Canted helix collapsible flowmeter and method of measuring a fluid flow
AssigneeSondex Wireline Limited
InventorKeith Robert Wootten
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Flowmeters and methods of measuring a fluid flow or manufacturing flowmeters are presented. A flowmeter has a tool body and one or more spinner arms configured to extend with a first end away from the tool body and a second end joined to the tool body, when deployed to measure a fluid flow. Each spinner arm includes a helical blade configured to rotate due to a fluid flowing substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool body, around a rotation axis between the first end and the second end.
Claims18
A flowmeter, comprising:
- a tool body;
- one or more spinner arms configured to extend with a first end away from the tool body and having a second end joined to the tool body, when deployed to measure a fluid flow, wherein each of the one or more spinner arms has a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end;
- a helical blade mounted on each of the spinner arms, the helical blade being configured to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the corresponding spinner arm due to a fluid flowing substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool body;
- and
- at least one sensor located on each of the one or more spinner arms, outside an area of the helical blade, the at least one sensor detecting a rotating speed of the helical blade.
A method of measuring a fluid flow, comprising:
- deploying, at a predetermined angle with a flow direction, one or more spinner arms including helical blades, wherein each spinner arm includes a longitudinal axis, each of the helical blades being configured to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the corresponding spinner arm at the respective predetermined angle;
- and
- measuring rotating speeds of the helical blades;
- wherein, measuring the rotating speeds is performed using sensors located close to one end of the helical blades.
A method of manufacturing a flowmeter, comprising:
- mounting a helical blade on each of one or more spinner arms, the helical blade being able to rotate due to a fluid flowing at a predetermined angle with a rotation axis that extends along the spinner arm;
- joining a first end of the one or more spinner arms to a tool body, the one or more spinner arms being configured (i) to extend with a second end away from the tool body, and (ii) to collapse with the second end close to the tool body;
- and
- mounting a sensor to measure a rotating speed of the helical blade, on each of the one or more spinner arms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.