Expansion control device for a packer body and also a piping tool, method and use for controlling the expansion of the packer body

Abstract

This invention relates to an expansion-control device (2), a piping tool (46), a method and uses for a packer body (52) on a mandrel (50) with a supporting ring (54; 58) arranged adjacent to an end (56; 60) of the packer body (52). The expansion-control device (2) includes a packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b) for positioning adjacent to the supporting ring (54; 58) and for radial movement relative to the mandrel (50); and a power-transmission body (6) connected to the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b) for the transmission of activating power thereto. What is particular is that the power-transmission body (6) includes a lever body (8) with a fulcrum portion (10), and a lever arm (12) projecting radially from the fulcrum portion (10); the free end of the lever arm (12) being connected to the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b); the lever body (8) being rotatable around a rotational axis (22) through said fulcrum portion (10); and the power-transmission body (6) including a torque-supplying device (30) to which the lever body (8) is operatively connected for the supply of torque to the lever body (8), and for the rotation of the lever body (8) around the rotational axis (22).

Claims

1. An expansion-control device (2) for a packer body (52) on a mandrel (50) which is provided with a supporting ring (54; 58) arranged axially adjacent to an end (56; 60) of the packer body (52), the expansion-control device (2) comprising: a packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b) arranged to be placed axially adjacent to the supporting ring (54; 58) and also arranged for radial movement relative to the mandrel (50); a power-transmission body (6) operatively connected to the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b) for the optional transmission of activating power to the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b), wherein said power-transmission body (6) includes a lever body (8) with a fulcrum portion (10), and a lever arm (12) projecting radially from the fulcrum portion (10); a free end of the lever arm (12) is operatively connected to the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b); the lever body (8) is rotatable around a rotational axis (22) through said fulcrum portion (10), whereby the lever arm (12) is rotatable around the rotational axis (22) as well; and the power-transmission body (6) also includes a torque-supplying device (30) to which the lever body (8) is operatively connected for the optional supply of torque to the lever body (8), and for the associated rotation of the lever body (8) around the rotational axis (22), whereby the free end of the lever arm (12) and the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b) are arranged to be moved radially relative to the mandrel (50); the torque-supplying device (30) comprising a torque arm (32) projecting radially from the fulcrum portion (10) in a direction not coinciding with the radial direction of the lever arm (12) out from the fulcrum portion (10) and a driving body (34; 34′) movably connected to a free end of the torque arm (32) for optional supply of a torque-generating driving force to the lever body (8), the driving body (34; 34′) being connected to an activation device for the expansion-control device (2).

2. The expansion-control device (2) according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the lever arm (12) is movably connected to the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b).

3. The expansion-control device (2) according to claim 2, wherein the free end of the lever arm (12) includes a first pivot head (14) which is rotatably connected to the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b).

4. The expansion-control device (2) according to claim 1, wherein the driving body (34; 34′) is arranged to be axially movable; and the free end of the torque arm (32) includes a second pivot head (36) which is rotatably connected to the axially movable driving body (34; 34′).

5. The expansion-control device (2) according to claim 4, wherein the axially movable driving body includes a push rod (34; 34′).

6. The expansion-control device (2) according to claim 4 wherein the axially movable driving body (34, 34′) is spring-loaded for matched axial movement of the driving body (34; 34′), and thereby for matched radial movement of the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b).

7. The expansion-control device (2) according to, claim 1 wherein seen relative to the position of the mandrel (50), the free end the torque arm (32) is arranged on the inside of the rotational axis (22) of the lever body (8), whereby an axial push force supplied by the driving body (34; 34′) to the free end of the torque arm (32) will supply a torque that lifts the free end of the lever arm (12) away from the mandrel (50) and, thus, moves the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b) radially away from the mandrel (50).

8. The expansion control device (2) according to claim 1, wherein said lever body (8) is constituted by a toothed cam (9) which is rotatable around said rotational axis (22); and a first circular sector of the toothed cam (9) constitutes said lever arm (12) and includes a circumferential first toothed portion (11) which is in movable engagement with a corresponding toothed portion (7) on the packer-control element (4; 4a, 4b).

9. The expansion-control device (2) according to claim 8, wherein the torque-supplying device (30) includes: a second circular sector of the toothed cam (9) which forms the torque arm (32), and which includes a circumferential second toothed portion (33); and a corresponding toothed portion (35) on the driving body (34; 34′) which is in movable engagement with the circumferential second toothed portion (33) of the toothed cam (9), the driving body (34; 34′) being arranged to be connectable to an activation device for the expansion-control device (2).

10. The expansion-control device (2) according to claim 9, wherein the driving body (34; 34′) is axially movably arranged.

11. The expansion-control device (2) according to claim 10, wherein the axially movable driving body (34; 34′) is spring-loaded for matched axial movement of the driving body (34; 34′), and thereby for matched radial movement of the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b).

12. A piping tool (46) with expansion-control function for a packer, the tool (46) including: a mandrel (50); a packer body (52) arranged on the mandrel (50); a first supporting ring (54) arranged axially adjacent to a first end (56) of the packer body (52); a second supporting ring (58) arranged axially adjacent to a second end (60) of the packer body (52); and an annular assembly (62; 64) of at least two radially movable packer-control elements (4; 4a; 4b) arranged axially adjacent to at least one of the first supporting ring (54) and the second supporting ring (58); at least one of the first supporting ring (54) and the second supporting ring (58) being axially movably arranged on the mandrel (50); the at least one axially movable supporting ring (54; 58) being provided with the annular assembly (62; 64) which is also axially movably arranged on the mandrel (50), wherein each of said packer-control elements (4; 4a; 4b) forms part of an expansion-control device (2); and at least a lever body (8) and a torque-supplying device (30) of the expansion-control device (2) arranged in a tubular power-transmission housing (70; 72) which is connected to the mandrel (50), the torque-supplying device (30) comprising a torque arm (32) projecting radially from a fulcrum portion (10) of the lever body (8) in a direction not coinciding with a radial direction of a lever arm (12) projecting radially from the fulcrum portion (10) and a driving body (34; 34′) movably connected to a free end of the torque arm (32), the driving body (34; 34′) being connected to an activation device for the expansion-control device (2).

13. The piping tool according to claim 12, wherein the annular assembly (62; 64) of at least two radially movable packer-control elements (4; 4a; 4b) is arranged axially adjacent to both the first supporting ring (54) and the second supporting ring (58).

14. The piping tool (46) according to claim 12, wherein the at least one axially movable assembly (62; 64) is connected to at least one activation device for optional supply of activating power to power-transmission bodies (6) of the expansion-control device (2).

15. A method of controlling the expansion of a packer body (52) on a mandrel (50), the method including comprising the following steps: arranging a first supporting ring (54) and a second supporting ring (58) axially adjacent to, respectively, a first end (56) and a second end (60) of the packer body (52); arranging an annular assembly (62; 64) which includes at least two radially movable packer-control elements (4; 4a, 4b), axially adjacent to at least one of the first supporting ring (54) and the second supporting ring (58), incorporating each of said packer-control elements (4; 4a; 4b) in an expansion-control device (2); activating at least one activation device for the expansion-control device (2) connected to a driving body (34; 34′) movably connected to a free end of a torque arm (32), the torque arm (32) projecting radially from a fulcrum portion (10) of a lever body (8) in order thereby to supply a torque to said lever body (8), rotating the lever body (8) around a rotational axis (22), whereby a free end of a lever arm (12) and the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b) are moved radially away from the mandrel (50) and in the direction of a tubular object (48) against which the packer body (52) is to be set; and moving at least one of the first supporting ring (54) and the second supporting ring (58) against the packer-control element (4; 4a; 4b) in order thereby to expand the packer body (52) radially relative to the mandrel (50), whereby said supporting rings (54, 58) and said at least one assembly (62; 64) of packer-control elements (4; 4a; 4b) control the expansion of the packer body (52).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

(1) In what follows, a non-limiting example of an embodiment of the description is described, wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1-5 show, respectively, a perspective drawing, a side view, a plan view, an end view and an opposite end view of an expansion-control device according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section through the expansion-control device, viewed along the cutting line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

(4) FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show, respectively, a perspective drawing, a cross section and a longitudinal section of a piping tool according to the invention placed in a casing, FIG. 9 showing a longitudinal section through the piping tool seen along the cutting line IX-IX of FIG. 8, the piping tool being provided with a sleeve-shaped packer body, whose end portions are adjacent to expansion-control devices of the type that is shown in FIGS. 1-6, and FIGS. 7-9 showing the piping tool before the expansion and setting of the packer body against the casing;

(5) FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 show, respectively, a perspective drawing, a cross section and a longitudinal section of said piping tool and casing, FIG. 12 showing a longitudinal section through the piping tool and casing seen along the cutting line XII-XII of FIG. 11, FIGS. 10-12 showing the piping tool after the activation and expansion of said expansion-control devices, but before the expansion and setting of the packer body against the casing;

(6) FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show, respectively, a perspective drawing, a cross section and a longitudinal section of said piping tool and casing, FIG. 15 showing a longitudinal section through the piping tool and the casing seen along the cutting line XV-XV shown in FIG. 14, FIGS. 13-15 showing the piping tool after the activation and expansion of said expansion-control devices, but before the expansion and setting of the packer body against the casing, and an expansion-control device at one end portion of the packer body having been expanded only partially against the casing because of a local restriction on the inside of the casing; and

(7) FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 show, respectively, a perspective drawing, a cross section and a longitudinal section of said piping tool and casing, FIG. 18 showing a longitudinal section through the piping tool and the casing seen along the cutting line XVIII-XVIII shown in FIG. 17, FIGS. 16-18 showing the piping tool after the activation and expansion of said expansion-control devices, and after the expansion and setting of the packer body against the casing.

(8) FIGS. 19-21 show, respectively, a perspective drawing, a side drawings and a plan view of an expansion-control device according to the invention.

(9) The figures are somewhat schematic and show elements and details that are essential for the understanding of the invention. Further, the figures may be somewhat distorted with regard to the relative dimensions of the elements and details that are shown in the figures. The figures may also be somewhat simplified drawings with regard to the design and richness in detail of such elements and details. In what follows, some like, equivalent or corresponding elements and details in the figures will be indicated, by and large, by the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

(10) FIGS. 1-6 show an expansion-control device 2 in accordance with the invention. This expansion-control device 2 includes a packer-control element 4 and a power-transmission body 6 which is movably connected to the packer-control element 4.

(11) Further, the power-transmission body 6 includes, inter alia, a lever body 8 with a fulcrum portion 10, and a lever arm 12 projecting radially from the fulcrum portion 10. In this embodiment, the free end of the lever arm 12 includes a first pivot head 14 which is rotatably arranged in a corresponding bore 16 in a lower portion 18, and at a back 20, of the packer-control element 4. Further, the lever body 8 is rotatable around a rotational axis 22 through said fulcrum portion 10, whereby the lever arm 12 is rotatable around the rotational axis 22 as well.

(12) The packer-control element 4 also includes a front 24 which, in the activated and radially expanded position and together with several cooperating and overlapping packer-control elements, forms an annular and supporting screen against an axially adjacent packer (cf. the above discussion of the prior art). The screen is also arranged to rest against a tubular object, for example against a casing. For this reason, the top side 26 and the bottom side 28 of the packer-control element 4 have the shape of a circular arc which fits complementarily against an associated tubular body, cf. FIGS. 4 and 5.

(13) Furthermore, the power-transmission body 6 also includes a torque-supplying device 30 to which the lever body 8 is operatively connected for the optional supply of torque to the lever body 8, and for the associated rotation of the lever body 8 around the rotational axis 22. In this embodiment, the torque-supplying device 30 includes, inter alia, a torque arm 32 which projects radially from the fulcrum portion 10 at approximately a 90-degree angle relative to the radial direction of the lever arm 12 out from the fulcrum portion 10. The torque-supplying device 30 also includes an axially movable driving body in the form of a push rod 34 (or piston) which is movably connected to the free end of the torque arm 32 for the optional supply of a torque-generating driving force to the lever body 8. In this embodiment, the free end of the torque arm 32 includes a second pivot head 36 which is rotatably arranged in a corresponding hole 38 in a recessed end portion 40 of the axially movable push rod 34. This constitutes said rotary connection between the power-transmission body 6 and the torque-supplying device 30. In addition, an opposite end portion 42 of the push rod 34 is provided with a threaded bore 44 to be connectable to a separate activation device for the expansion-control device 2. The latter will be explained in further detail in connection with FIGS. 7-18.

(14) Reference is now made to FIGS. 7-18, which show a piping tool 46 in accordance with the invention placed in a casing 48. The piping tool 46 in question may be used together with other types of piping tools, for example pipe plugs, pressure-testing plugs, downhole piping tools, anchoring means and the like, as mentioned above.

(15) The piping tool 46 includes a mandrel 50; a sleeve-shaped packer body 52 arranged on the mandrel 50; a first supporting ring 54 which is arranged axially adjacent to a first end 56 of the packer body 52, and which is axially movably arranged on the mandrel 50; a second supporting ring 58 which is arranged axially adjacent to a second end 60 of the packer body 52, and which is stationarily arranged on the mandrel 50; an annular first assembly 62 of several radially movable and overlapping packer-control elements 4 (cf. FIGS. 1-6) arranged axially adjacent to the first supporting ring 54; and an annular second assembly 64 of several radially movable and overlapping packer-control elements 4 arranged axially adjacent to the second supporting ring 58.

(16) Each packer-control element 4 of the assemblies 62, 64 is part of an expansion-control device 2 of the type that is shown in FIGS. 1-6. Each assembly 62, 64 is also arranged to form a continuous, annular and supporting screen against the packer body 52 when each assembly 62, 64 is in the activated and radially expanded position, as described above. In this embodiment, cooperating and overlapping packer-control elements 4 of two slightly different designs are used, packer-control elements 4a and packer-control elements 4b, respectively. These packer-control elements 4a and 4b have complementary contact surfaces and lie alternately along the circumference of the assembly; cf. FIGS. 7 and 9. In addition, the packer-control elements 4a, 4b in question have sufficiently large overlap for the overlap to be maintained all the time when the assemblies 62, 64 (screens) are being activated and expanded in both the radial and the circumferential directions, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 13, 14, 16 and 17.

(17) Further, the axially movable first supporting ring 54 is provided with a supporting sleeve 66 extending axially, whereby the supporting sleeve 66 is axially movably arranged on the mandrel 50 as well. The axially movable supporting sleeve 66 supports and carries the packer-control elements 4a, 4b of the first assembly 62. Thereby, both the first supporting ring 54, the supporting sleeve 66 and the first assembly 62 may be moved axially relative to the mandrel 50 as the packer body 52 is being compressed and expanded, or as the packer body 52 is being relieved.

(18) The second annular assembly 64, on the other hand, which is arranged adjacent to the stationary second supporting ring 58, is arranged directly on a second end portion 68 of the mandrel 50 and will remain stationary relative to the mandrel 50 as the packer body 52 is being expanded or relieved. However, the operation of the second annular assembly 64 is by and large the same as that of the first assembly 62 of packer-control elements 4.

(19) Moreover, the power-transmission body 6 of each packer-control element 4 is arranged in a tubular power-transmission housing placed externally on the mandrel 50, the power-transmission body 6 including said lever body 8 and torque-supplying device 30, including the axially movable push rod 34. For the packer-control elements 4 of the first assembly 62, the respective power-transmission bodies 6 are arranged in a common, tubular first power-transmission housing 70, whereas the respective power-transmission bodies 6 for the packer-control elements 4 of the second assembly 64 are arranged in a common, tubular second power-transmission housing 72 which is at the opposite end of the piping tool 46. Like the associated first supporting ring 54 with the supporting sleeve 66 extending axially, the first power-transmission housing 70 is axially movably arranged on the mandrel 50. To facilitate the fitting of the power-transmission housing 70, the first assembly 62 and the first supporting ring 54 with the supporting sleeve 66 on the mandrel 50, but also to prevent the power-transmission housing 70 from being pushed off the mandrel 50 when the housing 70 is moved axially, a first end portion 74 of the mandrel 50 is provided with radially movable fingers 76 distributed circumferentially, with stop dogs 78 facing outwards at the outer ends of the fingers. The fingers 76 can flex in a radial direction as the power-transmission housing 70 et cetera are being fitted on or dismantled from the mandrel 50, whereas the stop dogs 78 prevent the power-transmission housing 70 et cetera from sliding off the mandrel 50 when being moved axially. The opposite, second power-transmission housing 72, on the other hand, is non-movably attached to said opposite end portion 68 of the mandrel 50.

(20) In addition, each power-transmission housing 70, 72 is connected to a separate, axially movable activation device for joint activation of the power-transmission bodies 6 of each power-transmission housing 70, 72. The associated packer-control elements 4 may thereby be moved radially relative to the mandrel 50. In this embodiment, the respective activation devices are constituted by a tubular first pusher housing 80, connected to the first power-transmission housing 70, and a tubular second pusher housing 82 connected to the second power-transmission housing 72. Depending on the relevant application, each pusher housing 80, 82 may be mechanically activated, electrically activated, hydraulically activated and/or pneumatically activated, for example via a separate running tool (not shown) which is connected to the piping tool 46 whenever necessary, or via another piping tool (not shown), for example a pipe plug with anchoring bodies, which is associated with the pusher housings 80, 82.

(21) In what follows, and owing to the fact that the structures and operations of the power-transmission housings 70, 72 and the pusher housings 80, 82 are by and large similar, components thereof will be designated by the same reference numerals.

(22) Thus, each lever body 8 of the power-transmission body 6 is provided with a rotary axle 84 which is supported in the power-transmission housing 70, 72, and which extends through the fulcrum portion 10 of the lever body 8. The rotary axle 84 defines, and is rotatable around, the rotational axis 22 of the lever body 8, which extends in a circumferential direction relative to the mandrel 50 and, in the main, perpendicularly to the axial direction thereof. In this embodiment, each lever body 8 is arranged in an axial recess 86 in the power-transmission housing 70, 72, whereas each associated and axially movable push rod 34 is arranged in an axial push-rod bore 88 in the power-transmission housing 70, 72.

(23) Furthermore, the threaded bore 44 of each push rod 34 is connected to an associated threaded bolt 90 which is arranged in a corresponding axial spring bore 92 in the pusher housing 80, 82. Each threaded bolt 90 has a bolt head 94 which is supported against an annular shoulder 96 formed in each spring bore 92. A helical spring 98 is also placed around the threaded bolt 90 in each spring bore 92, and between the respective shoulder 96 and end portion 42 of the push rod 34. Each push rod 34 in the power-transmission housing 70, 72 is thereby arranged to be spring-loaded when the pusher housing 80, 82 is moved in the axial direction towards the push rod 34 and packer body 52. The effect of this will be explained in further detail in connection with FIGS. 13-15.

(24) Besides, placed circumferentially between each push-rod bore 88 and corresponding spring bore 92, similar axial spring bores 100 with threaded bolts 102, annular shoulders 104 and helical springs 105 are arranged. These spring bores 100 extend only partially into the power-transmission housing 70, 72 (not shown). The associated helical springs will thereby offer a sprung resistance against the pusher housing 80, 82 when this is activated and moved in the axial direction towards the packer body 52. This prevents unintentional axial movement of the push rods 34 towards the packer body 52, whereby unintentional and potentially destructive radial movement of the packer-control elements 4 out from the mandrel 50 is prevented as well. In a possible subsequent relieving and releasing of the packer-control elements 4 and the packer body 52, said helical springs in the spring bores 100 will also supply a releasing force to the packer-control elements 4, contributing to moving these in towards the mandrel 50.

(25) Moreover, the first and second assemblies 62, 64 (screen) are arranged adjacent to, respectively, a first guide ring 106 and a second guide ring 108, each formed with several circumferential guiding grooves 110 accommodating corresponding guide projections 112 arranged on the back 20 of each packer-control element 4, as shown in FIGS. 7, 10, 13 and 16. In addition, the first and second power-transmission housings 70, 72 are provided with, respectively, a sleeve-shaped first cover 114 and a sleeve-shaped second cover 116 which protectively cover the respective power-transmission bodies 6 in the housings 70, 72, as shown in FIGS. 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16 and 18.

(26) The operation of the piping tool 46 will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 7-18.

(27) FIGS. 7-9 show the piping tool 46 placed in the casing 48 before the expansion and setting of the packer body 52 against the casing 48, for example as the piping tool 46 will be configured when being run into the casing 48. In this configuration, the first and second assemblies 62, 64 of packer-control elements 4 have been retracted towards the mandrel 50, whereas the first and second pusher housings 80, 82 are in a passive position with a small axial distance to, respectively, the first and second power-transmission housings 70, 72. At the same time, the first power-transmission housing 70 rests against said stop dogs 78 on the fingers 76 of the mandrel 50.

(28) FIGS. 10-12 show the piping tool 46 after the activation and expansion of the first and second assemblies 62, 64 of packer-control elements 4 against the casing 48, but before the expansion and setting of the packer body 52 against the casing 48. In this configuration, each assembly 62, 64 forms a supporting, mechanical screen against the packer body 52 and against the casing 48. In this connection, the first and second pusher housings 80, 82 have been activated and moved towards, respectively, the first and second power-transmission housings 70, 72, for example by means of a suitable running tool (not shown) or another piping tool (not shown), for example a pipe plug with anchoring bodies, which is moved into the casing 48 simultaneously with the piping tool 46, possibly after the insertion of the piping tool 46. Thereby said axial distance between the pusher housing 80, 82 and the power-transmission housing 70, 72 is closed, but only after the activation force from the power-transmission housing 70, 72 has overcome the sprung resistance from the respective helical springs 105 in said axial spring bores 100. Then the activation force is transmitted to each expansion-control device 2 (that is to say each power-transmission body 6 with the associated packer-control element 4) via a respective push rod 34 in the power-transmission housing 70, 72. As each associated torque arm 32 has a free end located between the fulcrum portion 10 and the mandrel 50, an axial push force from the pusher housing 80, 82, via the respective push rod 34, on the free end of the torque arm 32 will supply a torque to the torque arm 32, lifting the free end of the lever arm 12 out from the mandrel 50 and in a radial direction towards the casing 48.

(29) FIGS. 13-15 show a special variant of the configuration that is shown in FIGS. 10-12. In this special variant, one of the packer-control elements 4b of the first assembly 62, that is to say a packer-control element 4b′, rests against a restriction 118 (or similar obstruction) on the inside of the casing 48, cf. the lower portion of the casing 48 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. As the restriction 118 projects somewhat into the casing 48 opposite the packer-control element 4b′, the radial travel of the packer-control element 4b′ is smaller than the radial travel of the rest of the packer-control elements 4a, 4b arranged alternately along the circumference of the assembly 62, resting directly against the inside of the casing 48. Thereby the axial movement of a push rod 34′ which is associated with the packer-control element 4b′ is smaller than the axial movement of the rest of the push rods 32 in the power-transmission housing 70 as well, as shown in FIG. 15. This is possible because each push rod 34 is individually spring-loaded via an associated helical spring 98 in a respective spring bore 92 in the first pusher housing 80 (as mentioned above). When the pusher housing 80 is activated and pushed in the axial direction against all the push rods 34 in the first power-transmission housing 70, all the packer-control elements 4a, 4b (including the packer-control element 4b′) of the assembly 62 will commence their outward radial travel relative to the mandrel 50. When the packer-control element 4b′ then hits the restriction 118, thereby stopping its own radial travel and also the axial travel of the push rod 34′, the rest of the packer-control elements 4a, 4b of the assembly 62, and also the associated push rods 34 in the power-transmission housing 70, will still continue their respective radial movements and axial movements, respectively, until the packer-control elements 4a, 4b hit the inside of the casing 48. During the continued movement of the pusher housing 80 and the rest of the packer-control elements 4a, 4b with associated push rods 34, a bolt head 94′ of a threaded bolt 90′ which is connected to the push rod 34′ will lift from an annular shoulder 96′ formed in an associated spring bore 92′ in the pusher housing 80, as shown in FIG. 15.

(30) In this way, the axial movement of each push rod 34, and also the radial movement of each associated packer-control element 4, will be matched individually in both the first and the second power-transmission housings 70, 72 of the piping tool 46.

(31) Finally, FIGS. 16-18 show the piping tool 46 after the activation and expansion of the first and second assemblies 62, 64 of packer-control elements 4 against the casing 48, and after the expansion and setting of the packer body 52 against the casing 48. In this connection, the first pusher housing 80 has been pushed further towards the axially movable first power-transmission housing 70, for example by means of said running tool (not shown) or said other piping tool (not shown), for example a pipe plug with anchoring bodies. This has then pushed the power-transmission housing 70 and the axially movable first supporting ring 54, including its supporting sleeve 66 extending axially and supporting the packer-control element 4 in the first assembly 62, against the packer body 52 to compress this axially and thereby expand the packer body 52 radially outwards into sealing abutment against the inside of the casing 48. When the setting of the packer body 52 against the casing 48 has been completed, the first power-transmission housing 70, the first pusher housing 80, the first supporting ring 54 and its supporting sleeve 66 extending axially, carrying the first assembly 62, have been pushed inwards along the mandrel 50 and a long way away from the stop dogs 78 at the first end portion 74 of the mandrel 50, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 18.

(32) Moreover, the piping tool 46 and/or its pusher housings 80, 82 may possibly include at least one locking device or locking mechanism, for example a releasable locking device/locking mechanism which provides for the assembly 62, 64 of packer-control elements 4 and the packer body 52 to be locked in an expanded position against the casing 48. In this connection, the piping tool 46 and/or its pusher housings 80, 82, may include, for example, suitable latch grooves, locking dogs, retaining rings, detention wedges, detention springs, detention sleeves, self-locking threads and similar locking devices/locking mechanisms, as mentioned above.

(33) Even though the piping tool 46 according to this embodiment utilizes one type of expansion-control device 2 according to the invention, other piping tools according to the invention may just as well make use of other types of expansion-control devices according to the invention, and possibly a mix of such types of expansion-control devices and/or features from such expansion-control devices. Such other types of expansion-control devices are described in connection with the general part of this description.

(34) FIGS. 19-21 show a free end of the lever arm which includes a toothed cam or arch (9) in moveable engagement with a corresponding toothed portion (11) of the packer-control element (4). Thus, the packer-control element may include a pitch rack which includes the corresponding toothed portion of the packer-control element.

(35) The driving body (34) may be arranged in an axially movable manner, wherein the free end of the torque arm includes a toothed cam or arch in movable engagement with a corresponding toothed portion (35) of the axially movable driving body (34). Thus, the axially movable driving body may include a pitch rack which includes the corresponding toothed portion (35) on the driving body.

(36) The driving body (34) may include a rotatable worm screw, wherein the free end of the torque arm includes a toothed cam or arch which is rotatably engaged in the worm screw. The rotatable worm screw may thus be connected to a torque limiter for the matched supply of torque to the worm screw, and thereby for the matched radial movement of the packer-control element may thereby be matched to possibly compensate for any irregularities on the object against which the element is to be moved. The torque limiter may include, for example, a spring-loaded ratchet device of a known type.

(37) While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is limited only by the scope of the attached claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.