Gripper assembly for downhole tools
AssigneeWestern Well Tool, Inc.
InventorsDuane Bloom, Norman Bruce Moore, Rudolph Ernst Krueger, V
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gripper assembly for anchoring a tool within a downhole passage and for possibly assisting movement of the tool within the passage. The gripper assembly includes an elongated mandrel and flexible toes that can be radially displaced to grip onto the surface of the passage. The toes are displaced by the interaction of a driver slidable on the mandrel and a driver interaction element on the toes. In one embodiment, the toes are displaced by the interaction of rollers and ramps that are longitudinally movable with respect to one another. In another embodiment, the toes are displaced by the interaction of toggles that rotate with respect to the toes.
Claims23
A tool for use within a passage, comprising:
- an elongated body;
- an elongated gripper portion having ends secured to and rotatable with respect to elements of the tool;
- at least one toggle having a first end and a second end, the first end being longitudinally movable with respect to the gripper portion and having a substantially fixed radial position, the second end being rotatably maintained on the gripper portion;
- wherein longitudinal movement of the first end of the toggle with respect to the gripper portion varies an angle of the toggle with respect to the body, which in turn varies a radial position of a portion of the gripper portion.
A method of anchoring a tool within a passage, comprising:
- providing an elongated body;
- providing an elongated gripper portion having ends secured to and rotatable with respect to elements of the tool;
- providing at least one toggle having a first end and a second end, the first end having a fixed radial position relative to the body;
- and
- moving the first end of the toggle longitudinally with respect to the gripper portion while rotatably maintaining the second end of the toggle on the gripper portion;
- wherein the longitudinal movement of the first end of the toggle varies an angle of the toggle with respect to the body, which in turn varies a radial position of a portion of the gripper portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.