Downhole power generator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A downhole tool, comprising:
- a housing;
a magnet positioned within the housing;
an inductor positioned within the housing;
a piston positioned within the housing;
a first biasing member positioned axially above a piston; and
a second biasing member positioned axially below the piston, wherein the first and second biasing members are configured to exert opposing forces on the piston, wherein the piston moves from a first position to a second position in response to a pressure of a fluid in the housing increasing, and wherein a distance between the magnet and the inductor varies when the piston moves, thereby causing the inductor to generate power.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A downhole tool includes a housing. A magnet, an inductor, and a piston are positioned within the housing. The piston moves from a first position to a second position in response to a pressure of a fluid in the housing increasing. A distance between the magnet and the inductor varies when the piston moves, thereby causing the inductor to generate power.
15 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A downhole tool, comprising:
-
a housing; a magnet positioned within the housing; an inductor positioned within the housing; a piston positioned within the housing; a first biasing member positioned axially above a piston; and a second biasing member positioned axially below the piston, wherein the first and second biasing members are configured to exert opposing forces on the piston, wherein the piston moves from a first position to a second position in response to a pressure of a fluid in the housing increasing, and wherein a distance between the magnet and the inductor varies when the piston moves, thereby causing the inductor to generate power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A downhole tool, comprising:
-
a housing having an opening formed radially-therethrough, wherein the opening places a wellbore annulus in fluid communication with an internal volume of the housing; a first inductor positioned within the internal volume; a second inductor positioned within the internal volume, wherein the first and second inductors are stationary with respect to the housing; a magnet positioned within the internal volume and axially-between the first and second inductors; a piston positioned within the internal volume; a first biasing member positioned between the first inductor and the piston; and a second biasing member positioned between the second inductor and the piston, wherein the first and second biasing members exert opposing forces on the piston, wherein the magnet is coupled to and moves together with the piston in response to a pressure of a fluid in the internal volume increasing, wherein a distance between the first inductor and the magnet increases in response to the movement of the piston, thereby causing the first inductor to generate power, and wherein a distance between the second inductor and the magnet decreases in response to the movement of the piston, thereby causing the second inductor to generate additional power. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for generating power in a downhole tool, comprising:
-
running the downhole tool into a wellbore; increasing a pressure of a fluid in a wellbore annulus, wherein a piston in the downhole tool moves from a first position to a second position in response to the increased pressure, causing a distance between an inductor and a magnet to increase, thereby causing the inductor to generate power; and exerting additional forces onto the piston by a biasing member coupled between the piston and the housing to increase the speed at which the piston moves from the first position to the second position, wherein exerting additional forces onto the piston comprises exerting a first force with a first biasing member on a first side of the piston and exerting a second, opposing force with a second biasing member on a second side of the piston.
-
Specification