Seal assembly for a downhole device
AssigneeRMSpumptools Limited
InventorsJonathan Peter Murty, Stuart David Gordon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sealing assembly for a downhole device has first (12) and second sealing (22) components which are urged together to make up the assembly such that a first sealing surface (34) on the first component radially presses a lip member (44) on the second component to change the angle of a second sealing surface (45) in the connected assembly. The components are urged together by a driving member (60) which can have screw threads that cooperate with the first component. The lip may be annular and may be formed by an undercut or recess (42) radially inwardly or outwardly of the lip member, allowing the lip member to bend radially inwards into the recess, during insertion of the second sealing component into the first.
Claims25
A sealing assembly comprising:
- a first sealing component in the form of shroud of an electric submersible pump having a longitudinal axis and a recess having a first sealing surface;
- a second sealing component in the form of a shroud hanger of an electric submersible pump adapted to be received within the shroud and having an axially projecting lip member having a second sealing surface;
- and
- wherein when the shroud hanger is axially inserted into the shroud the second sealing surface lies at a first angle relative to a longitudinal axis, and the first sealing surface is adapted to press the lip member in a radial direction during axial movement of the shroud hanger into the shroud, such that the second sealing surface moves to a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the lip member has an outer surface which includes a stop surface projecting radially outwards therefrom, and the recess has a first abutment surface projecting radially inwards therefrom to engage the stop surface.
A method of forming a seal for a downhole device, the method comprising:
- forming a first sealing component in the form of shroud of an electric submersible pump having a longitudinal axis and a recess containing a first sealing surface;
- forming a second sealing component in the form of a shroud hanger of an electric submersible pump adapted to be received within the shroud, the second sealing component having an axially projecting lip member having a second sealing surface which lies at a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis;
- axially inserting the shroud hanger into the shroud whereupon the first sealing surface presses the lip member in a radial direction such that the second sealing surface moves to a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein the lip member has an outer surface which includes a stop surface projecting radially outwards therefrom, and the recess has a first abutment surface projecting radially inwards therefrom to engage the stop surface, and wherein the method includes limiting axial insertion of the shroud hanger into the shroud by engagement of the first abutment surface with the stop surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.