APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING CONTACT STRESS DISTRIBUTION WITHIN COLLET-TYPE MECHANISMS

Abstract

A collet-type mechanism for releasably gripping either an external or internal target surface of a tubular workpiece includes a collet receiver defining a collet receiver contact surface configured as a curved lateral surface of a truncated right circular cone, and a segmented collet assembly comprising a plurality of collet segments. Each collet segment defines a workpiece engagement surface configured for gripping engagement with a workpiece target surface, and a collet segment contact surface configured for at least partial contacting engagement with the collet receiver contact surface. The collet segment contact surface may comprise two axially-contiguous regions, one of which corresponds to a curved lateral surface of either an oblique circular cylinder or a right circular cylinder, and the other of which corresponds to a curved lateral surface of a truncated right circular cone.

Claims

1. A collet-type mechanism comprising: (a) a collet receiver defining a collet receiver contact surface configured as a curved lateral surface of a truncated right circular cone; and (b) a segmented collet assembly comprising a plurality of collet segments, each defining: a workpiece engagement surface configured for engagement with a workpiece to be gripped by the collet-type mechanism; and a collet segment contact surface configured for at least partial contacting engagement with the collet receiver contact surface, wherein the curvature of said collet segment contact surface, as viewed in section transversely perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the collet mechanism, is invariant along at least part of the axial length of the collet segment.

2. A collet-type mechanism as in claim 1 wherein each collet segment contact surface is at least partly configured as a portion of a curved lateral surface of a circular cylinder.

3. A collet-type mechanism as in claim 2 wherein each collet segment contact surface is configured as a portion of a curved lateral surface of an oblique circular cylinder.

4. A collet-type mechanism as in claim 2 wherein each collet segment contact surface is configured as a portion of a curved lateral surface of a right circular cylinder.

5. A collet-type mechanism as in claim 2 wherein each collet segment contact surface comprises a first surface region and a second surface region, wherein said first and second surface regions are axially contiguous, and wherein: (a) the first surface region is at least partly configured as a portion of a curved lateral surface of a circular cylinder; and (b) the second surface region is at least partly configured as a portion of a curved lateral surface of a truncated right circular cone.

6. A collet-type mechanism as in claim 5 wherein the circular cylinder is an oblique circular cylinder.

7. A collet-type mechanism as in claim 5 wherein the circular cylinder is a right circular cylinder.

8. A collet-type mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the collet-type mechanism is configured to grip an internal cylindrical surface of a workpiece.

9. A collet-type mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the collet-type mechanism is configured to grip an external cylindrical surface of a workpiece.

10. An internally-gripping tubular running tool comprising: (a) an elongate mandrel defining an outer mandrel surface configured to define a plurality of mandrel contact surfaces corresponding to curved surfaces of a truncated circular cone; and (b) a plurality of slips elements each having: an outer workpiece engagement surface configured for gripping engagement with an internal surface of a tubular workpiece; and a plurality of inner surface regions each configured for contacting engagement with a corresponding one of the mandrel contact surfaces, with at least part of each inner surface region being configured to correspond to a curved surface of a circular cylinder, wherein the circular cylinder is selected from the group consisting of oblique circular cylinders and right circular cylinders.

11. An externally-gripping tubular running tool comprising: (a) an elongate, generally cylindrical mandrel having an inner bore defining a plurality of mandrel contact surfaces configured to correspond to curved surfaces of a truncated circular cone; and (b) a plurality of slips assemblies each including a die and a jaw, wherein: each die defines an inner workpiece engagement surface configured for gripping engagement with an external surface of a tubular workpiece; and each jaw defines an outer contact surface region configured for contacting engagement with a corresponding one of the mandrel contact surfaces, with at least part of each outer surface region being configured to correspond to a curved surface of a circular cylinder, wherein the circular cylinder is selected from the group consisting of oblique circular cylinders and right circular cylinders.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] Embodiments in accordance with this disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which numerical references denote like parts, and in which:

[0064] FIG. 1A is a detail view of a transverse section through an external collet comprising a collet receiver and a segmented collet, illustrating a match contact condition between the collet receiver and one segment of the segmented collet.

[0065] FIG. 1B is a detail view of a transverse section through an external collet similar to FIG. 1A, but illustrating a center contact condition between the collet receiver and the collet segment.

[0066] FIG. 1C is a detail view of a transverse section through an external collet similar to FIG. 1A, but illustrating an edge contact condition between the collet receiver and the collet segment.

[0067] FIG. 2A is a detail view of a transverse section through an internal collet comprising a collet receiver and a segmented collet, illustrating a match contact condition between the collet receiver and one segment of the segmented collet.

[0068] FIG. 2B is a detail view of a transverse section through an internal collet similar to FIG. 2A, but illustrating a center contact condition between the collet receiver and the collet segment.

[0069] FIG. 2C is a detail view of a transverse section through an internal collet similar to FIG. 2A, but illustrating an edge contact condition between the collet receiver and the collet segment.

[0070] FIG. 3A is a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of an external collet in accordance with the present disclosure, showing the external collet engaging a workpiece having the maximum external diameter that the external collet is designed to grip.

[0071] FIG. 3B is an isometric view of the collet and workpiece in FIG. 3A.

[0072] FIG. 4A is a longitudinal section through the external collet in FIG. 3A, showing the collet engaging a workpiece having the minimum external diameter that the external collet is designed to grip.

[0073] FIG. 4B is an isometric view of the external collet and workpiece in FIG. 4A.

[0074] FIG. 5A is an isometric view of a collet segment of the external collet shown in FIG. 3A.

[0075] FIG. 5B is a longitudinal elevation of the collet segment shown in FIG. 5A.

[0076] FIG. 6A is a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of an internal collet in accordance with the present disclosure, showing the internal collet engaging a workpiece having the minimum internal diameter that the internal collet is designed to grip.

[0077] FIG. 6B is an isometric view of the internal collet and workpiece in FIG. 6A.

[0078] FIG. 7A is a longitudinal section through the internal collet in FIG. 6A, showing the collet engaging a workpiece having the maximum internal diameter that the internal collet is designed to grip.

[0079] FIG. 7B is an isometric view of the internal collet and workpiece in FIG. 7A.

[0080] FIG. 8A is an isometric view of a collet segment of the internal collet shown in FIG. 6A.

[0081] FIG. 8B is a longitudinal section view of the collet segment of FIG. 8A.

[0082] FIGS. 9A and 9B are, respectively, an isometric partial section and a longitudinal section through an internally-gripping tubular running tool generally as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 in International Publication No. WO 2010/006441 (the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety, in jurisdictions so permitting), modified to incorporate features in accordance with the present disclosure, shown with the gripping assembly of the tubular running tool positioned within the bore of a tubular workpiece prior to initiation of internal gripping engagement therewith.

[0083] FIG. 10 is an isometric free-body view of one of the integrated slips of the tubular running tool shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, incorporating features in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0084] FIGS. 11A and 11B are, respectively, a perspective view and a longitudinal section through an externally-gripping tubular running tool generally as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,909,120 and 10,081,989 (the contents of both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety, in jurisdictions so permitting), modified to incorporate features in accordance with the present disclosure, with the gripping assembly of the tubular running tool disposed around an upper external surface of a tubular workpiece prior to initiation of external gripping engagement therewith.

[0085] FIG. 12 is an isometric free-body view of one of the integrated slips of the tubular running tool shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, incorporating features in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Collet Contact Geometries and Contact StressesOverview

[0086] The contact geometry and contact stresses between collet segments and a collet receiver may be theoretically predicted using analytical equations for contact mechanics found in published texts such as: [0087] Budynas, Richard G. and Nisbett, J. Keith, Shigley's Mechanical Engineering Design, 10.sup.th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2014); and [0088] Boresi, Arthur P. and Sidebottom, Omar M., Advanced Mechanics of Materials, 4.sup.th ed. (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1985).
Finite element analysis software tools may also be used to predict the contact geometry and contact stresses, and may provide more accurate predictions than analytical equations for some collet-type mechanisms.

[0089] FIG. 1A is a transverse section through an external collet mechanism 100 comprising a collet receiver 110 having an inside surface 111, and a segmented collet comprising a plurality of collet segments 120, each having an outside surface 121. FIG. lA illustrates a match contact condition between the collet receiver 110 and one of the collet segments 120. In a match contact condition for an external collet as in FIG. 1A, the outside surface 121 of collet segment 120 has the same radius of curvature as the inside surface 111 of collet receiver 110.

[0090] FIG. 1B is similar to FIG. 1A but that it illustrates a center contact condition between collet receiver 110 and collet segment 120. In a center contact condition for an external collet as in FIG. 1B, outside surface 121 of collet segment 120 has a smaller radius of curvature than inside surface 111 of collet receiver 110.

[0091] FIG. 1C is similar to FIG. 1A but illustrates an edge contact condition between collet receiver 110 and collet segment 120. In an edge contact condition for an external collet as in FIG. 1C, outside surface 121 of collet segment 120 has a larger radius of curvature than inside surface 111 of collet receiver 110.

[0092] FIG. 2A is a transverse section through an internal collet mechanism 200 comprising a collet receiver 210 having an inside surface 211, and a segmented collet comprising a plurality of collet segments 220, each having an outside surface 221. FIG. 1A illustrates a match contact condition between the collet receiver 210 and one of the collet segments 220. In a match contact condition for an internal collet as in FIG. 2A, the inside surface 221 of collet segment 220 has the same radius of curvature as the outside surface 211 of collet receiver 210.

[0093] FIG. 2B is similar to FIG. 2A but illustrates a center contact condition between collet receiver 210 and collet segment 220. In a center contact condition for an internal collet as in FIG. 2B, inside surface 221 of collet segment 220 has a larger radius of curvature than outside surface 211 of collet receiver 210.

[0094] FIG. 2C is similar to FIG. 2A but illustrates an edge contact condition between collet receiver 210 and collet segment 220. In an edge contact condition for an internal collet as in FIG. 2C, inside surface 221 of collet segment 220 has a smaller radius of curvature than outside surface 211 of collet receiver 210.

Embodiment #1External Collet Mechanism

[0095] FIGS. 3A and 4A are longitudinal sections through an embodiment 1000 of an external collet mechanism in accordance with the present disclosure. External collet 1000 has a longitudinal axis 1050, and comprises a collet receiver 1100 and a segmented collet comprising a plurality of collet segments 1200. Collet receiver 1100 has a bore defining a collet receiver contact surface 1110 configured as a curved lateral surface of a truncated right circular cone.

[0096] Each collet segment 1200 has a radially-external collet segment contact surface 1210 comprising a first surface region 1211 and a second surface region 1212, with second surface region 1212 being axially contiguous with first surface region 1211. First and second surface regions 1211 and 1212 are configured for contact with collet receiver contact surface 1110, as described in greater detail later herein. Each collet segment 1200 further has radially-internal workpiece engagement surface 1220 suitably configured for gripping an outer surface of a tubular workpiece.

[0097] In FIG. 3A, external collet 1000 is shown with workpiece engagement surfaces 1220 of collet segments 1200 in gripping engagement with an external surface 1312 of a workpiece 1302 having an external diameter corresponding to the maximum external diameter that collet 1000 is designed to grip. For purposes of this disclosure, the position in which collet segments 1200 are shown in FIG. 3Ai.e., in which the axial length of the contact region between collet segment contact surfaces 1210 and collet receiver contact surface 1110 is greatestis referred to as the retracted position.

[0098] FIG. 3B is an isometric view of external collet 1000 grippingly engaging workpiece 1302 as in FIG. 3A.

[0099] In FIG. 4A, external collet 1000 is shown with workpiece engagement surfaces 1220 of collet segments 1200 in gripping engagement with an external surface 1311 of a workpiece 1301 having an external diameter corresponding to the minimum external diameter that collet 1000 is designed to grip. For purposes of this disclosure, the position in which collet segments 1200 are shown in FIG. 4Ai.e., in which the axial length of the contact region between collet segment contact surfaces 1210 and collet receiver contact surface 1110 is leastis referred to as the extended position.

[0100] FIG. 4B is an isometric view of external collet 1000 grippingly engaging workpiece 1301 as in FIG. 4A.

[0101] FIGS. 5A and 5B further illustrate a typical collet segment 1200 of external collet 1000. As previously noted, each collet segment 1200 has a collet segment contact surface 1210 comprising first and second surface regions 1211 and 1212. First surface region 1211 has an axial length Loc and is configured as a portion of a curved lateral surface of an OCC. Second surface region 1212 has an axial length Lc and is configured as a portion of a curved lateral surface of a truncated right circular cone.

[0102] The axial length Lc and radii R.sub.C1 and R.sub.C2 of second surface region 1212 may be selected such that the configuration of second surface region 1212 matches the configuration of collet receiver contact surface 1110 when collet segments 1200 are in their extended position. Thus selected, the taper angle of second surface region 1212 will be equal to the taper angle of collet receiver contact surface 1110.

[0103] Radius Roc of first surface region 1211 may be equal to radius R.sub.C1 of second surface region 1212. The skew angle of the OCC that is used to define first surface region 1211 may be selected to be equal to the taper angle of the truncated right circular cone that is used to define collet receiver contact surface 1110.

Embodiment #2Internal Collet Mechanism

[0104] FIGS. 6A and 7A are longitudinal sections through an embodiment 2000 of an internal collet mechanism constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. Internal collet 2000 has a longitudinal axis 2050, and comprises a collet receiver 2100 and a segmented collet comprising a plurality of collet segments 2200. Collet receiver 2100 has an outer surface defining a collet receiver contact surface 2110 configured as a curved lateral surface of a truncated right circular cone.

[0105] Each collet segment 2200 has a radially-internal collet segment contact surface 2210 comprising a first surface region 2211 and a second surface region 2212, with second surface region 2212 being axially contiguous with first surface region 2211. First and second surface regions 2211 and 2212 are configured for contact with collet receiver contact surface 2110, as described in greater detail later herein. Each collet segment 2200 further has a radially-external workpiece engagement surface 2220 suitably configured for gripping an inner surface of a tubular workpiece.

[0106] In FIG. 6A, internal collet 2000 is shown with workpiece engagement surfaces 2220 of collet segments 2200 in gripping engagement with an internal surface 2321 of a workpiece 2301 having an internal diameter corresponding to the minimum internal diameter that collet 2000 is designed to grip. For purposes of this disclosure, the position in which collet segments 2200 are shown in FIG. 6Ai.e., in which the axial length of the contact region between collet segment contact surfaces 2210 and collet receiver contact surface 2110 is greatestis referred to as the retracted position.

[0107] FIG. 6B is an isometric view of internal collet 2000 shown grippingly engaging workpiece 2301 as in FIG. 6A.

[0108] In FIG. 7A, internal collet 2000 is shown with workpiece engagement surfaces 2220 of collet segments 2200 in gripping engagement with an internal surface 2322 of a workpiece 2302 having the maximum internal diameter that collet 2000 is designed to grip. For purposes of this disclosure, the position in which collet segments 2200 are shown in FIG. 7Ai.e., in which the axial length of the contact region between collet segment contact surfaces 2210 and collet receiver contact surface 2110 is leastis referred to as the extended position.

[0109] FIG. 7B is an isometric view of internal collet 2000 shown grippingly engaging workpiece 2302.

[0110] FIGS. 8A and 8B further illustrated a typical collet segment 2200 of internal collet 2000. As previously noted, each collet segment 2200 has a collet segment contact surface 2210 comprising first and second surface regions 2211 and 2212. First surface region 2211 has an axial length Loc and is configured as a portion of an OCC. Second surface region 2212 is configured as a portion of a curved lateral surface of a truncated right circular cone.

[0111] The axial length L.sub.C and radii R.sub.C1 and R.sub.C2 of second surface region 2212 may be selected such that the configuration of second surface region 2212 matches the configuration of collet receiver contact surface 2110 when collet segments 2200 are in their extended position. Thus selected, the taper angle of second surface region 2212 will be equal to the taper angle of collet receiver contact surface 2110.

[0112] Radius R.sub.OC of first surface region 2211 may be equal to radius R.sub.C1 of second surface region 2212. The skew angle of the OCC that is used to define first surface region 2211 may be selected to be equal to the taper angle of the truncated right circular cone that is used to define collet receiver contact surface 2110.

Embodiment #3Internally-Gripping Casing Running Tool

[0113] FIGS. 9A and 9B depict an internally-gripping casing running tool (or CRT) 3000 similar to the prior art tubular running tool illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 in WO 2010/006441, but incorporating an internal collet-type mechanism in accordance with the present disclosure to grip a tubular casing workpiece 3300 having an inner surface 3310 and an outer surface 3320.

[0114] CRT 3000 incorporates a mandrel 3100 that acts as a collet receiver analogous to collet receiver 2100 of internal collet mechanism 2000 herein. The configuration of the outer surface 3110 of mandrel 3100 includes a plurality of truncated right circular cones.

[0115] CRT 3000 further incorporates integrated slips 3200 (alternatively referred to herein as slips elements) acting as collet segments. Integrated slips 3200 have an outer surface 3220 suitably configured to grip inner surface 3310 of casing 3300. As shown in FIGS. 9B and 10, integrated slips 3200 have a plurality of inner surface regions 3210 that contact outer surface 3110 of mandrel 3100. Inner surface regions 3210 are configured as OCC surfaces. The skew angle of the OCC surfaces that are used to define inner surface regions 3210 of integrated slips 3200 may be selected to equal the taper angle of the truncated right circular cones that are used to define outer surface 3110 of mandrel 3100.

Embodiment #4Externally-Gripping Casing Running Tool

[0116] FIGS. 11A and 11B depict an externally-gripping CRT 4000 similar to prior art tubular running tools disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,909,120 and 10,081,989, but incorporating an external collet-type mechanism in accordance with the present disclosure to grip a tubular casing workpiece 4300 having an inner surface 4310 and an outer surface 4320.

[0117] CRT 4000 incorporates a mandrel 4100 that acts as a collet receiver analogous to collet receiver 1100 of external collet mechanism 1000 herein. Mandrel 4100 has an inner surface 4110 configured to define a plurality of truncated right circular cones.

[0118] CRT 4000 further incorporates slips assembly 4200 acting as collet segments, with each slips assembly 4200 including a jaw 4201 and a die 4202. An inner surface 4220 on each die 4202 of slips 4200 is suitably configured to grip outer surface 4320 of casing 4300. As shown in FIGS. 11B and 12, slips 4200 have a plurality of outer surface regions 4210 on jaws 4201 that contact inner surface 4110 of mandrel 4100. Outer surface regions 4210 are configured as OCC surfaces. The skew angle of the OCC surfaces that are used to define outer surface regions 4210 of slips 4200 may be selected to equal the taper angle of the truncated right circular cones that are used to define inner surface 4110 of mandrel 4100.

[0119] It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications to embodiments in accordance with this disclosure may be devised without departing from the scope of the present teachings, such as but not limited to modifications which may use equivalent materials hereafter conceived or developed, a segmented collet with a different number of collet segments, or collets configured to engage with workpieces of different size or configuration. It is to be especially understood that the scope of this disclosure is not intended to be limited to described or illustrated embodiments, and that the substitution of a variant of a claimed or illustrated element or feature, without any substantial resultant change in functionality, will not constitute a departure from the scope of this disclosure.

[0120] In this patent document, any form of the word comprise is to be understood in its non-limiting sense to mean that any element or feature following such word is included, but elements or features not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element or feature by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one such element or feature is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one such element or feature. Any use of any form of the terms connect, engage, couple, attach, or any other term describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the subject elements, and may also include indirect interaction between the elements such as through secondary or intermediary structure.

[0121] Relational and conformational terms such as perpendicular, parallel, cylindrical, and equal are not intended to denote or require absolute mathematical or geometrical precision. Accordingly, such terms are to be understood as denoting or requiring substantial precision only (e.g., substantially perpendicular) unless the context clearly requires otherwise. Wherever used in this document, the terms typical and typically are to be interpreted in the sense of representative of common usage or practice, and are not to be understood as implying essentiality or invariability.

TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF ILLUSTRATED ELEMENTS Element Number Description 100 external collet-type mechanism 110 collet receiver 111 surface of collet receiver that contacts the segmented collet (collet receiver contact surface) 120 collet segment 121 surface of collet segment that contacts the collet receiver (collet segment contact surface) 200 internal collet-type mechanism 210 collet receiver 211 surface of collet receiver that contacts the segmented collet (collet receiver contact surface) 220 collet segment 221 surface of collet segment that contacts the collet receiver (collet segment contact surface) 1000 external collet-type mechanism 1050 longitudinal axis of external collet-type mechanism 1100 collet receiver 1110 surface of collet receiver that contacts the segmented collet (collet receiver contact surface) 1200 collet segment 1210 surface of collet segment that contacts the collet receiver (collet segment contact surface) 1211 oblique circular cylinder region of surface 1210 1212 right circular cone region of surface 1210 1220 surface of segmented collet that contacts the workpiece (workpiece engagement surface) 1301 workpiece with the minimum outer diameter that collet 1000 is designed to grip 1311 external surface of workpiece 1301 1321 internal surface of workpiece 1301 1302 workpiece with the maximum outer diameter that collet 1000 is designed to grip 1312 external surface of workpiece 1302 1322 internal surface of workpiece 1302 2000 internal collet-type mechanism 2050 longitudinal axis of internal collet-type mechanism 2100 collet receiver 2110 surface of collet receiver that contacts the segmented collet (collet receiver contact surface) 2211 oblique circular cylinder region of surface 2210 2212 right circular cone region of surface 2210 2200 collet segment 2210 surface of collet segment that contacts the collet receiver (collet segment contact surface) 2220 surface of segmented collet that contacts the workpiece (workpiece engagement surface) 2301 workpiece with the minimum outer diameter that collet 2000 is designed to grip 2311 external surface of workpiece 2301 2321 internal surface of workpiece 2301 2302 workpiece with the maximum outer diameter that collet 2000 is designed to grip 2312 external surface of workpiece 2302 2322 internal surface of workpiece 2302 3000 internally-gripping casing running tool 3100 mandrel 3110 surface of mandrel that contacts the integrated slips 3200 integrated slip (slips element) 3210 surface of integrated slip that contacts the mandrel 3220 surface of integrated slip that grips casing 3300 casing 3310 external surface of casing 3300 3320 internal surface of casing 3300 4000 externally-gripping casing running tool 4100 mandrel 4110 surface of mandrel that contacts the slips 4200 slips assembly 4201 jaw 4202 die 4210 surface of slips on jaw that contacts the mandrel 4220 surface of slips on die that grips casing 4300 casing 4310 external surface of casing 4300 4320 internal surface of casing 4300