US 7,607,476 B2Granted

Expandable slip ring

AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated

InventorsAndy Tom, James M. Fraser, John L. Baugh

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Abstract

An expandable slip ring is used to secure attachment of an expanded tubular to a surrounding tubular. It features elongated generally axially oriented openings separated by narrow segments. As a swage is advanced within a tubular that has the slip ring outside it the narrow segments or tabs expand and can break but the ring is still held to its shape as the expansion progresses due to the integrity of other tabs that can subsequently break as the swage advances within the tubular that is surrounded by the slip ring. The integrity of the slip ring is enhanced for storage and run in while the expansion characteristics are more uniform as the ring retains some structural integrity during much of the expansion process.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A slip ring assembly for supporting an expanded inner tubular against an outer tubular, comprising:

said inner tubular having an outer surface and defining an inner passage from which expansion increases the dimension of said outer surface;
a swage acting in said passage to increase the dimension of said outer surface;
said outer tubular having an inner surface surrounding said inner tubular;
a generally cylindrical body having upper and lower ends and a longitudinal axis and mounted to said outer surface of said inner tubular to increase in dimension therewith, said body comprising a plurality of elongated members generally aligned with said longitudinal axis and circumferentially spaced apart;
connectors to connect adjacent said elongated members to each other at a plurality of spaced apart axial locations;
at least one of said connectors break when said body is increased in radial dimension before said body engages said inner surface of said outer tubular to support said inner tubular against said outer tubular.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.