Torsion measurement device
OwnerDavid H. Theiss, Brian D. Bibighausinventors
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Abstract
A torsion measurement device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a component having a marked surface and an optical sensor. The marked component and the optical sensor may be attached to a tube or other elongate member and positioned to enable the optical sensor to measure angular deflection of the tube from rotation of the marked component with respect to the optical sensor. The angular deflection may be combined with other data to determine applied torque and torsional stress on the tube or other elongate member. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.
Claims17
A system comprising:
- an arm connected to a hydraulic control tube at a first position;
- a base connected to the hydraulic control tube at a second position spaced a distance apart from the first position such that a change in torsional stress on the hydraulic control tube causes the arm and the base to rotate about an axis of the hydraulic control tube by different amounts and wherein the arm and the base are configured to enable measurement of the torsional stress on the hydraulic control tube through measurement of the difference in rotations of the arm and the base;
- and
- a control pod base coupled to the hydraulic control tube and configured to receive a control pod to enable fluid to flow between the control pod and one or more controlled components of subsea flow control equipment via the hydraulic control tube.
A method for measuring torsional stress on tubing, the method comprising:
- coupling a torsion measurement device to hydraulic control tubing of a blowout preventer;
- adjusting a fitting coupled to the hydraulic control tubing to change an amount of torsional stress on the hydraulic control tubing;
- measuring the change in the amount of torsional stress on the hydraulic control tubing;
- and
- removing the torsion measurement device from the hydraulic control tubing.
A system comprising:
- an arm connected to a tube at a first position;
- a base connected to the tube at a second position spaced a distance apart from the first position such that a change in torsional stress on the tube causes the arm and the base to rotate about an axis of the tube by different amounts and wherein the arm and the base are configured to enable measurement of the torsional stress on the tube through measurement of the difference in rotations of the arm and the base;
- and
- an optical sensor and a marked surface configured to be read by the optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor is coupled to the base and the marked surface is positioned by the arm to enable reading of the marked surface by the optical sensor.
A method for measuring torsional stress on tubing, the method comprising:
- coupling a torsion measurement device to hydraulic control tubing of wellhead stack equipment;
- adjusting a fitting coupled to the hydraulic control tubing to change an amount of torsional stress on the hydraulic control tubing;
- measuring the change in the amount of torsional stress on the hydraulic control tubing;
- and
- removing the torsion measurement device from the hydraulic control tubing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.