SWELLABLE MATERIAL AND METHOD
A swellable element includes a mandrel, a swellable material disposed about the mandrel and at least one cut in the swellable material and method.
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The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/939,885, filed May 24, 2007, the entire contents of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDSwellable materials have been used to assist in setting seals or as seals themselves for a significant period of time in various industries. Such materials are capable of generating a high contact force against a nearby a structure which is capable of either of the noted uses of setting or sealing, or in some cases both, when exposed to a swelling fluid reactive with the swelling material.
Swelling can occur through absorption or chemical reaction. In applications where a higher degree of swelling, for either purpose is needed, difficulty has been experienced as sufficient volumetric change has not been reliably achievable and in addition when higher volumetric change is attempted, the material itself loses physical integrity thus compromising the ultimate goal of the application.
SUMMARYA swellable element includes a mandrel, a swellable material disposed about the mandrel and at least one cut in the swellable material.
A swellable element includes a mandrel and a plurality of annular discs of a swellable material disposed about the mandrel.
A method for making a swellable element includes disposing a swellable material on a mandrel and cutting the swellable material.
A method for making a swellable element includes disposing a plurality of discs of a swellable material on a mandrel closely adjacent one another and affixing at least one of the plurality of discs of swellable material to the mandrel.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:
Referring to
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention and referring to
In an alternate embodiment, and referring to
While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustrations and not limitation.
Claims
1. A swellable element comprising:
- a mandrel;
- a swellable material disposed about the mandrel; and
- at least one cut in the swellable material.
2. The swellable element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one cut is orthogonal to an axis of the element.
3. The swellable element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one cut is circumferential to the element.
4. The swellable element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one cut is segmented.
5. The swellable element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one cut has a radial dimension that is substantially equal to that of the element.
6. The swellable element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one cut is parallel to an axis of the element.
7. The swellable element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one cut is at an angle different than orthogonal or parallel to an axis of the element.
8. The swellable element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one cut is axially spiral.
9. The swellable element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one cut is axially helical.
10. The swellable element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one cut is zig-zag shaped.
11. A swellable element comprising:
- a mandrel; and
- a plurality of annular discs of a swellable material disposed about the mandrel.
12. The swellable element as claimed in claim 11 wherein the annular discs are each affixed to the mandrel at an inside dimension thereof.
13. The swellable element as claimed in claim 11 wherein selected ones of the annular discs are affixed to the mandrel and at least one selected annular disc is unaffixed to the mandrel.
14. The swellable element as claimed in claim 13 wherein the at least one selected unaffixed annular disc is axially bounded by affixed annular discs.
15. A method for making a swellable element comprising:
- disposing a swellable material on a mandrel; and
- cutting the swellable material.
16. The method for making a swellable element as claimed in 15 wherein the disposing includes affixing.
17. A method for making a swellable element comprising:
- disposing a plurality of discs of a swellable material on a mandrel closely adjacent one another; and
- affixing at least one of the plurality of discs of swellable material to the mandrel.
Type: Application
Filed: May 23, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 27, 2008
Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED (Houston, TX)
Inventor: WALTER J. LAFLIN (HOUSTON, TX)
Application Number: 12/126,047
International Classification: E21B 33/00 (20060101);