Electrically conductive pattern printer for downhole tools

• US 10,293,365 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2014
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Talbot, Brian K
• Application Number:
  US15/327,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20170203325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 427 58, 427117, 427425
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/00 Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials B05D5/00, B05D7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/02 performed by spraying
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/037 characterised by the pigment
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/52 Electrically conductive inks
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/00 Coating compositions, e.g. paints, varnishes or lacquers, characterised by their physical nature or the effects produced electrically insulating plastics, resins or waxes H01B3/30; Filling pastes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/003 with electrically conducting or insulating means E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/26 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified either by the surrounding earth formation or by the detecting device with electromagnetic waves G01V3/30
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/687 using mechanical means, e.g. chucks, clamps or pinches using elecrostatic chucks H01L21/6831
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/68707 the wafers being placed on a robot blade, or gripped by a gripper for conveyance
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/68728 characterised by a plurality of separate clamping members, e.g. clamping fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/75621 Holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/75703 Mechanical holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/76621 Holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/76703 Mechanical holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/77621 Holding means, e.g. wire clampers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/77703 Mechanical holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/78621 Holding means, e.g. wire clampers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/78703 Mechanical holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/79621 Holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/79703 Mechanical holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/04 : Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use

Abstract

A device which prints an electrically conductive pattern on a downhole tool using electrical ink includes a print head assembly and gripper claw assembly to print and manipulate the downhole tool during printing, respectively. The electrically conductive pattern may be an antenna coil, circuit or other desired pattern. After printing, the accuracy of the pattern is verified by the system and an impact resistant coating is applied to the pattern.

Claims

1. A method for printing an electrically conductive pattern on a downhole tool, the method comprising:

printing an electrically conductive pattern on a downhole tool using a print head assembly, wherein the printing the electrically conductive pattern comprises at least one of;

rotating the downhole tool using a gripper claw assembly;

or

moving the downhole tool along an axis of the downhole tool using the gripper claw assembly; and

applying an impact resistant coating to the electrically conductive pattern using the print head assembly.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein printing the electrically conductive pattern further comprises utilizing a sensor positioned on the print head assembly to determine if the electrically conductive pattern was applied correctly.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising generating an alert if the electrically conductive pattern was applied incorrectly.

4. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein printing the electrically conductive pattern comprises:

selecting dimensions for the downhole tool;

selecting a pattern for the electrically conductive pattern;

positioning the print head assembly at a position zero; and

printing the electrically conductive pattern based upon the selected pattern.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein determining whether the electrically conductive pattern was applied correcting comprises:

retracing the print head assembly from an end of the electrically conductive pattern back to the position zero; and

utilizing the sensor to determine if there are any discontinuities in the electrically conductive pattern.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, further comprising utilizing the sensor to determine if the electrically conductive pattern matches the selected pattern.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein printing the electrically conductive pattern further comprises

manipulating the print head assembly along the downhole tool using a positioning mechanism.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the rotation and/or axial movement of the downhole tool is achieved by powering friction balls of the gripper claw assembly such that the friction balls rotate.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the printing the electrically conductive pattern comprises the moving the downhole tool along the axis of the downhole tool using the gripper claw assembly, and wherein the movement along the axis of the downhole tool is accomplished by moving the gripper claw assembly along a track.