Shape Memory Alloy Seal Bladder Clamp Rings
First Claim
1. An electrical submersible pump assembly, comprising:
- a seal section housing for coupling between a motor and a pump of the assembly, the housing having a longitudinal axis;
first and second adapters axially spaced apart and extending toward each other from first and second ends of the housing, respectively, each of the first and second adapters having an outward facing annular wall relative to the axis;
a bladder with first and second openings on first and second ends, respectively, that insert over the first and second adapters, respectively;
a first clamp ring having an expanded condition that enables the first clamp ring to be inserted over the first opening and the first opening to be inserted over the annular wall of the first adapter;
the first clamp ring having a contracted condition that tightly secures the first opening to the annular wall of the first adapter; and
whereinthe first clamp ring is formed of a shape memory alloy that causes movement from the expanded condition to the contracted condition in response to heating the first clamp ring to a selected elevated temperature.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical submersible pump assembly has a seal section housing for coupling between a motor and a pump of the assembly. A bladder has an opening sized to slide over an adapter in the seal section housing. A clamp ring is formed of a shape memory alloy selected to create an expanded condition inner diameter when at a room temperature, enabling the clamp ring to be inserted over the bladder opening during assembly. When heated to a selected elevated temperature, the clamp ring contracts and tightly secures the opening around the adapter. The shape memory alloy of the clamp ring also causes the contracted condition inner diameter to expand when chilled to a selected low temperature.
0 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrical submersible pump assembly, comprising:
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a seal section housing for coupling between a motor and a pump of the assembly, the housing having a longitudinal axis; first and second adapters axially spaced apart and extending toward each other from first and second ends of the housing, respectively, each of the first and second adapters having an outward facing annular wall relative to the axis; a bladder with first and second openings on first and second ends, respectively, that insert over the first and second adapters, respectively; a first clamp ring having an expanded condition that enables the first clamp ring to be inserted over the first opening and the first opening to be inserted over the annular wall of the first adapter; the first clamp ring having a contracted condition that tightly secures the first opening to the annular wall of the first adapter; and
whereinthe first clamp ring is formed of a shape memory alloy that causes movement from the expanded condition to the contracted condition in response to heating the first clamp ring to a selected elevated temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electrical submersible pump assembly, comprising:
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a seal section housing for coupling between a motor and a pump of the assembly, the housing having a longitudinal axis; first and second adapters axially spaced apart and extending toward each other from first and second ends of the housing, respectively, each of the first and second adapters having an outward facing annular wall relative to the axis; a bladder with first and second openings on first and second ends, respectively, the first opening receiving the annular wall of the first adapter, the second opening receiving the annular wall of the second adapter; first and second clamp rings extending around the first and second openings, respectively; the first and second clamp rings being formed of a shape memory alloy selected to create expanded condition inner diameters when at a room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C., enabling the first and second clamp rings to be inserted over the first and second openings, respectively, during assembly; the shape member alloy of the first and second clamp rings also being selected to create contracted condition inner diameters when heated to a selected elevated temperature that tightly secures the first and second openings to the annular walls of the first and second adapters, respectively; and the shape memory alloy of the first and second clamp rings further being selected to cause the contracted condition inner diameters to expand when chilled to a selected low temperature. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of installing and removing a bladder in a seal section housing of an electrical submersible well pump, the bladder having first and second openings on first and second ends, respectively, the seal section housing having first and second adapters spaced apart from each other, the method comprising:
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providing first and second clamp rings of a selected shape memory alloy that causes the first and second clamp rings to have an expanded condition and a contracted condition; while in the expanded condition, sliding the first and second clamp rings around the first and second ends, respectively, of the bladder, and sliding the first and second ends of the bladder over the first and second adapters, respectively;
thenheating the first and second clamp rings to a selected elevated temperature, causing the first and second clamp rings to change to and be retained in the contracted condition, tightly securing the first and second ends of the bladder to the first and second adapters, respectively;
thento remove the bladder, chilling the first and second clamp rings to a selected low temperature that causes the first and second clamp rings to return to the expanded condition;
thenwhile in the expanded condition, pulling the first and second ends of the bladder from the first and second adapters, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification