having a plurality of outwardly extending legs substantially equiangularly distributed about a central axis, wherein:
each traction member is mounted on an outer surface of a rotary bearing member which is rotatable to bias each of the legs in turn against the traction surface;
and
each rotary bearing member has a recess in one end for receiving an opposite end of an adjacent rotary bearing member;
and
propulsion means for operating the traction members to move the body along the traction surface, wherein:
the propulsion means acts in a first phase to move one of the legs of the first traction member in one direction relative to the body whilst in contact with the traction surface to impart the required propulsion force at the same time as one of the legs of the second traction member is moved in the opposite direction relative to the body whilst out of contact with the traction surface, and
the propulsion means acts in a second phase, which alternates with the first phase, to move one of the legs of the second traction member in said one direction whilst in contact with the traction surface to impart the required propulsion force at the same time as one of the legs of the first traction member is moved in said opposite direction whilst out of contact with the traction surface.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/432,825Filed 21 Nov 2001
Priority: GB 002861924 Nov 2000
Published: US 2004/0045474 A111 Mar 2004
Granted: 11 Oct 2005
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

E21B 23/08
Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells: introducing or running tools…
E21B 23/14
Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells: for displacing a cable or a…
E21B 37/045
Operated by fluid pressure, e.g. free-piston scrapers: free-piston scrapers
E21B 23/001
Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells: self-propelling systems or…